forgive me for saying this but this "jerk"(Gov.Rick Perry)needs to be voted out of the governors mansion ASAP!!!Im not republican but i will be voting for Sen.Hutchison so we can be rid of this huge mistake(Perry)!!!

Concerning Perry’s decision to reject stimulus money so that business owners will not have to pay higher taxes; Well Governor Perry, when my unemployment benefits run out and my family finds themselves without any income I will camp out at the welfare office to collect those benefits. What are you thinking? You are making the stimulus package a political issue. It's ok to spend stimulus money on rebuilding the governor’s mansion but to heck with those of us out of work. In addition to being the longest serving Texas governor, you are also in line to be one of the worst.

We were relieved, delighted to hear that the Governor has rejected the unemployment stimulus money!

It sounds like the governor is concerned about the future of business at the expense of Texans who need help today. We should take the governor's house away from him and his job and put him the unemployment line. Then we should ask if he thinks Texas should accept help from the federal government.

It sounds like the Governor is considering the future welfare of business at the expense of the people who need help now. We need to take the governor's home from him and his job and put him in the unemployment line and see how he would feel about accepting help from the federal government.

This person does not have a conscience. His thinking perhaps would be different if he had to pay rent instead of the freebie he is now getting. How about the living expenses of thousands of folks who are unemployed? Their situation does not bother him because he is out of touch with reality.

Hey, let's see you paying for your own housing, Governor. Nobody needs a $10K a month house. Turn in the state vehicle---that's just too decadent. Take a paycut: show the people you "feel their pain". Donate your pension funds to Salvation Army. Ok, I feel better.

I was raised an open minded conservative Republican, I am a proud Texan by birth, I have been responsible for the livelihoods of many families who have worked for me as a business owner and I have been on both sides of this issue during my long and blessed life, so I have never begrudged any hard working employee an opportunity to collect unemployment during tough times. I have also never played games with my employee's hours to keep them from having a full-time status for unemployment eligibility, which is one issue the stimulus plan is trying to overcome.

I am appalled at the complete and utter disregard for the hard working people in this state who have trusted their elected officials to step up in these desperate times. I hope those affected, by this decision born out of political posturing, and anyone else out there who considers themselves a compassionate person, will quickly make their voice heard by their elected officials, or this will go unchecked and many families will be without food and their homes, if we are unable to create jobs quickly enough in the rural communities, larger towns and bedroom communities of our major cities, where the larger industries will downsize and small businesses will fail if the normally hard working people have no unemployment benefits or new employment opportunities, should our economy decay further before recovery.

WHO BENEFITS? - This denial by our Governor and others, of the potential pending disaster, combined with their arrogant behavior, doesn't make sense unless the underlying end-game is the unbelievable wealth building opportunity for campaign supporters, that will be created by the loss of this $550,000,000 unemployment safety net.

WHO LOOSES? - This additional money will feed children, keep homes out of foreclosure and go directly back into the local economies to support the small local businesses; however, without the assistance many families will be devastated and forced to sell their American dream and sweat equity to the the "money on the sidelines", for pennies on the dollar.

In addition, the Texas businesses will be forced to pay a dramatic increase in unemployment tax, just about the time our unemployment accounts run dry later this year, vs. paying a more gradual increase over the next few years as the economy improves. All businesses have reaped the benefit from Governor Perry reducing the unemployment insurance rate and I understand the reluctance to pay the piper, but higher unemployment insurance is the least of most business owner's worries right now...

I applaud those elected officials here in Texas, who can look past their political aspirations and focus on the people who have given their trust. These are desperate times and they demand desperate measures. We can work closely together to achieve great things over time, but "a house divided, cannot stand".

Call, write, email or visit your elected officials and demand their attention if you feel compelled to help those less fortunate, or remain quiet if you are cheering for the "barbarians at the gate", who await this pending financial bonanza. We are free to choose either path, but someday we must all look in the mirror....

Not sure I like Texas being roped into to a long-term program commitment by the Feds for this $$. Regardless... it will follow Ricky through the Primary battle. Especially if our Unemployment account goes bottoms-up. Risky Rick may have just lost the moderates. Not good when going up against a pro-choice former UT cheerleader. Hook 'em.

Remember during the last election, when so many moderate Republicans, Independent Texans, and new voters voted in the Democratic Primary. If Texas still has an open primary in 2010, I thing Perry should just decide to retire to pursue other interests. K.D.F.

For once I agree with Sen. Hutchison. Perry reminds me of GW in so many ways. For him to do something so stupid, at a time of crisis for millions of people in this state, is a crime in and of itself. Perry is acting like a spoiled child-his actions will be catastrophic. Scary to know this person is in power.

I'm glad at least one elected official has some common sense and doesn't jump on every popular bandwagon that the Obama administration comes up with. Way to go Governor Perry!