Tennessee may reject stimulus aid for jobless | www.tennessean.com | The Tennessean
Tennessee could reject a portion of the $787 billion economic stimulus package out of concerns that it would force the state to raise taxes on businesses in the future.
At the National Governors Association meetings in Washington, D.C., Gov. Phil Bredesen said this week that he might turn down relief for unemployed workers worth an estimated $143 million because of conditions placed on the money by Congress.
The stimulus package would also raise unemployment benefits by $25 a week for all workers, but in addition, lawmakers want states to expand the pool of people who can apply for benefits. That would put more pressure on an unemployment trust fund that is already trying to stave off insolvency.
Tennessee could reject a portion of the $787 billion economic stimulus package out of concerns that it would force the state to raise taxes on businesses in the future.
At the National Governors Association meetings in Washington, D.C., Gov. Phil Bredesen said this week that he might turn down relief for unemployed workers worth an estimated $143 million because of conditions placed on the money by Congress.
The stimulus package would also raise unemployment benefits by $25 a week for all workers, but in addition, lawmakers want states to expand the pool of people who can apply for benefits. That would put more pressure on an unemployment trust fund that is already trying to stave off insolvency.
Democrat Tennessee governor Phil Bredesen.
Republican governor Bobby Jindal was the first to refuse some of the stimulus package.
Then a couple days later other republican governors joined with Bobby Jindal in refusing some of the stimulus package. These Governors -- Haley Barbour of Mississippi, Butch Otter of Idaho, Rick Perry of Texas and Mark Sanford of South Carolina -- all have the same objection: The tens of billions of dollars of aid for health care, welfare and education will disappear
in two years and leave states with no way to finance the expanded programs.The problem for these Governors is that they may be forced to spend the federal money whether they want it or not.
Now there is a Democrat governor saying the same thing.The stimulus package would also raise unemployment benefits by $25 a week for all workers, but in addition, lawmakers want states to expand the pool of people who can apply for benefits. That would put more
pressure on an unemployment trust fund that is already trying to stave off insolvency.
The stimulus package allocates $7 billion to states for unemployment trust funds, but to get the money, they must meet two sets of requirements:
One-third of the payout is contingent on states' changing the formulas used to calculate whether people qualify for unemployment payments. The change is meant to make more people eligible for benefits.
Two-thirds of the payout is contingent on states' taking two actions on a menu of four options. These options are: adding a $15 allowance for dependents, lengthening benefits for people who are training for a new job, extending benefits to people looking for part-time work or letting people claim unemployment if they leave work for some family reasons, such as a sick relative or domestic violence.
To pay for this I think that we should just tax people who are in their 20's and 30's. Thay have at least 30 to 40 years to work and pay taxes, so they can help pay this bill. Plus I am going to retire in about 10 years, so I need them to help pay for my social security and medical care. Buddy can you spare a dime.
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