Jobless won't lose extended benefits [in Mass]

[Forkboy]

Massachusetts officials, realizing that up to 85,000 jobless residents would soon exhaust their federal unemployment benefits, engineered a last-minute change in state law that ensures that the payments keep flowing.

The change, which alters the way Massachusetts qualifies for federally funded extended benefits, allows those who do not find a job within 59 weeks to be eligible for up to 20 additional weeks of unemployment benefits.

Those added benefits could pump up to $650 million into the state’s economy.

The legislation was signed into law by Governor Deval Patrick earlier this month, only two days before 25,000 unemployed workers would have exhausted their federal benefits, according to the state’s Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development.

“Once we realized that thousands of people were going to be dropped from receiving their benefits, the executive and legislative branches worked hand in glove to fix the problem,’’ said state Labor Secretary Suzanne Bump. “Now, we are also poised to help people who might exhaust benefits over the next six months.’’

http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2009/07/21/jobless_wont_lose_extended_benefits_in_mass/

[TahitiNut]

1. Now, THAT'S the way "public servants" should behave.

Bravo. :applause:

[Forkboy]

3. We certainly have our share of problems here in Mass.

But overall it's a damn good state to live in. Besides, there's only about 7 Repubs left in the state. :)

[ccharles000]

2. k/r

[MADem]

4. Yep, K and R, indeed! nt