via Jobless Angry at Possibility of No Benefits – NYTimes.com.
Mr. Kight and other unemployed workers said they were incensed to learn they were living in one of a handful of states — many of them among the poorest in the nation — that might not provide the expanded benefits.
Unemployment lines
“It just seems unreasonable,” Mr. Kight said, “that when people probably need the help the most, that because of partisan activity, or partisan feelings, against the current new administration, that Perry is willing to sacrifice the lives of so many Texans that have been out of work in the last year.”
He was referring to Gov. Rick Perry of Texas, who has said he may decline the extra money rather than change state policy.
“I remain opposed to using these funds to expand existing government programs, burdening the state with ongoing expenditures long after the funding has dried up,” Mr. Perry wrote in a letter to Mr. Obama last week.
The governors contend that once the federal money ran out, they would have to continue providing the new benefits, which they say would force them to raise taxes on businesses. The federal money will end in two or three years in some states, or much later in others, depending on the size of the state allocation.
Proponents say that nothing would prevent states from changing the laws back at that time.
(Southern Governors running in circles) “We can’t afford to keep on paying the increase in unemployment when it runs out! WE JUST CANNOT CONTINUE THIS EXTRAVAGANCE OF A FEW EXTRA DOLLARS IN THE POCKETS OF THE UNEMPLOYED!!!! WE JUST CAAAAAN”T!!!!!!!”
(calmed down) “What? What did you say? Simply stop paying it when it runs out. Oh. Didn’t think of that. Okay folks, never mind.”
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