House passes extra unemployment help
to deal with extraordinary economic straits

Moeller, Jacks back ‘much-needed support for hard-hit working communities’

February 6, 2009

OLYMPIA – Two Clark County lawmakers today (Friday, Feb. 6) hailed a boost in the state’s unemployment-insurance (UI) program in legislation approved by the state House of Representatives.
State Reps. Jim Moeller and Jim Jacks, both Vancouver Democrats, said that increasing the UI dollars is a move aimed at getting real money into the hands of real people.
“This legislation (House Bill 1906) bolsters unemployment benefits and strengthens the retraining program,” said Moeller.
Benefits would rise by $45 a week for workers in the program, thanks to terms of the measure. And eligibility for retraining help would be increased to take in honorably discharged veterans, disabled citizens, and low-wage workers.
Jacks said the extended benefits “would mean much-needed support for hard-hit working communities.”
“Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Economy.com and a former adviser to (U.S. Sen.) John McCain’s presidential campaign, has said that strengthening UI help in this way will stimulate an average of $1.64 for every dollar spent for these stronger benefits,” Jacks pointed out.
“By contrast,” added Moeller, “Zandi has said that making the (former President George) Bush tax cuts permanent would create a scanty 29 cents for every dollar invested in that strategy. And unfortunately, we’re seeing that a large part of the Wall Street stimulus is going to help rat finks dig their rat holes.
“When folks who live out there on the Main Streets and side streets of the real Washington get the type of help approved in this House legislation, they put it right back into the local economy,” said Moeller. “The assistance helps local families and local businesses stay above water.”
In addition to adding $45 to the weekly UI-benefit amount, the Economic Security Act of 2009 temporarily raises the minimum amount from $129 to $155 in weekly assistance. Workers could receive shared-work benefits for their entire benefit year, according to other terms of the legislation. Also, employers could enroll all their workers in the program.
Jacks said that Washington state’s unemployment-insurance fund is the strongest in the nation.
“We have more than $4 billion in the fund,” Jacks said, “and implementing the improvements laid out in the measure will actually use less than $200 million. I hope our friends in the Senate move this bill on to the governor’s desk as soon as possible.”
The new UI standards would take effect on April 5.