Jindal to Turn Down Stimulus $$$ for Jobless

By Neal Colgrass

Posted Feb 20, 2009 5:59 PM CST

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Jindal to Turn Down Stimulus $$$ for Jobless — In a Aug. 20, 2008 file photo, President Bush arrives at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport on the way to events marking the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, in Kenner, La. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Louisiana will refuse money from the federal stimulus plan aimed at increasing unemployment insurance, Gov. Bobby Jindal said today. The first governor to officially turn down stimulus dollars, Jindal said the expanded coverage could create higher unemployment insurance taxes down the road. Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour said he will also likely forgo the unemployment stimulus.

“The federal money in this bill will run out in less than three years for this benefit and our businesses would then be stuck paying the bill,” Jindal said. "We cannot grow government in an unsustainable way.” Jindal is scheduled to deliver the Republican reply to President Obama's speech to Congress next week.
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