Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder will sign bill that reduces jobless benefits

[cali]

Published: Friday, March 25, 2011, 7:15 AM Updated: Friday, March 25, 2011, 7:59 AM

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder does intend to sign the bill that would reduce state-paid unemployment benefits beginning next year, despite calls from state Democrats and worker advocacy groups to veto the measure.

The bill awaiting his signature does two things: It made a necessary technical change to the state's unemployment insurance program so workers remain eligible for federal extended unemployment benefits. Without this technical fix, 37,000 Michiganders would have lost their benefits beginning April 2. Another 150,000 jobless workers would have been affected by the end of the year.

Republican lawmakers also amended the bill to permanently reduce state-paid unemployment benefits in the state from 26 weeks to 20 weeks beginning in 2012. The amendment, which is being praised by the Michigan Chamber of Commerce and the Michigan Manufacturing Association, will reportedly save state businesses up to $300 million annually.

In addition to losing six weeks of state benefits, Michigan workers would also lose eligibility for 16 weeks of federal benefits if the federal extended unemployment benefit program is extended into 2012. It currently expires at the end of this year.

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http://www.mlive.com/jobs/index.ssf/2011/03/gov_rick_snyder_will_sign_bill_that_redu.html

[madrchsod]

1. we really need another stimulus package for next year...

around here most of the new job openings are infrastructure construction industry related.

[sandyj999]

2. He is a businessman and doesn't care. n/t