Refusing aid to the unemployed can be approach with caution, I agree, but we also need to be realistic about the fact that we are doing exactly that at a time of high unemployment. Also, unemployment benefits are usually spent directly back into a state’s economy, very quickly. That’s real stimulus, not theoretic.

I understand the legislatures hesitancy, but it was a lack of revenue that led to a gigantic budget hole this year (and next). Refusing the money could avoid a bigger challenge in a few years, or it could simply lock us in to reduced revenue and a shrinking state economy still at that time.

I’m simply hoping for a rational, rather than blindly ideological approach, and admittedly, I’m hesitant to place faith in many of our representatives, who showed during the 09 session they aren’t above posturing as pretend limited government ideologues while many Utahn’s face real financial challenges to life and prosperity.