- Senate set for fight over jobless benefit extension, By Liz Halloran, April 9, 2010, National Public Radio: “When senators return Monday from a two-week recess, they are expected to tackle the politically divisive question of whether to extend a deadline for unemployed Americans to apply for supplemental federal help. Before the break, congressional Democrats and Republicans were bickering over how to pay for the program, which can extend assistance payments for months – more if the recipient lives in one of the hardest-hit states. And so lawmakers left town without acting on a proposal that would have allowed newly eligible Americans access to the pay and health care benefits. The result: On Monday, the government stopped accepting applications for the assistance…”
- Neb. goes after jobless aid, By Paul Hammel, April 9, 2010, Omaha World-Herald: “Nebraska is reversing course and going after a last bit of federal stimulus money after all. State senators gave 37-0 first-round approval Thursday for a plan to qualify the state for $43.6 million in stimulus funds to shore up its recession-battered unemployment insurance fund. The vote came after a compromise was struck between the state’s major business and labor groups, and a year after the state’s business community and Gov. Dave Heineman voiced strong objection to seeking the money. New interest in seeking the money arose after Nebraska companies were socked this year with an average 165 percent increase in their rates for unemployment insurance. That prompted negotiations, which resulted in a deal last week that balances some unemployment benefit improvements required by the $7 billion Unemployment Insurance Modernization Act of 2009 with some cuts in benefits…”
Day: April 9, 2010
Medicaid and Food Stamp Enrollment – Georgia
Medicaid, food stamp cases exploding, By Craig Schneider, April 8, 2010, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “The number of Georgians receiving Medicaid and food stamps has skyrocketed over the past year, stressing a social service system that is facing budget cuts at a time of increasing need. More and more of these new cases involve people and families that haven’t sought public assistance before, say workers who help people apply for these benefits. New applicants include formerly stable working-class families laid low by long-term job loss and home foreclosures…”
Minimum Wage Increase – Manitoba, CA
- Minimum wage rising 50¢, By Larry Kusch, April 4, 2010, Winnipeg Free Press: “Coming Oct. 1, some 28,000 Manitobans will get a raise in pay. The province will announce today that it is raising the minimum wage this fall by 50 cents an hour — to $9.50. Business leaders hoped for a smaller increase — or no increase at all — at a time when many employers are suffering economically, while the Manitoba Federation of Labour sought a 75-cent-an-hour rise effective this past April 1. Labour and Immigration Minister Jennifer Howard said in an interview Wednesday the government tried to balance the needs of workers and business. The hospitality industry and seasonal agricultural businesses won’t incur higher costs until fall, she said. ‘Yet a 50-cent increase will allow us to maintain our position relative to other provinces… (and) also give those folks who earn minimum wage a significant enough increase that they would be able to buy things they need for their families…'”
- Minimum wage rises again in Man., April 8, 2010, CBC News: “Manitoba’s minimum wage is going up again and businesses are not pleased about it. The provincial government announced Thursday the hourly wage will rise 50 cents to $9.50. The change will take effect in October, said Labour and Immigration Minister Jennifer Howard. ‘This increase will help maintain the spending power of approximately 28,000 people working in minimum-wage jobs,’ she said. ‘The improved wage will give them a fairer income while helping Manitoba businesses recruit and retain workers.’ The Canadian Federation of Independent Business said the increase comes at a terrible time Shannon Martin, the CFIB’s director of provincial affairs in Manitoba, said the recession has hurt small businesses…”