Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels and Democratic House Speaker Patrick Bauer remain at odds over whether Indiana should make changes in order to obtain $148.5 million in federal stimulus money for the state’s unemployment fund.
The Daniels administration says once the money would run out in about 20 months, expanded eligibility standards for unemployment insurance in Indiana would require an $88 million tax increase on employers.
The General Assembly passed a $300 million unemployment tax increase on employers earlier this year to help shore up the fund, which has borrowed $1 billion from the federal government so far to remain solvent.
Bauer says lawmakers should take steps to get the extra federal money, saying it is badly needed for the jobless.
Information from: The Indianapolis Star, http://www.indystar.com
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