unemployment insurance Archives

Missouri Senator Hawley hopeful that stimulus package will pass soon (AUDIO)

March 24, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s junior senator is hopeful that a bipartisan agreement can be reached soon on a $2 trillion economic stimulus package, in response to the coronavirus crisis.

The “Washington Post” reported Tuesday night that lawmakers were reviewing final language on Capitol Hill.

U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R) says the bill would provide direct assistance to individuals and families in Missouri who need it the most.

U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley’s official portrait (2020 photo courtesy of Senator Hawley’s press office)

“$1,200 for every individual who needs it, every adult,” Hawley says. “$500 for every child, so the bigger the family, the more assistance that you get.”

He says that phases out for those with higher incomes: couples who earn more than $150,000 and singles who make $75,000 or more.

Senator Hawley tells Missourinet he fought to ensure that the working poor receive the full benefit.

He also says the bill should have been voted on days ago, saying that Democrats on Capitol Hill “put up roadblocks.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) tweeted Tuesday that Senate Democrats are “fighting to make sure there are no bailouts without strict conditions that put people and workers first.”

As for Hawley, he says the bill includes small business relief.

“Small business will be able to cover 100 percent of their payroll with federal assistance under this plan, 100 percent. The idea is that they won’t have to lay off anybody,” says Hawley.

Hawley, who serves on the Senate Small Business Committee, says small businesses will be able to keep their doors open, keep payrolls going and pay their health care costs, under the bill.

Missouri’s governor has warned that thousands of Missourians will lose their jobs, because of the coronavirus.

Hawley is aware of Governor Mike Parson’s warning. Senator Hawley says the bill would boost unemployment benefits for Missourians.

“This bill would triple unemployment insurance available to Missourians, up $600 a week in the state of Missouri,” Hawley says. “That’s vital.”

During an interview with Missourinet, Hawley also praises President Trump for invoking the Defense Production Act.

Hawley also says the FDA has been slow in getting personal protective equipment out to Missouri hospitals, urban and rural. Hawley says every Missouri hospital he’s spoken to needs more tests and masks. He also says they’ll need more ventilators.

Click here to listen to the full three-minute interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, which was recorded on March 24, 2020. Senator Hawley was on Capitol Hill.

McCaskill, Blunt take opposing views to extending unemployment benefits

January 9, 2014 By Jessica Machetta

The U.S. Senate has not been able to compromise on a plan to extend unemployment benefits, and Missouri’s two senators stand on opposite sides of the issue. A vote stalled in the Senate yesterday over unemployment benefits — Democrats wanted a one-year extension of the expired benefits and Republicans say they’ll support a three-month renewal, but only if costs are covered up front.

Sen. Roy Blunt says people who don’t face an end to getting a government check each week have no reason to find a job.

“I just don’t think its a plan. I don’t think it’s a policy,” Blunt said. “Permanent unemployment is not the answer, and two years of unemployment is pretty darn close to permanent unemployment.”

Sen. Claire McCaskill says the program needs to be modernized, and that Missouri is faring better than many other states where unemployment rates are higher. However, she does not think the majority of folks are looking for a free ride, as some of her Republican counterparts have suggested.

“It is not a lot of money,” she said, “and I have not met anyone who would rather get this check than a job.”

The checks are about $300 a week.

Both sides say they are working toward a bi-partisan compromise that can gain approval of the Democrat controlled Senate and the Republican controlled House. Democrats had wanted a one-year extension; Republicans said they would only vote in favor of a three-month plan.

Blunt says the program costs $6 billion every 90 days, and agrees with his fellow Republicans that an extension of benefits needs to be paid for up front.

“The package does what the Republicans wanted,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, pointing to a plan that would be paid for and would contain “structural changes they were demanding.”

However, Republicans rejected the proposal, bringing passage of a bill to an abrupt halt on the Senate floor.

The expiration of federal unemployment benefits on Dec. 28 has left about 1.4 million people without a weekly income.

Chamber says legislative solutions to be sought in 2014 for unemployment insurance debt

November 25, 2013 By Mike Lear

Missouri is one of 14 states in which employers will be paying more next year for unemployment insurance, and the Missouri Chamber says that increase will add up.

The Missouri State Capitol (Photo courtesy: Missouri House Communications.)

Missouri borrowed federal dollars in 2008 to pay unemployment benefits the state couldn’t cover. That debt hasn’t been paid, and so the state’s employers are losing tax credits that counted toward what they pay for unemployment insurance. That translates to an increase in what employers pay per employee from $42 to $63.

Missouri Chamber Director of Legislative Affairs Brendan Cossette says that only sounds like it’s not a lot.

“When you look at the total amount that is coming for all employers throughout the state or for large employeers … those are real dollars. That’s a significant amount of money and it’s certainly something that all of the accountants and CPAs throughout the business world have taken notice of.”

Missouri owes $308-million to the federal government in unemployment insurance debt. Cossette says until that is paid off, the unemployment insurance rate will continue to increase. He projects it will reawch $84 per employee in 2015.

One way the Chamber and some lawmakers have sought to pay the debt down faster is through legislation. Cossette says HB 611 in this year’s legislative session was one such attempt but it was vetoed and the House could not get the votes to override that veto.

“(Legislators) were hoping to remedy the situation, at least partially,” Cossette explains, “by changing the defenition of ‘misconduct,’ which in turn would reduce the amount of people that are getting unemployment benefits if they had been discharged because of misconduct, and the fewer people that get benefits, the more likely this is going to be paid off quicker.”

Cossette cites an example of a person being let go from work for failing a drug test but still getting unemployment benefits.

“Every time that happens,” says Cossette, “that’s fewer dollars that are in the trust fund that can either go to repay this or go to pay for those who have legitimate claims.”

Cossette says another possible solution has been used in other states, and it involves bonding.

“Basically the employers have used the state as a mechanism to bond to pay off that debt in one fell swoop, and then to pay for the bond has been an assessment on employers but it’s less than what they owe on the surcharge.”

Cossette expects to see both the bonding concept and language similar to that of HB 611 pursued in the 2014 legislative session.