# Unemployed conservatives rejoice! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 21, 2009, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployed-conservatives-rejoice/486812 "2009-02-21T03:21:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployed-conservatives-rejoice/486812/1 "2009-02-21T03:21:24Z")
The governors of Louisiana and Mississippi are sticking by their guns, and are [refusing](http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20090220/pl_politico/19092) extra federal money for unemployment benefits because it will only last for two or three years. Heaven forbid that they get the concept that in two or three years, the situation will be entirely different. They’d rather screw the unemployed of their states now. I’m certain the the unemployed conservatives in those states will nevertheless be grateful that their governors have stood up for what is right. I, personally, would be a lot more impressed if they were refusing the money that ensures profits for the owners of construction and road building companies. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployed-conservatives-rejoice/486812/2 "2009-02-21T03:41:42Z")
Great! Can they divide the money up among the other states? Oh, never mind. The next two govs will change their minds after these two are dragged out and lynched. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployed-conservatives-rejoice/486812/3 "2009-02-21T03:54:51Z")
The governors don’t get the final say in this matter. The [state legislatures can override governors’ rejection of stimulus funding](http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/19/lawmakers-can-defy-governors-to-get-the-stimulus-money/): > [@](#): > > Signed into law on Tuesday by President Obama, the $787 billion economic package includes language that allows state lawmakers to go around their governors to obtain some of the funds. […] > > Representative James Clyburn, Democrat of South Carolina and the House majority whip, insisted on a passage in the law that includes this caveat: > > “If funds provided to any state in any division of this act are not accepted for use by the governor, then acceptance by the state legislature, by means of the adoption of a concurrent resolution, shall be sufficient to provide funding to such state.” ---
**Author:** ![Rhubarb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@Rhubarb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhubarb)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployed-conservatives-rejoice/486812/4 "2009-02-21T04:14:30Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > The governors don’t get the final say in this matter. The [state legislatures can override governors’ rejection of stimulus funding](http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/19/lawmakers-can-defy-governors-to-get-the-stimulus-money/): [Cynic Hat On] Which means these governors likely took a poll of the Lege before they decided to ‘stick by their guns’ and refuse the eeevil librul money so they can get their names in the national news without actually risking losing out on the gravy train. [Cynic Hat Off] ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployed-conservatives-rejoice/486812/5 "2009-02-21T04:18:43Z")
**Haley** ’s worried about future tax increases. He is quoted as saying he would like to find out more details before committing the state to additional costs down the road. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployed-conservatives-rejoice/486812/6 "2009-02-21T04:29:13Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > The governors of Louisiana and Mississippi are sticking by their guns, and are [refusing](http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20090220/pl_politico/19092) extra federal money for unemployment benefits because it will only last for two or three years. It’d be fun to send in federal troops, and _force_ them to take the money; colossally stupid, but fun. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployed-conservatives-rejoice/486812/7 "2009-02-21T04:29:30Z")
First of all, when we see states in major political turmoil because program funding has completely dried up (please see California, New York and others) it probably makes sense to look at new funding and see what you’ll be on the hook for in the near future. Also, I haven’t looked at Alabama specifically, but in Louisiana the unemployment rate is about a point lower than the national average. It is possible that they are meeting the funding for this in state or through existing structures. I don’t know whether it was a good decision or not - I’m open minded on that score. Perhaps the OP should be as well. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployed-conservatives-rejoice/486812/8 "2009-02-21T04:33:16Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > The governors of Louisiana and Mississippi are sticking by their guns, and are [refusing](http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20090220/pl_politico/19092) extra federal money for unemployment benefits because it will only last for two or three years. > > . Not entirely true. Barbour saved himself some wiggle room. From your link: \*Subject to learning more, my position is that Mississippi won’t accept funds that require us to have a tax increase later, because [they would force] us to change our rules for qualifying for unemployment compensation,” he said. \* Barbour’s got nothing to lose. He’s in his second term and can’t run again. Only reason he’s governor now is because the Dem that ran against him was underfunded and fucking nuts. If he refuses the money and if the stimulus fails, he looks like a genius. If it works, he looks like a fuckwit–and he is a fuckwit that wants to be President. High stakes poker game he’s playing. Haley Barbour may go down in history as the guy responsible for turning Mississippi into a Blue state. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployed-conservatives-rejoice/486812/9 "2009-02-21T04:35:15Z")
**Rhubarb** , gimme back my hat. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployed-conservatives-rejoice/486812/10 "2009-02-21T04:44:19Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Only reason he’s governor now is because the Dem that ran against him was underfunded and fucking nuts. I don’t know - he is firmly positioned with the insiders. I think he’s got the game down pat, and will be involved in MS politics for a long time. > [@](#): > > High stakes poker game he’s playing. Haley Barbour may go down in history as the guy responsible for turning Mississippi into a Blue state. He’s also got at least one “loose cannon” type relative - someone with a big mouth and a racist attitude. That person may end up being Haley’s undoing - you may be right.