Senator Pushing to Override Jindal on Stimulus

[Lostinoz]

http://www.wdam.com/Global/story.asp?S=9979376

Senator pushing to override Jindal on stimulus
Associated Press - March 10, 2009 12:14 PM ET

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A state senator is asking lawmakers to override Gov. Bobby Jindal's refusal to accept nearly $100 million in federal stimulus money to expand unemployment benefits.

Sen. Eric LaFleur sent a letter Tuesday to legislators asking them to support a resolution that would notify the federal government of Louisiana's intention to take the $98 million to give unemployment benefits to thousands of people who wouldn't normally be eligible to receive them.

Jindal, a Republican, has said he is rejecting the money because it would require a change in state law that Jindal said would force businesses to pay higher unemployment taxes once the federal dollars run out.

LaFleur, a Democrat, says Louisiana can change its law to expand the unemployment benefits until the stimulus money runs out, then reverse the law change.