Senate Advances Extension of Unemployment Benefits for 10,000 Missourians

The Missouri Senate today voted 28-5 to advance a bill that extends unemployment benefits for Missouri families who have reached, and those nearing, the 79 week cut-off. Senators also adopted an emergency clause 28-5 meaning the extension to 99 weeks of benefits would take place immediately upon the governor’s signature. House Bill 163 was handled in the Senate by Sen. David Pearce, R-Warrensburg. He noted that a compromise negotiated by Senate Leader Robert N. Mayer, R-Dexter, and Senate Majority Floor Leader Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles, led four senators to allow a vote on the bill.

“I’m glad we were able reach a vote and move one step closer to making these extended benefits a reality for the Missouri families that rely on them in this tough economy,” Pearce said.

Dempsey said today’s vote brought five weeks of debate to an end. He said the reality of the benefits lapsing last week added pressure to move the bill forward.

“This is a real and pressing issue for more than 10,000 Missouri families now and potentially thousands more,” said Dempsey. “That is why, in the Senate, we never gave up and continued to do everything we could to get to a vote to extend the benefits.”

Mayer and Dempsey said taxpayers win with the twofold compromise that includes a commitment from them to identify and work to eliminate appropriations of $250 million of federal stimulus spending projects in Missouri.

“We all share the frustration with the federal government’s continued overspending and mounting federal deficit,” said Mayer. “But, for the majority of the Senate, we believed it was important to extend benefits for Missouri families while they continue to look for work in this great recession.”

The second part of the compromise included in an amendment to the bill reduces Missouri’s state share of initial unemployment benefits from 26 weeks to 20 weeks. The amendment’s sponsor, Sen. Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, said the change does not affect current recipients of benefits.

“The federal government has spent Missouri businesses into an almost $1 billion debt,” said Kehoe. “Today we reduced the burden on businesses to offset the additional federal taxes that will be placed on Missouri businesses to pay off that debt. But more importantly, this will encourage businesses to hire and expand. I have said all along that this session is about jobs, jobs, jobs, and this amendment encourages hiring and job expansion."

The bill now returns to the House where that chamber will consider whether or not to accept changes to the bill adopted in the Senate. The House can request to go to a conference to iron out differences or choose to take up and pass the bill as amended by the Senate. Pending the House’s approval, the bill then moves to the governor’s desk for his signature.