Montgomery, AL – Democratic state Sen. Rodger Smitherman of Birmingham has introduced legislation to get $100 million in unemployment compensation funding that Gov. Bob Riley has declined from the federal stimulus package.
Smitherman says he expects unemployment in Alabama to get worse and the state needs to help. Smitherman's bill is backed by the Senate Democratic Caucus.
Riley is turning down the $100 million in federal funding because the state would have to expand its unemployment compensation law, which could lead to increased taxes on employers when the stimulus runs out in four years.
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