Stimulus Money on the Way to Help Kansas Unemployed

As we learn unemployment figures in Kansas jumped again in May, we also learn the $69 million entitled to the state from the economic recovery bill is already on its way.

From the Lawrence Journal-World:

Kansas officials were notified Thursday that the state will receive $69 million in federal stimulus funds for unemployment benefits.

“It was less than one month ago that I was joined by aviation and business leaders in Wichita, signing the legislation that qualified Kansas for these funds, and already, we’re seeing how swift action can achieve swift results,” said Gov. Mark Parkinson. “These resources will help out-of-work Kansans put food on the table while they learn new skills for a new job, and that is a critical step in turning our economy around,” he said.

This is the unemployment money you heard Republican governors and legislators all over the country complaining about and even try to block. In Kansas, though, the final vote in favor of making needed changes to draw down the money was almost unanimous (see this post for details on the morons who voted "no"). I'm thankful the vast majority of Democrats and Republicans in the Statehouse recognized the utility of keeping people who are actively looking for a job above water in an increasingly bad economy.