By CHRISTY HOPPE / The Dallas Morning News
AUSTIN Gov. Rick Perry said Wednesday that he still hopes to upend legislation that would have the state accept more than a half-billion dollars in stimulus money for unemployment benefits.
Saying it might look kindly on the front end the governor warned that the measure would expand benefits into perpetuity because lawmakers usually lack the political will to curtail such programs.
Cutting government programs that are put in place that are entitlements are almost impossible to cut Perry said.
Under the bill the state would open unemployment benefits to laid-off workers who are seeking part-time jobs and would calculate benefits based on more recent paychecks as opposed to the current rules that sometimes reach back 18 months generally resulting in lower benefit payments.
With those two changes Texas would qualify for an additional $555 million in unemployment insurance stimulus funding and extend benefits to thousands more Texans looking for work.
Perry said that businesses would suffer under the measure sponsored by a fellow Republican and easily passed by the Senate.
Bottom line: This will cost businesses $75 million a year from here forward and that will cause them to hire fewer people Perry said. Its not good for Texas employers; its not good for Texas employees.
Supporters of the bill point to the states almost-depleted trust fund for unemployment benefits which is expected to need a boost of $839 million to meet its minimum requirements by Oct. 1. So businesses will be paying much more for the next few years unless the stimulus money is accepted they argue.
Perry did not expressly threaten to veto the bill which is expected to have broad support in the more politically moderate House as well. Lawmakers would have to hurry to finish work on the bill to force the governors hand and be able to override a veto before their session ends June 1 though.
Perry agreed to accept the rest of federal stimulus money offered to the state nearly $17 billion.
The governor spoke with reporters after a speech to community college administrators attending a Texas Workforce Commission conference. He was also asked about being the late-night fodder for comedians after saying he understood how some Texans might want to secede after their treatment by Washington.
Jay Leno in particular quipped that there would be a bright side to Texas leaving the union: We could then invade them for the oil.
The governor again said he does not favor secession and added: My remarks have been pretty straightforward. Leno makes his own jokes and a lot of times makes them up.
As for California and New York the homes of the late-night hosts Perry said: They can make their jokes about Texas and well continue to take their jobs.
