Say "NO" to Governor's Expansion of Unemployment Insurance

On April 8, the General Assembly holds  a one-day "veto" session that allows the governor to present his amendments to 2009  bills for an up or down vote. The governor then has the opportunity to "veto" or let stand the final versions of the bills.
 
Contact your Hampton Roads legislators today and ask them to vote "NO" on Governor Kaine's proposals to accept federal stimulus monies that will expand Virginia's unemployment benefits. Virginia is already eligible to receive $65 million of the package due to UI provisions passed in 2003.  In order to receive $125 million in additional funding, the governor is proposing to provide benefits to part-time workers.  Offering unemployment to part-time workers is clearly against Retail Alliance Legislative Policy which states:  "Unemployment compensation benefits should be provided only to full-time employees who have established a significant attachment to the work force and who lose their job through no fault of their own."
 
What's more, once the federal funding is accepted, Virginia employers will be asked to pick up the tab when federal stimulus funds run out. In order to keep the current fund solvent, employers' state tax on jobs is going to go up from $98 per job this year to $159 per job next year and to $199 per job in 2012.  Adding to this tax burden when the federal stimulus money goes away is unacceptable.  For more information, contact Margaret Ballard, 757-406-9431, mballard@retail-alliance.com.

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