Virginians are hurting. This year, thousands of people have lost their jobs. They didn’t do anything wrong. But the economic tsunami has caused layoffs, plant closings, and the complete shut-down of Virginia employers.
So yesterday, Governor Kaine proposed a solution that would provide $125 million in benefits for these jobless Virginians. The Governor’s amendments would have extended unemployment coverage to some part-time workers and to those who are training for high-demand jobs.
But, living up to their reputation as the Party of No, the Republicans in the House killed the measure. The ostensible reason: the extended coverage would drive up the unemployment premiums for employers.
And they were right. The proposed changes might increase premium costs.
By five dollars.
A year.
I don’t know a single worker who wouldn’t gladly pay that small amount to provide coverage for others who lose their jobs. But ideology trumped common sense. And Virginia left $125 million–which could have provided a lot of help for a lot of people who really need it–on the table.
Good job, Kris. Managed to hit each and every one of the talking points!
By the way, if you “don’t know a single worker who wouldn’t gladly pay that small amount to provide coverage for others who lose their jobs,” let me educate you: I’m one. And if you truly believed that, why didn’t you propose to impose that tax on employees, not employers?
Perhaps because you know your assertion is a lie?
James – I didn’t have talking points! I had a strong opinion.
Can we have a link to the bill LIS entry so we know who voted for and against? I haven’t been able to find it.
Tess – it was hard to find! It came on a Governor’s amendment to a Sen. Locke bill. Here’s the link.
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?091+vot+HV3684+SB1495
Kris, I applaud you supporting the people of Virginia and the dignity of the worker. I believe that most people are beginning to understand that we are “all in this together” and that we need to support those who have been hurt by the greed of others.
Unfortunately, Chris, Ms. Amundson’s comment that the “Party of No” did something bad for Virginia (a debatable point, in my opinion) does nothing to bring us together.
If I read the list correctly, this was not completely a party-line vote, unlike many others in Virginia.