Romney Floats Self-Managed Employment Accounts

As part of his 160-page jobs plan, Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney is floating an idea that goes back to the Bush Administration: personal reemployment accounts.

They were given a test run in eight states, and here's how they worked: in addition to unemployment benefits, laid-off workers received a capped benefit of $3,000 to use in their job search.  For example, that money could be put towards a job counselor or a class for extra training.

A recent Boston Globe editorial called it one of Romney's intriguing ideas. But critics worry about how the accounts would impact the unemployment program.