RICHMOND
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine urged lawmakers Monday to expand unemployment and health benefits to the ever-growing number of laid-off Virginians.
Kaine said he will ask the General Assembly next week to use federal stimulus dollars to extend unemployment payments an additional 13 weeks. The measure, if approved, would give many Virginians a maximum of 59 weeks of stipends.
Virginia became eligible to lengthen payments last week when its unemployment rate rose to 6.6 percent, exceeding the 6.5 percent trigger.
The governor also wants to use the stimulus to underwrite the costs of COBRA health insurance to people fired from businesses with fewer than 20 employees.
Under his plan, federal money would be used to pay for 65 percent of the health care premium for nine months, instead of the current three months. Kaine said the action would allow workers from small businesses to be eligible for the same benefits available to employees from large companies.
The General Assembly will consider the measures on April 8, when it meets to consider Kaine's actions on legislation approved this winter. The governor vetoed 12 bills and amended 105. Most of the vetoes were of bills that would have expanded the death penalty and gun rights.
During a news conference Monday, Kaine reiterated his intention to ask lawmakers to provide benefits to idled part-time workers who do not want to seek full-time jobs, and to extend the length of time that unemployment aid is available to those enrolled in job-retraining programs.
Many business interests, including the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, are lobbying against increasing unemployment benefits. They say the costs eventually would be borne by companies, undercutting their ability to create jobs.
Kaine said the effect would be "modest" on businesses. Companies pay unemployment taxes that vary based on their history of layoffs and their length of time in Virginia.
The stimulus money will come in over two years and, during that period, will support the expanded benefits. After that, Kaine said, Virginia businesses would pay an average of $4.56 per employee for the increased unemployment aid for part-time workers and those being retrained.
Kaine noted that Virginia's unemployment insurance rates, now averaging $98 per worker annually, are the third lowest in the nation. The U.S. average, he said, is $285.
The governor said the General Assembly will have the option of rescinding the new benefits in two years when the stimulus runs out.
"This is a win-win scenario for all Virginians," Kaine said. "Hardworking families get the support they need to survive the economic downturn, while cash-strapped small businesses get flexibility to do the right things for workers without putting themselves further at risk."
Kaine also announced he has made a line-item veto of a $1 million cut to public broadcasting approved by the General Assembly this winter. The action, however, will leave intact a $600,000 reduction in public broadcasting funding that Kaine recommended last year.
Warren Fiske, (804) 697-1565, warren.fiske@pilotonline.com
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Google
Yahoo
Gov. Kaine could put them back to work if he wanted to!!
There is a bill called SB 2121 that could be revised and implemented to include all Virginia businesses, not just those who have state contracts, which would essentially make it mandatory to make sure they are legal workers and take a huge bite out of identity theft and forged documents!! E-Verify IS free, simple and fast, not the fallacy others want you to believe. One person per company could be ready to use the system within 2 days, thats it! It takes no time to verify an employee either, and those with legitimate papers can clear up errors while still on the job.
There is no excuse for the majority of our unemployed while we have so many illegals working in this state and across the country!!
The majority of those jobs are jobs that any legal citizen would do if it payed a decent wage, so they need to stop the excuses.
For those who do not agree or have questions call me anytime.
757-887-6629
Why not put our unemployed in the jobs illegals have?
The notion that they are in jobs Americans won't do doesn't apply to most of those jobs!
Give our unemployed the chance and then bring in guest workers as needed, there are Millions waiting their turn outside of this country and it's unfair for the illegals here to jump ahead them!!
If E-Verify was mandatory we wouldn't be in this situation! It could also fall under state business license law like the Legal Arizona's Workers Act which has been proven in court not to violate federal law. So stop the excuses and get our unemployed back to work or at least the fair opportunity for those jobs.
E-Verify has other huge benefits like protecting us from identity theft and prevents document fraud?
The truth is E-Verify is free, fast, and simple to use, not the fallacy others want you to believe.
If anybody doesn't agree with this or needs more info, call me.
757-887-6629 or 866-887-6629
unfunded for the long term
The problem with this plan is that the federal funding is only available for a short time, after which the Commonwealth is on the hook. If the next governor (Governor Kaine will be gone by this time so it won't be his problem) decides not to extend the increase, you can bet the media will excoriate him for "cutting" unemployment benefits.
This will end up Permanent
The main problem I have with extending benefits temporarily is that most social welfare programs once started take on a life of their own. Then the program becomes something that in appearances to some is taken away from people. Then due to demonizing those who oppose the contining of the program it is perpetuated onto literal infinity. If something is not given to someone in the first place, then they won't feel denied later. I have to hand it to the Democrats in Washington, this was a clever way of getting many states to increase their social programs with just a few federal dollars. I say that if the Federal Government wants to push these programs so much then they should fund and administer the entire thing. They should not put the States on the hook. I think that it is time to recind the 25th amendment.
job losses from the Bush economy
This is what happens when you elect republicans.!
A Democrat never met a giveaway they didn't like
Hey Kaine, here's concept for you to chew on:
DON'T SPREAD MY WEALTH, SPREAD MY WORK ETHIC!
Want to know what's really going on in Washington/the world? Run a google search using any of the following:
1) Bilderberg Group
2) Trilateral Commission
3) Garden Plot
4) REX-84
5) FEMA camps
6) FEMA trains
7) Martial Law in the US
8) DUMBs
9) Tea Party USA
10) Obama Deception
Wake up sheep!
POLITICS
This is EXACTLY why some Governors turned down the money, because its temporary. Kaine will be gone in TWO years, leaving a political "Hot potato" for Virginia to deal with...RAISE TAXES to pay for the expanded program or make even WORSE cuts in other places.
This is what happens when you elect democrats.!
Ridiculous
I can't believe the people who post on here. You're opposed to extending unemployment benefits in the midst of a recession? Don't you understand we're talking about hard-working people who have been laid off, with no fault on their part? We can have a legitimate debate about to what degree to help the chronically poor, but we're honestly arguing whether to throw a lifeline to middle class people hurt by an economic downturn? Heartless and quite frankly, ridiculous.
Typical
Hey Kaine, here's concept for you to chew on:
DON'T SPREAD MY WEALTH, SPREAD MY WORK ETHIC!
Want to know what's really going on in Washington/the world? Run a google search using any of the following:
1) Bilderberg Group
2) Trilateral Commission
3) Garden Plot
4) REX-84
5) FEMA camps
6) FEMA trains
7) Martial Law in the US
8) DUMBs
9) Tea Party USA
10) Obama Deception
Wake up sheep!
Quit Spending My Money
When are the Dems gonna ever learn that you can't keep giving away money 1. they don't have and 2. money that others have worked hard to earn while most of the jobless recipients are sitting around complaining about how little they're getting for doing nothing? Also, where is all this money coming from? Employers are not going to "eat" the extra costs; they're going to pass them on to the consumer in addition to higher taxes on those that actually work. We should help only those folks that can't work due to physical or mental limitations; and, those that can pass a drug test. There are jobs available to anyone who really wants to work; quit holding out for the perfect job.
Lapdog?
No they are all part of the vast "left" wing conspiracy remember that one? How about this one. Its unpatriotic to wish that the "president" fail, after 8 years of bush bashing. No its just the steady march into socialism which ultimately leads to poverty. Just ask anyone who has tried it. This would be a good time to garner yourself some good ole gubberment power since they are the only ones who are to get privileges under the "new" obama way. The hysterical part is that the uneducated ignorant product of gubberment schools actually is asking for it. Soon the pilot will be a "non" profit educational resource that is really just a propaganda mill for the "establishment". Oh it already is that but at least they won't have to pay taxes, just tribute...
... then the conservatives will inherit all that power, be afraid, be very afraid.
Thanks Timmy!
"During a news conference Monday, Kaine reiterated his intention to ask lawmakers to provide benefits to idled part-time workers who do not want to seek full-time jobs"
-----------------------------------------------------
Thanks Timmy..........you will be gone when the $ runs out in 2 yrs.
Sure WISH I could afford to work Part-time!
Humm. . .
"Why is it that all that Liberals like Gov. Caine can offer is implementation or extension of welfare type programs, instead of helping to make our Commonwealth the kind of place large (worker employing) businesses will want to locate to?"
Get your facts straight. Virginia employers have gotten off VERY light. In fact, the max compensation one can get is $364 per week, and it’s been that way for over 10 years with NO adjustments for inflation. It’s a travesty, and something needs to be done; I’m glad Kaine is up for doing the right thing. Kaine has pushed Virginia closer to a 21st century State than any Governor since Mark Warner.
Benefits??? To Whom???
Isn't the stimulous package a one time thing? So, why are the states required to raise payments, that will continue long after the stimulous money is gone? Where will the additional money come from?
Down boy
Why is it that all that Liberals like Gov. Caine can offer is implementation or extension of welfare type programs, instead of helping to make our Commonwealth the kind of place large (worker employing) businesses will want to locate to?
He needs to quit playing the lap dog to the Obama administration and act more like a leader.