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The Detroit News
June 19, 2008 |
Deb Price
Staff Writer |
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House leaders working to lengthen unemployment benefits by 13 weeks |
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The U.S. House, after working out a deal with the White House, will take up a bill Thursday to extend unemployment benefits by 13 weeks.
The deal is critical to Michigan, which has the highest unemployment rate in the nation -- 8.5 percent. The national average is 5.5 percent.
In earlier rounds, advocates of extending jobless benefits wanted an extra 13 weeks on top of the basic 13-week extension for hard-hit states with jobless rates of 6 percent or higher.
But that bonus idea, which would have entitled Michiganians to a full 52 weeks of benefits, was dropped in order to reach an agreement that President Bush would sign.
But Rep. Sander Levin, D-Royal Oak, said he and others supporting the bonus 13 weeks will keep pushing.
"This (the deal) is a vital first step, and we'll continue to fight for a further extension for people who continue to be unemployed in a difficult job market," Levin said.
The House will take up the jobless benefits as part of its work on an Iraq war funding bill.
The benefits will be part of a domestic spending package that will include college tuition for vets who've served three years on active duty as well as $2.65 billion in disaster relief for the flooded Midwest.
The Senate is expected to take up the legislation next week, with the goal of getting a final bill to the president before Congress leaves for its July 4 recess.
A deal to extend benefits by 13 weeks was good news for Scott Nichols of Manistee, who was laid off after 15 years at a hardware store. So far, his search for full-time work has failed, and his benefits run out at the end of August.
"This will be very helpful while I continue looking for work to feed my family and pay the mortgage," said Nichols, 48, who is considering cashing in his 401k to "get through."
Currently Michigan's unemployed workers get 26 weeks of benefits.
Levin estimates that the extension would help 226,000 Michigan workers whose benefits are either already exhausted or will be soon.
Nationwide, 4 million workers are estimated to qualify for the additional assistance.
Workers who exhausted their benefits between November 2006 and March 2009 would qualify for the additional 13 weeks of checks. On average, unemployment benefits are about 45 percent of a worker's previous wages.
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To Contact Congressman Levin: -
Email Congressman Levin In Michigan: 27085 Gratiot Ave, Roseville, MI 48066 | (586) 498-7122 | (248) 968-2025
In Washington: 1236 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 | (202) 225-4961
