Florida Unemployment Benefits to Get a Boost

According to a press release by Crist's office, the new unemployment benefits rate will kick in this week using funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

The $787 billion economic stimulus package includes $12.2 billion for Florida over three years, the release said.

Last year Florida unemployment benefits ranged between $32 and $275 a week, depending on your prior rate of income. That's typical of any such unemployment benefits, but those numbers are quite low compared to other states.

While some governors, such as Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal are against taking unemployment stimulus money, because they say the expansion of benefits will hurt in the long-term, one has to wonder if they are simply doing so so if the stimulus fails, they can say "see, see."

If the stimulus fails, however, it may be no fault of Barack Obama's. He inherited such a mess, that the blame really needs to be placed where it belongs: at the feet of the GOP.