Md. seeks $250 million advance for jobless pay
The Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation said Thursday it is seeking a short-term advance of about $250 million from the federal government so the state agency can continue paying unemployment benefits. The money will be used to pay benefits beginning next month and until April when employers send in their unemployment insurance tax payments to the state. Reserves in the Maryland Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund have dropped from $755 million at the end of 2008 to less than $100 million. Maryland pays out about $22 million a week to residents who lost their jobs for no fault of their own. As part of the 2009 stimulus package, the federal government offers tax-free advances until the end of this year to states needing to replenish their trust funds. Maryland expects to repay the federal government by the deadline. The state agency said 26 other states have sought $25 billion in federal advances.
- Eileen Ambrose
Toyota recalls 2.3 million vehicles over gas pedals
NEW YORK - Toyota said Thursday it is recalling 2.3 million vehicles in the U.S. to fix accelerator pedals that can become stuck, the latest in a string of quality problems that have bedeviled the Japanese automaker. The recall affects the 2009-2010 RAV4, the 2009-2010 Corolla, the 2009-2010 Matrix, the 2005-2010 Avalon, the 2007-2010 Camry, the 2010 Highlander, the 2007-2010 Tundra and the 2008-2010 Sequoia. The latest move comes just months after Toyota Motor Corp. recalled 4.2 million vehicles over concerns that accelerator pedals could become lodged under floor mats, causing sudden acceleration. Toyota said Thursday's recall is because of potential problems with the gas pedal mechanism, causing the accelerator to become stuck regardless of whether the vehicle contains a floor mat. Toyota said in certain rare cases, the gas pedal mechanism wears down, causing the accelerator to become harder to press, slower to return or, in some cases, stuck. Toyota spokesman John Hanson said the automaker does not yet have a solution to the problem.
-Associated Press