Apr 16, 9:44 PM EDT

Texas Senate OKS stimulus money for unemployment

By JAY ROOT
Associated Press Writer


AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- While Gov. Rick Perry is slamming Washington bailouts and excessive spending, his own state Senate defied his wishes and voted Thursday to accept $555 million in federal unemployment benefits.

The measure, which passed 22-9 on a preliminary vote Thursday, would expand state unemployment benefits by including part-time workers and people who quit for compelling reasons, such as a child's illness or family violence.

Perry, a Republican, has agreed to take almost all the nearly $17 billion slated for Texas in federal stimulus money. But he says there are too many strings attached to the $555 million in unemployment benefits..

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories...TAM&SECTION=US


As I figured Republican blowhardism.