Posted on 06/30/2021 6:08:27 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
Gov. Tony Evers on Tuesday vetoed a GOP-authored bill that sought to eliminate Wisconsin’s participation in enhanced federal unemployment benefits, which provide unemployed individuals with an extra $300 per week.
Republicans and some of the state’s largest business organizations have taken aim at enhanced federal benefits, which are slated to run through Sept. 6, as creating a disincentive to work and exacerbating the ongoing workforce shortage. Democratic lawmakers and some business groups have defended the benefits as much-needed assistance to those who are unable to find work or are reluctant to return to the workforce amid the ongoing pandemic.
In a veto message, Evers pushed back on Republican comments that eliminating enhanced unemployment benefits would dramatically address workforce shortage challenges that have been faced by businesses before the pandemic began.
Evers said he objected to the Legislature’s “interference and encroachment” on the executive branch’s authority to administer programs. The Democratic governor also said the bill would eliminate economic assistance for individuals whose employers or occupations have been the most affected by the pandemic.
“Eliminating this lifeline for many Wisconsinites will cause continued economic hardships for those impacted the most by the pandemic and create additional hurdles for individuals to return to family-sustaining jobs,” Evers wrote. “As a result, the entire state economy likely would be negatively affected.”
Sen. Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, said he was “deeply disappointed and concerned” with Evers’ veto.
“We need an unemployment safety net,” Marklein said in a statement. “We do not need our unemployment program to be a brick wall for employers.”
Congress implemented a $600 boost to unemployment benefits shortly after the pandemic began. That amount was later reduced to $300 in weekly unemployment benefits, in addition to the state’s maximum weekly benefit of $370.
Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke, R-Kaukauna, in a statement called Evers’ veto “foolish,” adding that lawmakers need to be doing more to get individuals back to work to help businesses fill vacant positions.
“By now, we all know of at least one business that is actively seeking employees, has been forced to reduce its hours, or even had to close their doors because of the worker shortage,” Steineke said. “That’s why it is absolutely mind-boggling to learn our governor thinks we should still be paying folks an extra $300 per month to sit home on their couch.”
After the state’s unemployment rate skyrocketed to about 14% in April 2020 due to the pandemic and subsequent shutdowns or restrictions on several industries, it began to slowly fall last year. As of May, the unemployment rate was 3.9% — near the 3.5% rate in February 2020, according to the state Department of Workforce Development.
If our unemployment rate is at 3.9% (which is d@mn good!) then WHY are there still places begging for workers?
Something is NOT adding up here. Can a Freeper smarter than me tell me what’s up?
I agree that we MUST wean people off the Government Teat, but I fear those days are gone. :(
Wisconsin Economy at a Glance:
https://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.wi.htm
Local Area Unemployment Statistics (2020-2021)
https://data.bls.gov/pdq/SurveyOutputServlet
You can use that site to look up BLS data for your own state, too.
I’m in South Carolina, near Greenville, and almost every production facility and/or warehouse has a help wanted sign in front of it.
I’m in Montana and there were signs up all over town advertising a starting hourly wage at $15.00 everywhere, now it’s up to $18.00.
$37,000+ starting salary...
No wonder there is not a single home available for less than $500,000.
If you’re unwilling to return to work, you’re **BY DEFINITION** ineligible for Unemployment. . .
Crazy. Not as crazy as the governor of my state however. The Soviet of Washington has elected Lori Lightfoot’s retarded half brother Jay Inslee 3 times!!! What does that say about “average” Washington State voter?
I predict this governor will not ever decline the additional fed money instead this mendacious reprobate will probably sue the feds to keep the money flowing. This guy and his thugs have ruined many businesses and killed people with his reckless dictates, however because many of the people who have had their lives ruined by this administration are the same ones who supported and voted him in 3 times, (he stood for election last November and won big), its hard to muster up any sympathy for anyone.
If unemployment is low, that means most job seekers are finding work. That means employers looking to hire are drawing from a very small pool of possible applicants. It’s a “buyer’s market” where job seekers could negotiate higher wages because if the employer doesn’t hire them, there’s no other available option.
The low unemployment rate puts the lie to the need to “support people who can’t find work.” I guess you can’t find it if you’re not looking for it because you’ll be paid handsomely for not looking.
That 3.9% number is a lie? /shrugs
To continue to get those federal unemployment benefits all you have to do is show that you have in person meetings set up to continue to be on the dole.
Across the industry I am in we will have plenty of applicants throughout the interview process all the way up to the in person final interview. It is not uncommon (and has happened at our business a number of times now) that the appointment will be confirmed and then they never show up for the meeting.
Don’t have to go any further to get the benefits.
Evers is killing this State.
My niece, low level management at Disney, made more money being laid off than she did working - Disney is not known for paying its workers well.
We tried to go to California Pizza kitchen a few days ago at noon - opens at 11:00 - and they still weren’t open. The manager told us they didn’t have enough workers and were trying to get people to come in so they could open in a few hours.
There are “help wanted” signs all over town.
If our unemployment rate is at 3.9%
Thank you. That’s what I was thinking, but you put it into words for me. ;)
According to the links I posted above, currently 65% of Wisconsin is working with 3 million currently in the workforce. Our population is a bit under 5 million.
Another chart shows that in March, 2020, 400,000 were unemployed and now, as of May 2021, a little over 100,000 are unemployed.
This link tends to go away because it can be re-set by the next person using it:
https://data.bls.gov/pdq/SurveyOutputServlet
The labor force participation rate also plays a role.
Evers (Douche, WI) is on a roll! He vetoed 6 bills today that would help clean up our elections.
https://www.channel3000.com/wisconsin-governor-vetoes-gop-bills-to-restrict-absentees/
I didn’t post separately because it’s an AP slime article, but will find cleaner info elsewhere to post.
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