New Law Allows Military Spouses who Relocate to File for Unemployment

A new law passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor went into effect yesterday, allowing the spouse of an active member of the military to be eligible for unemployment benefits if accompanying the spouse in the event of a military transfer.

“Missouri is the proud home of Fort Leonard Wood and Whiteman Air Force base. Each year, our military families face moves from base to base for the good of our national defense and these transfers cause unique financial pressures. In many cases, the non-military spouses may have to leave their employment due to a military transfer. Generally, individuals in Missouri that voluntarily quit their employment to move with a spouse are ineligible for unemployment benefits. This new law recognizes that spouses of military service personnel who must quit their jobs due to a military transfer are not quitting voluntarily but for the good of our nation. With this new law, the state is recognizing the sacrifices of military families who are relocating,” says Department Director Larry Rebman.

Robyn McCullem, mother of two small children, is relocating from Missouri to join her husband Private First Class Ryan McCullem in Fort Huachuca, Arizona. She has worked as a Distributor Sales Consultant for the past three years. Her last day was Friday and she filed her unemployment claim yesterday. “Being a military spouse presents its own unique challenges when it comes to having a full-time career. Leaving behind a job you love and uprooting your family isn’t voluntary when you are a military spouse,” says McCullem. “It’s nice to know our state supports those who have to make big career sacrifices and transitions to be with their soldier as they continue serving our country.”

House Bill 136 was sponsored by House Representative David Day, of Dixon. Rep. Day serves as Chairman of the House Veterans Committee. Prior to this new law, military spouses were not able to collect unemployment in Missouri if they left their job to travel with their spouse to a new duty station. Missouri is the 39th state to allow military spouses to file for unemployment benefits until they find full-time work.

Based on 2010 figures, this new law will provide benefits to more than 200 military families a year. For more information or to file for unemployment benefits, visit www.moclaim.mo.gov

Graves' Statement on April Jobs Report

House Small Business Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) today issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Labor reported that 244,000 jobs were created in April while the unemployment rate rose to nine percent:

“While any job creation is always welcomed news, we still have a long way to go as evidenced by today’s unemployment rate. The number of Americans who filed unemployment claims for the first time during the final week of April was the highest level since August of 2010, and the underemployment rate, which includes people who’ve stopped looking for work and those settling for part-time jobs, rose to 15.9% from 15.7% the previous month. These numbers shouldn’t be a surprise, as the Obama Administration continues to pursue anti-business policies that are especially damaging to small employers, who are the primary source of job growth in the United States. On top of this, high energy costs are making it increasingly difficult for small businesses to add employees and invest in their companies. The estimated 29 million American small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy and we must foster policies that allow them to prosper - not be crushed by higher taxes and more regulations.”

State pays out far fewer extended unemployment benefits than expected

Far fewer Missourians have collected the extended unemployment benefits compared to the numbers Gov. Jay Nixon's administration had identified when promoting the legislation.

Nixon had said that roughly 10,000 people were waiting to receive the benefits that had been stalled by the legislature with a filibuster in the Senate.

More than a week later, however, the Labor Department said only about 4,000 payments had been issued in those first days after the governor's signature on April 13. As of April 23, the department reports only about 8,500 payments had been made under the new extension.

The department, however, was unable to identify how many of the 10,000 persons cited in earlier arguments are actually still unemployed and have received the extended benefits.

A department spokesperson, Amy Susan, said payments may have involved multiple claims and that there is no data to indicate how many persons actually received benefits in one or more payments. She said it is impossible to keep track of every person eligible for benefits because different weeks bring different claims to the department.

"There is no way to say out of the 10,000 people how many people came back to claim extended benefits," Susan said. " ... It is so difficult because it is a large group of individuals and every week their circumstances change. It is so hard to pinpoint."

The bill signed by the governor renewed Missouri’s participation in a federal program that provides 20 weeks of additional benefits to people who already have been unemployed for a year and a half. If claimants still had money left when their benefits exhausted on April 2, then they are still eligible to receive their leftover balance.

Susan said about 8,500 payments have been transacted, although there is no way to know how many individuals are making those claims in the month since payments were exhausted. The department has no backlog of claims.

Sen. Jim Lembke, R-St. Louis County, led the Republican filibuster that kept the legislature from extending benefits for two weeks because he thought the state should not accept the federal money. Now, Lembke said he thinks the Department of Labor ought to be able to keep track of the number of people receiving benefits.

"I would think it is their responsibility to administer this program," Lembke said. "We certainly haven't heard anything from them in committee as far as being short-handed for administrating the program. Nothing we are doing currently in the legislative process should be affecting their ability to distribute these extended benefits."

The extended benefits provides $105 million in federal stimulus money to Missourians who have already exhausted other unemployment benefits, including emergency federal subsidies. As of April 16, the department had paid out $1.4 million, also compensating for the lost payments from April 2 when the program ended to April 13 when the governor signed the extension bill.

The labor department is still trying to contact people who are eligible to receive benefits. Susan said the people who have not received their benefits stopped making weekly contact with the Labor Department after the program exhausted, which took them out of the department's computer system.

To be eligible for the benefits, people must keep looking for work, make contact with vocational employers and check in with state career centers.

A March jobs report showed that Missouri added 24,300 jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percent. Unemployment hovers around 9.1 percent in Missouri, according to information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Thirty-eight thousand unemployment claims were filed in March.

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.

Senate Advances Extension of Unemployment Benefits for 10,000 Missourians

Missouri families who have reached, and those nearing, the 79 week cut-off of extended unemployment benefits are one step closer to seeing those benefits continued to 99 weeks thanks to a compromise that led four senators to allow House Bill 163 to advance. Senate Leader Robert N. Mayer, R-Dexter, and Senate Majority Floor Leader Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles, led the negotiations.

“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.”

Mayer and Dempsey said the twofold compromise included a commitment from them and Senate Appropriations Chairman Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, to identify and work to eliminate the appropriations of $250 million of federal stimulus spending projects in Missouri.

“We have made a commitment to look at re-appropriations in the governor’s budget recommendations for House Bill 18 and identify ways we can truly reduce the spending of federal stimulus dollars in Missouri,” said Mayer.

The second part of the compromise added Senate Amendment 2 to the bill, which was adopted on a voice vote. The amendment 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."

Dempsey had brought the bill up for debate three times prior to today’s debate. He said the reality of the benefits lapsing added pressure to reach a resolution.

“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. Today, that work paid off and these families are one step closer to receiving their benefits.”

A hearing is scheduled Monday in the Senate Ways and Means and Fiscal Oversight Committee. From there, the bill would return to the Senate floor for a vote. Upon approval, it 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.

Unemployment benefits expire for about 10,000 Missourians

Unemployment benefits for about 10,000 Missourians will expire Saturday for those who have reached their 79-week limit for coverage. On Thursday, Sen. Jolly Justice, D-Kansas City, delivered an emotional rebuke against four of her colleagues who had blocked passage of a measure to authorize use of federal funds to extend benefits another 20 weeks. "So I want you to go home this weekend and talk to those families who will no longer be able to feed themselves because we're cutting off their benefits," Justice said in a breaking voice. Sen. Jim Lembke, R-St. Louis County, has been the leader in a filibuster that blocked the Senate from voting on accepting the federal funds. Lembke argued that the federal government is being reckless in spending money it has to borrow to expand the benefits. "The states are going to have to band together and say we're no longer going to be willing accomplices in what you're doing to our nation and to the next generation," Lembke said after Justice's rebuke. The House had passed authorization to spend the funds by an overwhelming majority nearly two months ago. The measure is one of two bills involving federal funds that Lembke and other fiscal conservatives in the Senate have blocked from getting a vote. Also stalled is authorization to provide $190 million of one-time federal funds to public schools. It passed the House a month ago without a single negative vote.

Some Missourians might soon be without their extended unemployment benefits

Roughly 23,000 Missourians still don't know whether they will see an unemployment check after April 3. The Senate adjourned for its legislative spring break Thursday [March 17] without voting on a plan to accept $81 million in federal money that would extend unemployment benefits from 79 to 99 weeks. Senate President Pro Tem Rob Mayer, R-Dexter, said he would have liked to see a vote on the plan before the break. "A few senators shouldn't hold up the progress of what's going on here and so if we have to use stronger measures we'll use stronger measures," Mayer said. Sen. Jim Lembke, R-St. Louis County, said he will continue to filibuster the bill if it is brought back up because he said it's wrong for the federal government to send borrowed money to the states. The Senate is scheduled to convene again on Friday, March 25.

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.

McCaskill: We Must Continue to Help Keep Food on the Table for Thousands of Missouri Families

During one of the worst economic recessions in decades, thousands of hard-working Missourians have lost their jobs at no fault of their own, but must continue to find ways to provide for their families. That’s why U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill yesterday voted to extend unemployment insurance and COBRA health insurance aid, lending a helping hand to many families struggling to make ends meet.

“We were able to pass a crucial emergency extension of programs that are helping keep food on the table for thousands of middle class Missouri families fighting to stay afloat during these tough economic times,” Senator McCaskill said. “For those who haven’t been able to find new employment during this recession, this help could mean the difference between barely making ends meet and foreclosure.”

After a series of objections from Senate Republicans, Democrats were successful in paving the way for a vote on an emergency extension through the end of May of the two programs. The programs expired at the end of March. The 60-day extension of unemployment insurance and COBRA passed with a bipartisan vote of 59-38.

Missourians to See Increase in Unemployment Benefits

As the unemployment rate reaches a fifteen-year high, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill applauded the passage of a bill in the United States Senate today to increase unemployment benefits. Over the past year, the U.S. economy has lost 1.2 million jobs, almost half in the last three months alone. States are facing budget shortfalls, and many families are struggling to meet basic needs.

“As we approach the holiday season with a weak economy, too many Missouri families are going to find themselves in a financial crunch,” said McCaskill. “This funding will help those hurting most by the economic downturn keep their heads above water, and I’m glad to say we got it done before Congress goes home for the holiday.”

The bill passed today will grant unemployment benefits for an additional seven weeks for those who lost their jobs and already exhausted their benefits. For states that have been hit particularly hard by the economic slowdown and have unemployment rates higher than 6 percent, including Missouri with 6.4 percent unemployment, the bill provides an additional 13 weeks in benefits. Thus Missourians will qualify for an additional 20 weeks of unemployment benefits.

The House of Representatives already passed a version of the bill so the legislation will now go to the President for his signature or veto.