$ 11 MILLION DOLLARS IN STIMULUS MONEY TO REMODEL TEXAS GOVERNOR'S MANSION

The Texas budget legislators have set aside the monies for the remodel, even though they have fought against extending unemployment benefits. Governor Rick Perry doesn't want the Federal Government to attach strings to the $555 million in stimulus dollars for unemployment insurance. He said "He didn't want the government to tell the people in Texas how to run their business".

Other projects favored by Perry, $40 million to help film projects, 20 million for the Enterprise Fund meant to spur economic development and $24 million for the Emerging Technology Fund. The Governor hasn't blocked the bulk of the stimulus dollars from coming to Texas, but does not want the unemployment part.

He wants to use $11 billion for pet projects and to balance the proposed two-year budget.

WILL AMTRAK GET SOME STIMULUS MONEY ??

I hope that Amtrak will get some of the stimulus money. The route from New Orleans and Florida has been discontinued for years now. The service was suspended after the Katrina Hurricane due to track damage.

Years ago a train fell into the river in Alabama because of the deterioration of the tracks. The reports were supposedly filed every year that the tracks were inspected but that was not the case.

WHEN WILL OFFICES OPEN TO APPLY FOR STIMULUS JOBS ?

I have not heard about any offices opening for unemployed persons to register. Who is going to replace the sod on the Capitol Mall? Will it be the National Park Workers who already have a job? Or will it be the unemployed ?

There should be offices in every state for persons who were laid off to apply for jobs filling potholes and repairing schools. Is this money going to be given to governors who will only divert the money to other projects ?