Yesterday, I spoke on the Floor of the U.S. House of Representatives against proposals by some governors in Southern states to refuse funds made available through H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. (Watch the video HERE) In recent days, Governors Bobby Jindal (LA), Haley Barbour (MS), Mark Sanford (SC) and Phil Bredesen (TN), among others, have stated that they may not accept funding that increases unemployment insurance benefits for citizens of their states.
Yesterday, while Governor Bredesen made the case for rejecting stimulus funding for unemployment benefits on Fox News and MSNBC, the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development announced that the state’s jobless rate rose a full percentage point in one month to 8.6 percent in January, up from 5.3 percent a year ago. (See the report HERE) In an editorial published before the new unemployment numbers were released, the Memphis Commercial Appeal said, "These are real people whose suffering could be eased in substantial ways. Tennessee should be in hot pursuit of a way to help them." (Read the editorial HERE)
When President Obama’s economic advisor Larry Summers laid out the parameters for the recovery package, he explained that it should be "timely, targeted and temporary." An extension of unemployment benefits manifests these core principals. These federal dollars are put back into the economy immediately, and in states like Tennessee where there is a 9 percent sales tax, they generate revenue for cash-strapped state and local governments. I fail to see Governor Bredesen’s logic in refusing money to assist our most vulnerable citizens: the unemployed.
Please take a moment in the next few days to call or write to Governor Bredesen to let him know your feelings about his proposal to refuse funds from the recovery package. Here's how you can contact him:
Governor's Office
Tennessee State Capitol
Nashville, TN 37243-0001
Phone: 615.741.2001
Fax: 615.532.9711
Email: phil.bredesen@state.tn.us