By Shelley Kofler, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-824725.mp3
Dallas, TX – For the second time this week, officials are saying the state comptroller is underestimating the potential loss of jobs in Texas. Today the comments came from the head of the state agency that administers unemployment. KERA's Shelley Kofler has more on what he's predicting.
Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Tom Pauken believes the state comptroller is estimating too low when she says 180-thousand Texas jobs will be lost this year. Pauken believes the Federal Reserve is more accurate in predicting 300-thousand jobs will disappear. He says unemployment here will grow to 8-percent.
Pauken says jobless claims have doubled in the past year and his staff is already working holidays and weekends to keep up.
Pauken: Our phone lines have gotten jammed. Not enough people to handle the claims. We are moving as quickly as possible to address those issues. We are encouraging people as much as possible to file their claims online.
Pauken wants to reassure Texans the state has enough money to pay valid claims. And he says he believes a solution is in the works that will allow his agency to accept $555 million dollars in federal stimulus money that would provide unemployment to more Texans. Some officials, including the Governor, have suggested rejecting the stimulus money saying Texas costs will balloon if we take it. But Governor Perry tells KERA he hasn't made a decision.
Perry: It is my responsibility if the situation calls for it to stand up and say, "No sir we don't think is in Texans best interest to spend these dollars, But we don't know that yet."