Their six-shooters don’t go to seven
Monica Rhor reports for the Associated Press that Texas Governor Rick Perry has rejected a $555 million federal stimulus payment that would have expanded his state’s current unemployment benefits. The reason he gave for the rejection is that the money “would have required the state to keep funding the expanded benefits after the stimulus money ran out.”
Perry, who has made it known that he does not support President Obama’s $787 billion stimulus bill, did find it within his heart to accept most of the $17 billion given the Lone Star State.
Don’t drive employers away from Texas
Accepting the payment, says Perry, would require Texas to change their definition of unemployment. They would have to cover more people and place a greater tax burden on employers. That would be a great way to drive some of them out of Dodge…
Perry said accepting this would not create jobs, but limit hiring and raise prices. Coincidentally, limiting hiring would limit payday loans.
“During these tough times, Texas employers are working harder than ever to move products to market, make payroll and create jobs,” Perry said. “The last thing they need is government burdening them with higher taxes and expanded obligations.”
Keeping Texas in the black
According to Rhor, Perry’s decision was made despite the danger that Texas’ unemployment compensation trust fund could “be operating at a deficit by October.” Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Tom Pauken told lawmakers that insolvency “might not be not far behind.”
Related Videos:
Any funds he does not want to accept, he can give to California – at least that what Schwarzenegger has been saying. Well, check that. The bailout money he doesn’t want he can send to me.
Of course, he doesn’t care, he has a job…what about the people that need those funds to make ends meet? Oh, and the employers aren’t hiring Mr. Perry…I know, I’ve been looking almost a year now…