Against Perry's wishes, Senate OKs stimulus money for jobless

[sonias]

AAS 4/21/09
Against Perry's wishes, Senate OKs stimulus money for jobless
Lawmakers who want to defy Gov. Rick Perry and accept federal stimulus money for extending unemployment benefits cleared an important hurdle Monday.

The Senate gave final passage to Senate Bill 1569, which expands the unemployment program so the state can get $555 million in federal stimulus money. It now heads to the House, where supporters and opponents alike say it is likely to pass.

But the possibility of a Perry veto means that the House will have to move quickly if legislators want the opportunity to override that veto, which would require a two-thirds vote in both chambers.

Perry has not said whether he would veto the bill, but a veto is the only way for him to reject the $555 million, which he says comes with onerous requirements to expand government.

If Perry vetos the bill it's going to be really hard to get that 2/3 vote in both chambers to override a veto. The Senate bill didn't get 2/3 when it passed and they would need to pick up two more Senators to overturn a veto there. The House vote on the bill needs at least 113 votes.

I'm hoping this gets a speedy hearing and vote on the House floor and passes overwhelmingly.

Sonia

[RoyGBiv]

1. Sign the damn bill, Perry ...

And then we'll talk about whether you can have your office back.

[sonias]

4. Nope he doesn't get his office back

But he should still sign the bill. He really is screwed. He vetoes this bill and it will a big issue in the primary fight next year. I'm sure KBH will find a way to make it seem like he doesn't care about average Texans, which he doesn't.

Since he's made it a political centerpiece of his ultra conservative agenda - he can't back down. At least he can't without seeming like a flip-flopper.

Unfortunately for Texas workers I think the jerk is going to veto the bill.

:grr:

Sonia

[WolverineDG]

2. But I thought we were all mindless GOP drones

:crazy:

I love the idea of holding Perry's office budget hostage. :evilgrin:

dg

[tbyg52]

3. This makes me smile.

:evilgrin:

[WolverineDG]

5. Me too

I'm evil that way. :evilgrin:

dg

[Melissa G]

6. We need a cartoon visual of this situation.

It just screams the need. Ben Sargent where are you?

[sonias]

7. House passes the bill in committee

AAS Postcards blog 4/28/09
No dilly-dally on unemployment stimulus money

By Kate Alexander | Tuesday, April 28, 2009, 06:13 PM

The House Business and Industry Committee wasted no time approving the Senate bill that would open the door for Texas to get $555 million in federal stimulus money to expand unemployment eligibility.

SB 1569 landed in the committee yesterday and the members passed it out Tuesday afternoon in a 6-2 vote. Republican Reps. Wayne Christian of Center and Rob Orr of Burleson were the nays.

Time is of the essence, of course, since there is a good chance Gov. Rick Perry will veto the measure and the chambers could try to override that veto. Perry has not said he will veto the legislation, which passed the Senate last week, but he has repeatedly objected to taking the money.

Should make the floor for a vote next week.

:dem:

Sonia

[Honeycombe8]

8. Wooo Hoooo. Almost there. This is a worthy, much-needed bill.

I've known some people who've been laid off. I wondered how close I came to being one of them. As a middle aged person, I was well aware that it would take me a looooooong time to find another job. There are way more applicants than jobs out there, so companies aren't exactly lining up to hire middle aged workers, when they can hire experienced workers 20 years younger, whose ins. premiums would be less.