Washington Post:
"RICHMOND, VA . April 8 -- A divided General Assembly narrowly rejected $125 million in federal stimulus money Wednesday that would have provided additional unemployment benefits to thousands of jobless Virginians."
"Sen. Ken Cuccinelli II (R-Fairfax) said. "Actually our constituents . . . who are now unemployed are being used by this administration to hold a gun to the head of this General Assembly"
" The change would have increased the rate at which employers pay into the state unemployment trust fund by up to $4.50 more a worker a year, according to the governor's office."
""This is going to hurt small businesses. That's where the impact is going to be felt," Sen. John C. Watkins (R-Chesterfield) said."
"Virginia provides some of the lowest unemployment benefits in the country. Employers pay an average of $98 per worker a year for unemployment insurance. The national average is $258."
