Full ViewEmergency National Action: Tell Mich. Gov. Snyder - Veto UI Cuts, Pass Extended Benefits Fix

I wasn't quite sure if this section was the right place to put this, admins please feel free to move it if necessary.

I received this email today:

Dear Denise,
Your quick action is urgently needed to help stop a major cutback to unemployment insurance that would set a dangerous national precedent. What was a state issue is now an urgent national issue.
In a shockingly harsh, reckless and cynical move, the Michigan legislature has approved a bill that would reduce the maximum weeks of eligibility for regular state unemployment benefits to 20 weeks from the national standard of 26 weeks, while allowing for a technical fix to continue the current federally-funded Extended Benefits program.
Now Michigan’s newly elected Governor Rick Snyder has a choice to make. He can do the right thing: veto the bill, and tell the legislature to immediately pass a simple fix to continue federal Extended Benefits, but without any cuts to state benefits—and help protect working families. Or he can become the first and only Governor, and make Michigan the first and only state to reduce state unemployment benefits to less than 26 weeks—and endorse this stealth attack on working families.
Click here to tell Michigan Governor Rick Snyder to VETO the bill, REJECT the cuts to state UI benefits, and SUPPORT a clean Extended Benefits measure.
Supporting the technical fix to continue Extended Benefits is the right thing to do. And it is clear that the legislature saw it could not stand in the way of a groundswell of support for continuing those Extended Benefits.
But, apparently at the behest of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, some members of the legislature attached a devastating provision that would cut back regular state unemployment insurance eligibility from 26 weeks to 20 weeks. Governor Snyder should reject that cut back.
If Gov. Snyder signs the bill on his desk, Michigan would have the inglorious distinction of being the only state in the nation to reduce the maximum weeks of state benefits to less than the national standard of 26 weeks. And this in a state with the nation’s longest stretch of double-digit unemployment, where the jobless rate has exceeded the national average for more than a decade, and where the maximum unemployment benefit is already less than all its other Great Lakes neighbors and many other states.
[b][b]Click here to tell Michigan Governor Rick Snyder to VETO the bill, REJECT the cuts to state UI benefits, and SUPPORT a clean Extended Benefits measure.[/b][/b]
Passing a technical fix to continue federal Extended Benefits is the right thing to do. It would make those benefits available if needed to an estimated 150,000 long-term jobless workers in Michigan through 2011. But cutting back on regular state unemployment benefits is the wrong thing to do. It would not only hurt unemployed workers, it would hurt local businesses, who would not see those benefits spent for groceries, fuel and other necessities in their communities. And it would set a dangerous precedent for other states.
Click here to tell Michigan Governor Rick Snyder to VETO the bill, REJECT the cuts to state UI benefits, and SUPPORT a clean Extended Benefits measure.
Please take action now!
Then call Gov. Snyder: PHONE: (517) 373-3400
And send him your own personal email: E-MAIL: Rick.Snyder@michigan.gov
Many thanks,
The Unemployedworkers.org Team
Mitchell, Chris, Andy, Maurice, Judy, Christine, Rebecca, Mike, Rick, George, Norman, Claire and Blase

This sort of thing is going on all over the country.

I know Indiana already did it and I think Florida did too and I don't know what all other states. This is insane!

Every day gives me a new reason to be glad I'm out of that state.


According to the article, Michigan will be the first and only state to cut back on the state benefits, and from the way I understand it I believe it means on the original 26-week claim, not just on EB. That is just horrible for a state that has been a leader in UE claims and the longest in double-digit UE.

Michfemale11 wrote:Every day gives me a new reason to be glad I'm out of that state.


According to the article, Michigan will be the first and only state to cut back on the state benefits, and from the way I understand it I believe it means on the original 26-week claim, not just on EB. That is just horrible for a state that has been a leader in UE claims and the longest in double-digit UE.

Indiana did it in a different way. They passed something that will base your check on how much you made the whole year instead of the highest quarter and so, now people that could only find a temporary job that year won't qualify at all and seasonal workers might not qualify. There was something else in it too that reduces it but, I can't remember what it was right now. So, yes they are not reducing the 26 weeks but, they are reducing how much people get per week and they already paid a way lower amount than a lot of states did to begin with. It is so sad.

Just received this email
Your quick action is urgently needed to help stop a major cutback to unemployment insurance that would set a dangerous national precedent. What was a state issue is now an urgent national issue.

In a shockingly harsh, reckless and cynical move, the Michigan legislature has approved a bill that would reduce the maximum weeks of eligibility for regular state unemployment benefits to 20 weeks from the national standard of 26 weeks, while allowing for a technical fix to continue the current federally-funded Extended Benefits program.

Now Michigan’s newly elected Governor Rick Snyder has a choice to make. He can do the right thing: veto the bill, and tell the legislature to immediately pass a simple fix to continue federal Extended Benefits, but without any cuts to state benefits—and help protect working families. Or he can become the first and only Governor, and make Michigan the first and only state to reduce state unemployment benefits to less than 26 weeks—and endorse this stealth attack on working families.

Click here to tell Michigan Governor Rick Snyder to VETO the bill, REJECT the cuts to state UI benefits, and SUPPORT a clean Extended Benefits measure.

Supporting the technical fix to continue Extended Benefits is the right thing to do. And it is clear that the legislature saw it could not stand in the way of a groundswell of support for continuing those Extended Benefits.

But, apparently at the behest of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, some members of the legislature attached a devastating provision that would cut back regular state unemployment insurance eligibility from 26 weeks to 20 weeks. Governor Snyder should reject that cut back.

If Gov. Snyder signs the bill on his desk, Michigan would have the inglorious distinction of being the only state in the nation to reduce the maximum weeks of state benefits to less than the national standard of 26 weeks. And this in a state with the nation’s longest stretch of double-digit unemployment, where the jobless rate has exceeded the national average for more than a decade, and where the maximum unemployment benefit is already less than all its other Great Lakes neighbors and many other states.

Click here to tell Michigan Governor Rick Snyder to VETO the bill, REJECT the cuts to state UI benefits, and SUPPORT a clean Extended Benefits measure.

Passing a technical fix to continue federal Extended Benefits is the right thing to do. It would make those benefits available if needed to an estimated 150,000 long-term jobless workers in Michigan through 2011. But cutting back on regular state unemployment benefits is the wrong thing to do. It would not only hurt unemployed workers, it would hurt local businesses, who would not see those benefits spent for groceries, fuel and other necessities in their communities. And it would set a dangerous precedent for other states.

Click here to tell Michigan Governor Rick Snyder to VETO the bill, REJECT the cuts to state UI benefits, and SUPPORT a clean Extended Benefits measure.

Please take action now!

Then call Gov. Snyder: PHONE: (517) 373-3400

And send him your own personal email: E-MAIL: Rick.Snyder@michigan.gov

Michfemale11 wrote:Every day gives me a new reason to be glad I'm out of that state.


According to the article, Michigan will be the first and only state to cut back on the state benefits, and from the way I understand it I believe it means on the original 26-week claim, not just on EB. That is just horrible for a state that has been a leader in UE claims and the longest in double-digit UE.

I think that Florida did it first. Of all the states to pull this kind of nonsense - their unemployment has been and remains very high. People are hurting! You don't stab a person that is bleeding instead you give them a band aide.

What is wrong with these people. I am starting to think that they are pure evil.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/24/michigan-unemployment-extension-compromise_n_840088.html

In 2009 with an unemployment rate of 9.1, Louisiana reduced the maximum weekly benefit by forty dollars.

In 2010, Louisiana refused to accept the Feds money to pay extended benefits.

Mississippi also refused the Feds money for extended benefits at a time when the state unemployment rate was 11%