Republican Senate leaders put off vote to extend unemployment benefits

The Missouri Senate adjourned before noon on Thursday [March 3] without making a decision on extending unemployment benefits for more than 20,000 Missourians without jobs. The plan calls for the state to accept $81 million in federal money. This money would extend the maximum length of jobless benefits from 79 to 99 weeks for Missourians. Sen. Jim Lembke, R-St. Louis County, opposes the bill, saying Missouri lawmakers need to send a message to Washington. "You have the federal government stealing from this generation and generations to come by spending money they don't have," Lembke said. Lembke also said that nearly two years of jobless benefits is too long. Sen. David Pearce, R-Warrensburg, is the sponsor of the bill and said people collecting unemployment would much rather have a job. "For those who have a job, it's pretty easy to say that's too long, but when you're suffering and can't find a job, that's tough," Pearce said. Lembke filibustered the issue on Tuesday [March 1], saying more time on unemployment leads to fewer applicants for jobs. "We've got people saying we have jobs, but if you extend that, the people that generally work in our industry will not come back to work," Lembke said. Other GOP Senators said they are concerned about out-of-control federal spending, but both Republicans and Democrats said if Missouri turns down the money, it will be given to other states instead. Republican leaders say they will meet over the next week to discuss the bill. The extended benefits for an estimated 23,000 Missourians will run out April 3.