Jindal rejects unemployment money in stimulus

[deminks]

Source: Associated Press

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Gov. Bobby Jindal says he doesn't want Louisiana to tap into $98 million in stimulus money for expanding unemployment benefits for people who wouldn't normally be eligible to receive them.

The federal stimulus package would cover the benefits for a period of time, but the Jindal administration says it requires a permanent change in state law that would force businesses to pay higher taxes once the federal dollars run out.

Jindal said Friday that he doesn't support that change, which is tied to $32.8 million in stimulus cash. Without that change, the state also can't access a separate $65.6 million pool of unemployment money in the stimulus bill.

via Think Progress

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/02/20/jindal-unemployed/

Read more: http://www.wxvt.com/Global/story.asp?S=9880180&nav=menu1344_2

[Justitia]

1. OMFG! I can't believe he is denying his citizens unemployment help out of spite!

Jesus Christ - will LA take this lying down???

[Confusious]

4. I can, and not suprised

It seems to be part of the human condition, people have to experience suffering, some more then others, to learn anything. Some don't ever learn a thing. Hopefully, enough people learn enough not to elect these wackos anymore.

[bemildred]

2. When's he up for re-election, anyway? nt

[Hawkeye-X]

22. 2011, probably

As I remember seeing his awful ads in Texarkana during my brief stay there.

[Mojambo]

3. That's going to make an AWESOME attack ad when he runs his pathetic Presidential campaign in 2012.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

5. I'm certain the state legislature has more sense than this ideologue

and will put in a request itself.

[liberal renegade]

6. Douchebag!

I love watching the repukes self destruct.....

[williesgirl]

7. Isns't there an impeachment process in LA? This sure should qualify if there is. rec'd

[Tatiana]

8. Landrieu and other LA Dems better slam him HARD.

Heckuva job, Jindal. Way to screw over the people in your state that have already been screwed over.

[liberalmuse]

9. So this is the new "star" of the Republican Party?

He's creepy and repulsive. Figures.

[Captain Hilts]

10. I think it's GREAT! It shows what a heartless creep he is, even to stupid people.

RIP Socks.

[mr1956]

11. AP doing their usual bang-up job

If you read only the AP release, Jindal's move sounds like a reasonable concern. But on closer inspection Think Progress could find no reason why Jindal is saying accepting the money would increase taxes on businesses. The program can be phased out after 3 years, it gives the people needed respite for a limited time and is funded by the federal government.

[Igel]

29. Perhaps this.

The link from the ThinkProgress page seems to say that in many states part-time employees don't qualify for unemployment. If so, perhaps employers don't pay unemployment tax for them.

To put them in the unemployment pool and make them eligible might require that employers cover them, i.e., pay unemployment tax for them.

I could probably find more possibilities. Then again, I'm not trying to be ThinkProgress and say that I know more about another state than the governor or, presumably, his staff. Just trying to find ways that a statement is plausibly true. That way I might learn something.

[maseman]

12. He's full of shit

I read yesterday that if a Gov. does not want stimulus money he cannot stop getting it anyway. The legislature would have to stop it. If the Gov. and the legislature can both stop it it could happen.

The point is he can say whatever he wants for politics knowing that he'll damn well get the money anyway. All politics, all the time for the Repukes.

[marshall]

37. And the legislature will have to change the law

If what he says is true, it seems reasonable but I don't know for sure, then it's in the legislature's hands to change the law to accomodate the permutations of the bill.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

13. Meanwhile... in 2012... the cries can be heard down the long

driveway "Run Bobby run!!!"

[FreeCajun]

14. Take it from a native, he just bought himself a bunch of LA votes.

The people here eat this crap up, unfortunately.

What's particularly galling is the fact that he blames spending increases on Democrats, even though he's presided over the biggest budget increases in state government pay increases ....
mind you, not for low level functionaries who could use the money, but for pay raises for himself & his buddies.

Just like Bush, actually....

Even some of the local conservative radio talk show hosts hate him, and call him "Big Government Bobby" and "Campaigning Jindal" because it's pretty clear he's positioning himself for a presidential bid and doesn't care about Louisiana.

It'd be funny except its real, and its happening where I live.


:on edit:
He may not run in 2012, if Obama seems popular... he's smart enough to play his hand close to the chest until 2016.

[Ferretherder]

Yeah, some great Guv we got, you bet!

Oh well, whadda ya' expect - after all, we ARE talkin' LOUISIANA politics here, ain't we?

And by the way, Hi to ya', FreeCajun!...from a Yankee way up here in the north part a' tha' state - Monroe, to be exact!

Gone' be Crawdad season 'fore long, huh, cha?


...and forgive my HORRIBLE 'cajunese'.

[Politicalboi]

15. He's gonna Exorcise

All his states problems and drive the evil spirits out.

[BootinUp]

16. let them eat cake! nt

[progressivebydesign]

17. What complete and total assholes these republicans are.

I hope that their constituents remember every single one of these party hacks when elections come around. It's the same damn players in the GOP Haley Barbour, Jindal, etc, how can they even show their faces? They should be disgraced.

[Renaissance Man]

18. This is utter bullshit.

"The Jindal administration says it requires a permanent change in state law that would force businesses to pay higher taxes once the federal dollars run out."

Right, an increase of $12 million spread throughout all Louisiana businesses would just burden them with high taxes? I guess that's just gonna bankrupt the state, eh Bobby? Shit on the people who are unemployed due to your political party being responsible for placing the economy in the crapper, and then reject the money that would help them until economic times get better.

Fuck. You. Jindal.

[Snarkoleptic]

19. He'd rather fuck over his constituents than anger Limbaugh.

[KamaAina]

20. Also being hashed out in GD

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5100860&mesg_id=5100860

complete with bonus Jindal trivia, plus a flamefest related to, of all things, his name. :eyes:

[McCamy Taylor]

21. The state legislature can take the money. He will be paid $$$ from the bailout funneled through bank

executives who will give parts of their bonuses to GOP politicians across the country---and more money to friends and family members who will also donate the maximum amount to GOPers.

Imagine how far an extra $1million per executive could go? Each bank exec. can hand out $2000 to 50 politicians himself and also give away $900,000 to other people who will do the same. That means that 50 Republican candidates will get $20,000 for every $1 million in bank exec bonuses that we the tax payers paid for with our bailout that did not go to free up credit.

Plus the banks will write "loans" to companies and rich folks so that they can distribute cash to be used for contributions.

Meanwhile, working class people will be so cash strapped, they will have no money to donate.

I predict that at least $10 billion of the bank bailout will go right back into the GOP coffers for the 2010 elections. This is why the Republicans are willing to act like asses. Cold hard cash from Morgan Chase---Hitler's Banks and the others.

[liberal N proud]

23. This will be used against him in 2012

When he wants to run for the GOP candidacy for President it can be said that he turned his back on the citizens of Louisiana. He would do the same for the people of the United States.

What a stupid fucker, trying to play politics at a time when the bottom has fallen out.

[OhioChick]

24. First thing I thought of, as well. n/t

[BrklynLiberal]

25. I wonder what record he is going to campaign on for his next electxion run?

[adamuu]

26. heh... well, good for him

I can respect that.
Now he should face the wrath of his constituents.

[Nothing Without Hope]

27. He's very ambitious and is paying his GOP party dues, looking to nomination in 4 yrs

Any semblance of actually giving a damn about his constituents is illusory.

[satya]

28. Does Louisiana have a procedure for recalling its governor? nt

[scytherius]

30. So TYPICALLY Republican. Summed up as "fuck mankind" n/t

nt

[JI7]

31. i'm disgusted this asshole ever became Governor in the first place

[JI7]

32. fuck you PIYUSH

[Chovexani]

33. Typical Repuke shithead

Putting pandering to the Scroogetariat before doing for the people he swore an oath to serve.

[autorank]

34. He's just another Republican clown, who could are less about citizens

Take the damn money, dude, it's for your citizens. But nooo, not him. He's positioning for the 2012 nomination
on the backs of the unemployed of Louisiana.

The guy is a complete fool and a nasty piece of work.

[and-justice-for-all]

35. Jindal is a fucking joke...

how did that clown get elected anyway?!

[jus_the_facts]

36. Unverified Computer Voting Machines....

....ring any bells? :nopity:

[and-justice-for-all]

41. Oh yeeeaaaahhhh,,,I forgot about that..

Repuke strategy: If lying fails, steal it..nt

[MedfordTim]

38. Since no one else has mentioned this...

A point in all this which is very important yet overlooked is that no matter if Jindal or any other Governor could and did refuse the money, the people in their state would still be responsible for paying it back.

Do they think their citizens could exempt a portion of their federal taxes because they didn't receive their "portion?" How are their citizens going to react when they figure out they paid for the band but aren't doing any of the dancing due to a grandstand play by their head of state?

Why isn't anyone talking about this?

[Sultana]

39. Oooohhhh, looks like Jindal won't win re-election

:D

[truebrit71]

40. ..and thus ended Piyush's Presidential bid before it got off the ground...

...the Dems would need run only ONE ad for the entire campaign..."Piyush Jindal put his own political ambitions above the dire need of his fellow citizens, what would he do in the White House?"

Game over for "Bobby"....

[DCKit]

42. Buh Bye Bobby!!!!

Don't let the door smack you in the ass on the way out.

[shannonmerklan]

43. Jindal=hypocrite

Jindal joins the chorus of Republicans who opposed the stimulus but who will take part of it, especially if it's the part that benefits the wealthy in their states. Poor and the middle class be damned