Lawmakers advance plan for stimulus funds

CARSON CITY — Nevada lawmakers today advanced a plan to sidestep Gov. Jim Gibbons and accept federal stimulus funds for jobless benefits.

The Assembly Ways and Means Committee voted unanimously to pass two measures that would allow the Legislature to accept the stimulus funds. The measures now move to the full Assembly.

At stake is $200 million in federal funds to extend the number of weeks that those already on the jobless rolls can get unemployment checks; and another $77 million to pay for additional people on the rolls.

Nevada's unemployment rate rose to 10.1 percent in February. The rate has increased every month since the start of the national recession in December 2007.