AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ Gov. Rick Perry stood firm Wednesday that Texas shouldn’t accept $555 million in federal economic stimulus money for expanded unemployment benefits.
Some fellow Republicans are pushing the governor to take the cash.
The Texas Senate this week voted to accept the funds and expand state unemployment coverage. The proposal now goes to the House.
Perry says once the federal money runs out — Texas would be left paying the cost of the expansion to the tune of $75 million a year through taxes on employers.
Perry wasn’t specific on when he believes that cost would kick in, but said it would be “in those out years.”
Perry talked with reporters after speaking to a Texas Workforce Commission community college conference in Austin.
Perry says once government entitlement programs are put in place, it’s difficult to cut them.