Florida might reject stimulus cash for jobless

Miami Herald ^ | 3-25-09 | By JEFF HARRINGTON

[sheikdetailfeather]

Florida might reject stimulus cash for jobless Federal funds to the tune of $1 billion could extend unemployment benefits to Florida's jobless -- but Republicans say there are too many strings attached. By JEFF HARRINGTON St. Petersburg Times Florida is on the verge of forfeiting more than $1 billion in federal stimulus funds that could help 250,000 Floridians whose unemployment benefits are running out.

The problem: The federal offer for aid comes at a price that many in the state Legislature are unwilling to pay. To receive the money, the state would have to pass a new law widening the pool of people receiving extended unemployment benefits.

So far, no legislation has been introduced. The federal government would pick up most of the estimated $776 million cost of providing the extended benefits through December 2009.

But since state agencies and local governments account for about 6 percent of benefit costs, they would be on the hook to pay about $71 million between now and June 30, 2010. Moreover, the federal stimulus only runs through the end of the year. After that, the burden would shift to Florida to pay for the program. That tab could be about $200 million for the second half of the 2009-2010 fiscal year, according to an estimate from the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation, which oversees unemployment benefits.

[sheikdetailfeather]

Looks like Florida got smart!

[bicyclerepair]

I’m on FL unemployment (got the change).

Gov. Crist - DON’T DO IT !

[Joe Boucher]

Crappola.
Gov Christ is a woosie boy kiss ass mambie pambie parasite that will do whatever the powers want.
Crist is a damned lying RINO.
Tax Relief” B.S.
Insurance relief? B.S.
What else ya got beside that sham marriage ya fag?
NO confidence in Crist the RINO.

[Recovering_Democrat]

I would love it.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Florida ping!

[Joe Brower]

Florida Freeper

[Roos_Girl]

With Crist I’ll believe it when I see it!

Anyone else get their Republican strategy survey? They had the nerve to ask me for money. I wrote on my form that when the Republic leadership grows a pair, stop apologizing for wanting Obama’s Marxist plans to fail and starts upholding the Constitution of the USA I would be happy to send them money. Oh yeah, and the party shouldn’t support Crist for the Florida Senate.

[TheKidster]

Why don’t we take the money and then in 2010 change the law back and reduce the pool back to original size?

[mojitojoe]

With Crist I’ll believe it when I see it!
___________________
Me too. That greedy liberal SOB!

[contemplator]

Why don’t we take the money and then in 2010 change the law back and reduce the pool back to original size?

According to the article there would be a difference of about $71 million that the state and local governments would be on the hook for if they passed the law that the federal government stipulates regardless if they put a 2010 sunset provision in it or not.