I guess the Governor’s remarks on Texas seceding from the union isn’t earning him any love from his colleagues in the Legislature. While debating the budget, the House just passed an amendment that would take $23 million of the Governor’s $24 million budget and put into mental health care services instead. If that plan sticks, the Guv might have to set up a tent in the burned out mansion’s backyard. And, while the national media has given Perry some sought out attention, the Senate took a jab at him as well when they voted to go over the Governor’s head and accept the $555 million dollars in stimulus money he rejected.

How ironic would it be if he had to let some of his staff go due to a depleted budget and they were the next ones in line for the unemployment money he rejected?

The Senate Democrats have signed a letter to the Lt. Gov., asking he call as Committee of the Whole (what they did with the Voter ID debate) to take up the issue of accepting stimulus dollars. This comes after Governor Perry publicly rejected the $555 million that would have gone to unemployment insurance.  The letter states that the legislature must override the Governor on his decision, considering the chairman of the Texas Workforce Commission has even recommended they take the money, saying the fund will be facing a $750 million shortfall by September.

As of now, the TWC is paying out $60 million a week in unemployment benefits.

We have Sen. Ogden (Chair of Senate Finance) on our show this week and we’ll be talking about that stimulus money and the role it will play in getting a budget out on time (in addition to other issues).