Tennessee may reject stimulus aid for jobless

[Freddie Stubbs]

Bredesen balks at conditions tied to federal package, long-term costs

Tennessee could reject a portion of the $787 billion economic stimulus package out of concerns that it would force the state to raise taxes on businesses in the future.
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At the National Governors Association meetings in Washington, D.C., Gov. Phil Bredesen said this week that he might turn down relief for unemployed workers worth an estimated $143 million because of conditions placed on the money by Congress.

The stimulus package would also raise unemployment benefits by $25 a week for all workers, but in addition, lawmakers want states to expand the pool of people who can apply for benefits. That would put more pressure on an unemployment trust fund that is already trying to stave off insolvency.

"We are evaluating this piece of money, whether it makes sense for us to take it," Bredesen said in an interview Monday with the Chattanooga Times Free Press. "We're in the position of going back to our legislature this year for changes in our tax structure just to keep our fund whole, and taking it to a new level may be too much of a lift for the legislature this spring."

more: http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090225/NEWS02/902250416

[Jennicut]

1. What is it with these Southern Governors? And this ones a Dem!

[krawhitham]

20. DAMN you Lincoln

you should have just let the south go

[Nite Owl]

2. Wasn't this the guy

mentioned for HHS?

[Kalyke]

4. Yes.

[Kokonoe]

6. It was a relief when Bredesen didn't get HHS.

If Obama wanted opponents in his cabinet, they should have an R.
Less knives in his back.

[Kalyke]

3. He'll cave...

Bredesen has to act like a Republican at times to get along in this state.

[TornadoTN]

16. I still think he would do well to cut the bullshit

Sorry to be so terse, but Ned McWherter did a great job in this state and he ran as a rough and tumble Democrat in the Ann Richards mold.

Bredesen has changed for some reason. Before 2008, he did such a great job being a moderate Democrat but still advocating for policies that made sense for all Tennesseans (much to the displeasure of the GOP). I'd really like to know what happened to make him turn into the person we have today. He abandoned this state last year during the election - he left Democrats in state and local offices out to dry.

[OHdem10]

5. Conservative Economic Fundamentalism---Have you ever wondered

why Southern States tend to remain the poorest states in the Union.
followed by some Wsestern Plain States?
Which Ideology has been the guiding one??? Conservative Economic
Fundamentalism practiced by Dems or Repubs is Conservative Economic
Fundamentalism.

[Leo The Cleo]

7. Double Agents

These Governors are actually double agents. They are a secret subversive wing of the rep party, who in truth want Democrats to win these seats.

[Kalyke]

8. LOL!! I wish!

But the Tennessee Democratic Party is in such shambles that I can't think of one Democrat who has a shot at our governorship in 2010.

We'd better start recruiting some good and dynamic leaders in this state to rebuild the party or, regretfully, I'll have to move to Ireland or something.

I love my state - it's one of the most beautiful and temperate states in the nation (except for August), but we're so inundated by right-wing radio with no hope of alternatives that 51 percent or more of the people are brainwashed. It's really very sad.

[Leo The Cleo]

9. I'll Run

I'll run to governor there. I won't win, but I'd love that face time. I need to meet new people. LOL

[TornadoTN]

18. Have you met our new State Democratic Chair?

Chip Forrester, who is a major Obama backer, was elected to the seat after the Obama people exerted some significant pressure on the old guard.

I met him last weekend and he's a stand-up guy with some great ideas for moving this state forward. I think he's going to do a great job as our chair and he's really pushing hard for 2010.

He's something our party hasn't had here in a long, long time.

[Kingofalldems]

10. I see you are spamming DU again

Anytime there is bad news or something perceived as bad news for Dems, slickee shows up. Why not the trifecta--post it in GD too? :shrug:

[Freddie Stubbs]

11. I see that you still do not understand DU's rules

If you believe that this post violates DU's rules, by all means please send an alert.

[Kingofalldems]

12. Just wondering why you would want to post the same thing

in 2 different places. It's almost as if you were rubbing it in a little. But even though I regularly donate to DU I don't post nearly as much as some who do not donate, but to me spamming is exactly what you did.

[Elidor]

13. Maybe if you donate some more...

Someone will give a shit.

But I doubt it.

[Freddie Stubbs]

17. Did you alert the mods to the 'spam'?

:shrug:

[Clio the Leo]

14. NO!!!!!

Ok seriously, do I call his office up and bless him out now or what?

If I and the rest of the state of TN wanted a man in the Governor's manion who was more interested in protecting the rich than the working man, we'd have elected a Republican!!!

[TornadoTN]

15. Bredesen is turning into a good Republican before he leaves office - but this isn't what it seems.

However, he is saying that he likes the stimulus, just not the unemployment benefits side of it that the state will have to pick up after 2 years. Hardly an utter rejection of the stimulus, but it's still an idiotic thing to do.

That being said, Bredesen was a different Governor pre-2008. Since then, it's been a landslide towards the right. He did nothing for the party last year and didn't even bother to hit the campaign trail in any significant way to help Democrats.

[PVnRT]

19. Fine. Kentucky can use that money just fine, thanks.