House debates stimulus funds

AUSTIN (KXAN/AP) - The debate over Gov. Rick Perry's decision regarding part of the federal governments stimulus package is still going full force.

The Texas House has started debating a bill that authorizes the state to accept the $555 million in stimulus money slated for unemployment insurance. The bill already passed under Republican leadership in the Senate.

After the stimulus package passed Congress, Perry announced he would not accept money that forced the state to expand programs. The stipulations of the stimulus money for unemployment insurance requires Texas offer unemployment benefits to some part-time workers as well.

Although Perry refuses to back down on his stance, the state's unemployment benefits fund is expected to face a deficit in the near future.

Rep. Mark Strama, D-Austin, led the charge in the House to accept the money and the debate got heated when Rep. Ken Legler, R-Pasadena, filed an amendment that would require anyone applying for unemployment benefits would have to submit to a drug test.

"It's adding insult to injury," said Rep. Jim Dunnam, D-Waco. "Not only have I lost my job through no fault of my own, but I've got to go pee in a cup or get my hair pulled because they think I might have been doing methamphetamine two months ago or cocaine two months ago. Give me a break."

Strama then offered up an amendment to Legler's amendment making the necessity of drug tests a study, essentially gutting the proposal.

After two votes and two head counts to make sure everyone voted for themselves, Strama's amendment passed.

The Austin lawmaker then tabled the unemployment insurance bill until Thursday evening.

While Gov. Rick Perry is criticizing Washington bailouts, state lawmakers are planning to use $11 million in federal stimulus money to help rebuild the badly burned Texas Governor's Mansion.

Top budget negotiators said Thursday that a House-Senate committee agreed on the expenditures late Wednesday night. Some $11 million in federal rescue dollars would be spent to refurbish the mansion, which was badly burned in an arson fire last summer.

Around $10 million in state tax money is also slated to be spent on a renovation expected to cost about $20 million, officials said.

Perry's office could not immediately be reached for comment.