A whole lotta state Senators will take turns at the mic on Tuesday morning to urge Governor Rick Perry to accept the $555 million in unemployment insurance funds available from the federal stimulus package. (Perry and other Republicans are concerned that accepting the funds require a change in state law that might affect future employer taxes when the fed money runs out.)

The press conference lineup: State Senators Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, Kirk Watson, D-Austin, Eliot Shapleigh, D-El Paso, Eddie Lucio, D-Brownsville and Mario Gallegos, D-Houston. Oh, AND state Rep. Jim Dunnam, D-Waco, who heads the House committee on stimulus stabilization.

Yeah, so it's probably not going to be a short press conference.

According to Ellis' advisory, lawmakers will "call on state leaders to invest the stimulus funding in programs and priorities which will give a hand-up to as many Texans as possible", focusing in particular on shoring up the dwindling unemployment insurance system.

1 Comments

blm said:

Perry, you have obviously has lost touch with the needs of Texans and Texas businesses. Kay Bailey we need you!! The Texas Comptroller has already shown Texas is in great need and yes, the stimulus may not be the best idea but we need to do something than do nothing. If more pressure is put on Tx businesses to pay a higher employment tax, they will have no other choice but to lay off more people in order to survive. The prediction is that the unemployment rate is going to rise to an even higher rate by the end of this year. How do you plan on paying for it, Perry, if you do not accept the stimulus? Are you going to pay for it out of your on personal pocket? We all know you will not, plus you're still living on tax payers money in that over paid house!

March 13, 2009 6:14 AM

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