Action 3 News - Omaha, Nebraska News, Weather, and Sports | Gov. Heineman Wants to Move Forward on Stimulus
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AP and Staff Reports.
Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman says he agrees with President Barack Obama's warning not to let political considerations cloud a discussion of the stimulus program.
Obama spoke to the nation's governors Monday in Washington, D.C. Heineman, a Republican, says he wishes the plan had more focus on job creation and tax relief, but "it's time to end that debate."
President Obama announced in that meeting that states will be able to access the first two quarters of Federal Medical Assistance Percentage funding (FMAP) - the federal match for Medicaid - starting this Wednesday. FMAP funding helps pay for health care for the families hit hard by the economic crisis. More than 49 million Americans rely on Medicaid for health care coverage, and Nebraska will be eligible for $47,843,000.
"This plan will also help ensure that you don't need to make cuts to essential services Americans rely on now more than ever," the President said.
Heineman says he still has questions, such as whether education funding can go to higher education. And he shares other GOP governors' concern about expanding state unemployment benefits for workers who were previously ineligible. They say it'll require a tax increase on employers once the stimulus money runs out.
But Heineman points out it's less than 1 percent of the total package.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
