| I wanted to highlight to smaller pieces of moves from the bigger story below about how Governor Rick Perry rejected $555 million in unemployment funds.  First of all, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison's cowardly comeback to Rick Perry:
"I hope that the Governor has carefully thought through the potential outcomes of today's decision. With the state unemployment fund dangerously close to falling below the legal threshold, it is imperative that the Governor does nothing that potentially burdens small businesses with higher taxes in tough economic times or pushes those who have recently become unemployed and their families into further economic peril," said Hutchison, in a statement.
As I said in the other post -- I think she hasn't polled about what to think on this yet. Secondly, House Appropriations Chair -- Republican Jim Pitts -- today voted in favor of accepting the unemployment funds. From the Statesman: In a 5 to 1 vote, the committee on Thursday endorsed enacting the necessary changes to state law so that Texas would be eligible for the money. House Appropriations Chairman Jim Pitts was the only Republican among the “ayes.” Rep. Myra Crownover, R-Denton, voted against the measure and argued that action should be delayed.
State Representative Garnet F. Coleman authored the motion in the Select Committee today. The Statesman post also adds a quote economist Ray Perryman, saying: Taking the money is on balance a good deal for Texas. The federal infusion would lessen a tax increase on employers now and would cover the extended benefit for at least seven years. He added that the unemployment tax does not affect Texas’ ability to compete for jobs. Property taxes and the business tax are much bigger considerations when businesses choose where to set down roots, Perryman said.
Rick Perry & Kay Bailey Hutchison are just complete losers on this issue. |
