Sunday, February 22, 2009

WHAT'S JINDAL TALKING ABOUT?

As far as I can tell, the ARRA does not require the states to pony up money. For the increase in unemployment benefits, state participation is voluntary:
SEC. 2002. INCREASE IN UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION BENEFITS.
(a) FEDERAL-STATE AGREEMENTS.—Any State which desires to
do so may enter into and participate in an agreement under this
section with the Secretary of Labor (hereinafter in this section
referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’). Any State which is a party to
an agreement under this section may, upon providing 30 days’
written notice to the Secretary, terminate such agreement.

In addition, the Feds pick up ALL of the additional payment:
(d) PAYMENTS TO STATES.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—
(A) FULL REIMBURSEMENT.—There shall be paid to each
State which has entered into an agreement under this
section an amount equal to 100 percent of—
(i) the total amount of additional compensation
(as described in subsection (b)(1)) paid to individuals
by the State pursuant to such agreement; and
(ii) any additional administrative expenses
incurred by the State by reason of such agreement
(as determined by the Secretary).

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