Florida Unemployment Benefits Rise With Stimulus

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Florida unemployment compensation benefits are increasing by $25 a week due to federal stimulus funding.

The higher rate went into effect Sunday under an agreement that Gov. Charlie Crist signed with the U.S. Department of Labor.

It'll bring $345 million in federal money to Florida through the end of the calendar year.

Benefits are based on a worker's prior earnings and last year ranged from $32 to $275 per week.

Some of Crist's fellow Republican governors say they may turn down the unemployment cash because they they'd have to raise state taxes to pay for the new benefit when the federal money runs out.

Crist, though, says it's needed to help Floridians get through tough times.

Comments

[Joshua Sophy]

Please read this important information for any Florida homeowner: http://www.newsinferno.com/archives/4886#more-4886

[junker207]

I live in Maine and I receive 321.00 a week in EUC plus the 25.00 dollars extra and it is only about half of my base pay as a construction worker. I would still be building things if it were not W and his Cronies who ruined everything for us.

[RageCage]

OK. I have to ask. What did Bush do that forced you to stop building things?

[AbbieHoffman2]

I am a Floridian and a life-long Democrat who thinks Mr. Crist is a very good Governor and a fine gentleman.

[lisalovesamelie]

I am very pleased with his job too.

[RageCage]

So I'm working 6 days a week and I get $14 extra a week from Obama's tax cut. Some guy with no job gets additional unemployment benefits (paid for by us) and could theoretically pull down $275 a week which is slightly more than I make in a week. What is wrong with this picture? Should I quit my job? I'd be making more money that way. Shouldn't we be making people uncomfortable in poverty so they are motivated to get out of it themselves and not really on the government?

[nomobull]

stop with talking point.

[RageCage]

That's it? That statement continues to be the only argument libs on this site can use against conservative thought. Here, I'll make it real easy on you all. We'll take it one idea at a time:

Should we be making people uncomfortable in poverty and driving them out of it? Yes or no. I say yes. Now you go.

[HolePunchSD]

You obviously have NO IDEA how unemployment works, do you?
And just so you know, you don't get unemployment benefits if you QUIT your job. So go ahead and quit--it will only open up a position for someone who really wants to work.

[BushBites]

Go ahead and quit.

I'll toss you a dime when you're living it up on the streets.

[RageCage]

That won't be necessary. If I quit it'll be because I already have a second job lined up.

[BushBites]

Or he could make $32 a week which, I assume, is far, far less than you make.

Frankly, I wouldn't last a month on $32 a week without losing my home.

[BushBites]

My last response to you got buried, so I'll try again:


1. Unemployment is based on previous salary, so I seriously doubt the hard core lazy bum would be eligible for $275. More than likely, the top rate would be for people who made far, far more than $275 a week before they were laid off.

2. The increase is only through the end of the year as a recessionary measure. If you think anybody can get fired, jump on unemployment and get the top rate, then find a good job when unemployment benefits decrease with no muss or fuss, you know nothing of the job market.

3. Unemployment isn't meant to lift people out of poverty. It's meant to give people a (six month, I believe) bridge between jobs. You're mixing unemployment up with welfare, which was slashed under Clinton. Nobody is comfortable in poverty, except for hillbilly Republicans.

[jukesgrrl]

I think this Republican is going to win his next election a lot faster than those who are taking money and rights AWAY from their constituents.

Jindal et. al are betting the farm on the fact that the stimulus will fail. Crist is trying to help people. Which do you think will be remembered more positively next election day?

[TomInJax]

Agreed. I don't like that he backed the ban on civil unions, for straights as well as gays. And he backed off on the off shore drilling ban when he campaigned for McCain, but overall he has been a populist Governor. He has taken on the insurance companies. He pushed the insurance commission to deny State Farms request for a 46% increase in home owner policies, prompting State Farm to quit writing homeowners policies in Florida. Who cares. Plenty of other ins. companies looking to make a buck. He really does care about his people and his state. I think it's the closeted gay man in him. He's really a closet Blue Dog Democrat, but like being gay, he would never admit it.

[TurnThePageGA]

He makes this Life Long Democrat proud to say he is from Florida. A Republican for whom "Country First" is not just some campaign slogan (hint-hint John McCain).

[leeman79]

Guys like Crist are the real future of the republican party.

[Davonne Rushing]

I couldn't have said it better myself. Republicans need to learn from Chris and Schwarzenegger. The needs of their people are much more important than political reasons.

[BushBites]

No he's nice.

He's the past of the Repub Party.

The days of Nelson Rockefeller, Jerry Ford and even Richard Nixon are long gone for the Repub Party.

Now, it's the party of me, me, me.

[awb]

I live in Florida and Crist is a smart politician
It also just so happens this is the right thing to do

He will never win a national election - too many skeletons (he was Mark Foley's former roommate for example) - but he could win for Senator for Martinez' seat

I am a dem but that would be much preferable to Mel Martinez

All I can say is thank goodness Jeb Bush is gone
He would have been the same as the other republican gov- grandstanding and hurting the state

Good for you Charlie

[eatyourveggies]

Yeah, if Jeb were still here...he'd been tossing old ladies to the curb to save a medicaid buck. Bush family is heartless.

[CardboardBox]

I admit to not having RTFA, but his wife looks pretty hot in the picture...and Crist looks like he's holding an imaginary BLT sandwich in his hand. He looks very happy about it, too.

[cloudminder]

they both look spastic

[Harmony1812]

Crist will be running against Obama in the next election. Just wait.

[jeg]

Depends on how well Pres. Obama's first term goes. If it goes well enough, Crist will wait until 2016. I don't entirely trust him, but he's certainly the smartest Republican on the national stage right now who could run for President.

[SueEll]

Charlie Crist has always been a very polite man, just like President Obama. Maybe it's coming back in style -- I think that would be great.

[BLinCincinnati]

Don't think so personally. He'll be up for Gov. again in 2010, meaning he'll be in office till Jan 2015, which would be the perfect time to jump into a Presidential race. Unless Obama's term goes horribly wrong, he won't risk it in 2012, he's not that old and unseating a sitting President is not easy. The field in 2016 will be wide open because Biden won't be running at age 73.

Everything he's doing so far is gaining favor with the people of Florida. Opening the hours for early voting, higher unemployment, etc.

I expect he'll go out of his way to work with Obama as much as he possibly can, riding Obama's coat tails to 2016 where he can look like a very moderate friendly Republican who works well with others. Crist will have a HUGE advantage in the GOP Primary with Florida in his pocket. Don't forget Florida pretty much sealed the primary for McCain.

Having Florida also puts him at a big advantage in the general.

[cloudminder]

if anything, Crist will run for senator

otherwise he is running for Governor and staying that way until term limited out

[IndependentTogether]

Not likely. If anything, he'll shoot for 2016. However, on the off chance that he does run in 2012, he is positioning himself properly with the people... it just doesn't make sense that he would go up against the guy that played a huge factor in his own popularity.

[TomInJax]

Not gonna happen. His fellow Repubs would shred him. Too many gay rumors. He was Mark Foley's roommate. Supposedly he had a sexual relationship with an aid who was in his early twenties while Crist was in his late forties. Actually quite normal in gay circles. Trust me I know, but the Dobbins wing of the party would have a fit.

[claylandg]

Charlie and Arnold need to step back and take a hard look at there states as to why they need this money so badly? what do they have incommon? illegal Aliens!!!!
sponging of the system until the system is broke and broke it is,get a grip people.
No one payes taxes but uses all the states services for free and you wonder why florida is in trouble, sounds like charlie isn't thinking and no one wants to say it, illegal Aliens. If you want to live here fine become a citizen go through all the proper channels but to live here illegally isn't something that's good for my family but who cares about Americans anymore, no one !!

[Petey131]

Go ahead blame the "illegal aliens." Just another bitter tr0// using old talking points. You have no clue tr0//, no clue at all.

[jeg]

Florida's primary source of income is tourism. It's why we have a relatively high sales tax and no income tax. The 'illegal aliens' pay taxes when they buy products, and are almost a necessity for the citrus industry.

Nice try, but you missed. Go see if Rush or Lou has better talking points for tomorrow.

[SueEll]

And the land developers have been spreading homes across Florida like wildfire -- so this home value/mortgage crisis has had a huge impact on the state. (The developers came in, made a fortune, and high-tailed it out of the state.)

[unite4change]

Arnold problems is Prop 13, they don't want to pay taxes but expect services.

[citizensrus]

Florida: Jeb Bush.

[Kindheart]

At least there is one smart GOP governor. As for the other GOP governors, they will have to answer to the citizens in their states when their re-election time comes along.

[SoCalAmerican]

Bravo - action and decisions that result in benefit for the people. Republican or Democrat, that's what I call governing.

[classykaren]

I live in Florida and I am unemployed you have to had made over 50,000 per year to make 250 in unemployment I am very grateful he did this I live on 192 per week

[BLinCincinnati]

Is that $192 per week before or after the taxes are taken out? So basically thats like minimum wage.

[1PALady]

If you had to live on that unemployment check, you would be thanking GOD that he raised it. Republicans never cease to amaze me. They never think about anybody but themselves, it's all about ME and MINE! I work with one of them and it's always all about HER. I almost can't stand them!

[Skwege]

We sure love to give Charlie a hard time. However comparatively he is far more tolerable than those Nazis that make up the rest of his party. I'd never vote for him, but I can think of worse guys out there.

[ideveloper]

I'd change parties to vote for him in a primary.

[Mugzi]

True...he's better than jeb, but..we have a really smart gal Alex Sink who I hope will run for Governor, she's our CFO, Dem, and calls it like she sees it!!! Much smarter thanCharlie and everyone else!

[desertdweller]

I'm impressed. That took guts.