Missippi Democrats vote to accept all stimulus money

I'm glad to see that the Democratic legislators in Mississippi have enough sense to accept all the stimulus money the Federal government has offered, even though their Republican Gov. Haley Barbour wants to turn it down. This moron actually made the claim that extending unemployment benefits would cost Mississippi jobs.
Earth to Gov. Haley, helping out of work people in your state won't cost anyone a job, it will just help some families put food on the table.
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/03/05/barbour-state-house-stimulus/
Last month, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R) criticized “excess spending” in the federal recovery package, saying he (like Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal) would reject $50 million in unemployment benefits for part-time workers. But yesterday, the state legislature passed a bill circumventing Barbour. House Concurrent Resolution 64 certifies the state’s intent to request and use all of the money, even if Barbour rejects some of it

How does funding additional unemployment promote job growth?

OTOH it does help to promote taxpayer poverty. Maybe that's what he meant by “excess spending.”

Gotta love that GOP strategy. Keep doing what you're doing,boys.... It's working out so well for you.........

Mirage wrote:

How does funding additional unemployment promote job growth?

OTOH it does help to promote taxpayer poverty. Maybe that's what he meant by “excess spending.”

Where do you see anything in my post that says funding extended unemployment will promote job growth? Gov. Barbour is opposed to extending unemployment benefits because he believes it will cost people in Mississippi jobs. It won't. Those dollars will keep other workers in Mississippi employed as those additional millions flow through the economy. It is really sad when the Republicans are so determined to make a political point that they will allow the people they represent to suffer needlessly.

Another moron.....

Texas gov. rejects stimulus money for unemployment
By MONICA RHOR, Associated Press Writer
Thursday, March 12, 2009

Texas Gov. Rick Perry announced Thursday he turned down $555 million of federal stimulus funding that would expand the state's unemployment benefits, saying the money would have required the state to keep paying for the expanded benefits after the stimulus money ran out.

Moments after Perry said he would reject the money, the House Senate Committee on Federal Economic Stabilization Funding voted 5-1 in favor of a motion encouraging the Legislature to make the necessary changes to enable the state to receive $555 million. Republican Rep. Jim Pitts, chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, was among those voting in favor the motion.

Perry's announcement was immediately criticized by Democratic lawmakers and advocates for low-income residents.

"Without this federal money, Texas businesses face increased unemployment insurance taxes in bad times, and without the modest reforms in state law required to get the federal money, about 45,000 Texas workers will go without unemployment insurance," said Don Baylor, a policy analyst for the Center for Public Policy Priorities.

Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, said rejecting the money "demonstrates the height of denial about the challenges confronting this state and its people."

The governor's decision comes despite warnings from Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Tom Pauken that the state's unemployment compensation trust fund could be operating at a deficit by October. Pauken told lawmakers recently that insolvency might not be not far behind.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/03/12/national/a124857D51.DTL&type=printable
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Texas gov. rejects stimulus money for unemployment

Enough said.

I can't wait to hear what convoluted argument they come up with to complain about this....

Obama rejects SC gov's bid to use stimulus on debt
By JIM DAVENPORT – 2 hours ago

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The Obama administration has rejected South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford's request to use $700 million in federal stimulus cash to pay down state debt.

White House Budget Director Peter Orszag (OHR'-zag) said in a letter to the Republican on Monday that the federal stimulus law doesn't allow President Barack Obama to make an exception for that cash. Sanford sought a waiver last week, asking to pay off debt rather than use the money to create jobs and avoid deep program cuts.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gaIoIBhAVWKNcjxB9AYbJRYOiLlgD96V8T6O0

Artie60438 wrote:

I can't wait to hear what convoluted argument they come up with to complain about this....

Obama rejects SC gov's bid to use stimulus on debt
By JIM DAVENPORT – 2 hours ago

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The Obama administration has rejected South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford's request to use $700 million in federal stimulus cash to pay down state debt.

White House Budget Director Peter Orszag (OHR'-zag) said in a letter to the Republican on Monday that the federal stimulus law doesn't allow President Barack Obama to make an exception for that cash. Sanford sought a waiver last week, asking to pay off debt rather than use the money to create jobs and avoid deep program cuts.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gaIoIBhAVWKNcjxB9AYbJRYOiLlgD96V8T6O0

These Southern GOP governors are absolutely clueless. They are completely undermining the remaining political support they have. The Governor of Texas will cost his state $555 million dollars in business by turning down the stimulus money, not to mention the economic hardship he is creating for the citizens who won't receive those benefits.

sparks wrote:

These Southern GOP governors are absolutely clueless. They are completely undermining the remaining political support they have. The Governor of Texas will cost his state $555 million dollars in business by turning down the stimulus money, not to mention the economic hardship he is creating for the citizens who won't receive those benefits.

More for us! Here's what's going to dog these loons as they seek reelection or higher office...