Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Time is of the essence, governor. Your job is to lead, not to be kowtowed by Tea-Publicans in the Arizona legislature who have a visceral hatred for the unemployed. Just call the special session already!
You gotta love the way that Howard Fischer couches Governor Brewer's support for a special session for a one word amendment to Arizona's unemployment insurance statutes. Brewer working to get special session for extended jobless benefits:
Gov. Jan Brewer wants a special legislative session to help preserve jobless benefits for more than 15,300 long-term unemployed in the state.
Gubernatorial press aide Matthew Benson said Thursday the governor supports a one-word change in state law that would keep about $3.4 million a week in federal benefits flowing into Arizona. Benson said Brewer now is working with legislative leaders to make that happen.
At this point, though, there is no commitment to do that.
Is the governor working hard, or hardly working? If Governor Brewer really believes this is the right thing to do she would call the special session and lead the effort for passage of this one word amendment. What is this passive-aggressive "Oh, I want to, but only if the Tea-Publican legislature will agree to it" crap?
As I said, time is of the essence. The Arizona Republic reports:
Unless the law is changed, an estimated 15,400 residents now receiving the last 20 weeks of extended benefits – those between 79 and 99 weeks – would have their benefits halted in June, according to Jim Apperson, an assistant director at the DES.
Benson said the Legislature will have to act fast, holding a session before Memorial Day, and that it will need a two-thirds majority in both chambers to enact an emergency clause to speed the legislation into law. Otherwise, a bill allowing the extra 20 weeks of benefits could not take effect for 90 days.
"This is both an important safety net for the long-term unemployed as well as a critical economic boost for the state's economy," Benson said. "It's almost $3.5 million a week in federal money for the economy."
Then tell your boss to call a special session already! Knock off this passive-aggressive nonsense and demonstrate some leadership for a change.
This one word amendment does not cost the state of Arizona any money. This is federal funds flowing into the state to boost our economy. The vote should be unanimous. Only an ideological extremist with a sick hatred for the unemployed could vote against this no-brainer.