The senate is likely to approve a bill later today that would cut six weeks off the time jobless Missourians would be able to get benefits in the future. It’s part of last week’s negotiations to end the unemployment insurance filibuster.
The deal to break the filibuster and provide 20 weeks of extended unemployment checks requires adoption of a business-friendly change in state unemployment law.
Present law says business taxes pay for the first 26 weeks of benefits from the state fund. After that the state borrows from the federal government for as much as 50 more weeks.
Senator Mike Kehoe’s proposal cuts the employer taxes but it means their former employees. will be eligible for six fewer weeks of benefits.
Kehoe’s new system would apply only to people losing their jobs after the bill goes into effect.
Missouri has borrowed more than 850-million dollars from the federal government to keep paying unemployment benefits.
Listen to Sen. Kehoe get his amendment passed.
