Now it’s the Republicans who are chubbing. Seeing that they can’t possibly save their beloved voter ID bill, they are hoping to slow things down enough to keep SB 1569 from coming to the floor.
That’s the bill to update Texas’ unemployment insurance system, in order to qualify the state for more than half a billion dollars in federal stimulus money. Although Gov. Rick Perry has agreed to take about $16 billion in stimulus funds, he said earlier in the session that he would refuse the money for unemployment insurance, because the Obama administration would require a substantial expansion in who qualifies to receive it.
Perry and the business lobby warned that after the stimulus money ran out, Texas would get stuck holding the bag paying for the expanded system. Labor groups slammed Perry for the decision.
As the R’s come to the mic to talk, Dems shout “work!” at them.
This article appears in May 22 • 2009.