Ohio reaches deadline to get $176M in incentives

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - It appears Ohio won't get $176 million in federal stimulus money to expand its unemployment benefits.

The federal government set aside $7 billion to give to states that expanded those benefits, and the deadline is Monday. Ohio's General Assembly would have to pass a law to make those changes, but no voting session was scheduled Monday.

A spokesman for Republican Gov. John Kasich says it's unwise to make changes that will cost the state in the long run in exchange for one-time money from the federal government.

To receive the money, Ohio would have to choose from a number of  options, including expanding benefits to unemployed workers seeking part-time work or extending benefits for those in approved job training.