I don't get it...

Some state legislators defeated a bill that agreed to expand unemployment benefits in Virginia in exchange for $125 million in stimulus funds. After two years, the funds the new changes in the law could be rescinded if the Federal money dried up. If the General Assembly decided to maintain those changes, they would need to raise unemployment taxes by $4.25 per employee per year. The expansion in benefits was to allow people to receive unemployment while they were in job training programs.

I am perplexed. It is one thing for our Federal legislators to oppose the stimulus funds on principle at that level. However, once the Federal money is coming down, it seems that rejecting it puts Virginia in a poorer place than other states. I do not understand why some legislators felt that allowing other states to receive more money than Virginia is a good idea for the Commonwealth. Since when do states want to receive fewer Federal funds than other states? Haven't people gone to the Supreme Court complaining about exactly that problem? With budget shortfalls like we have in this state, take whatever money we can get!