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.
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