- Lawmakers refused to make change to extend jobless benefits, By Howard Fischer, June 13, 2011, Yuma Sun: “State lawmakers refused Monday to change laws to extend jobless benefits, meaning the checks that about 15,000 Arizonans get this week are likely their last. Republican legislators stood in virtual unison in opposing the proposal by Gov. Jan Brewer to make the necessary change. GOP leaders said they could not in good conscience vote for keeping the checks coming for those already out of work more than 79 weeks while doing absolutely nothing to actually create jobs. But Brewer would not back away from her demand to immediately keep the jobless funds flowing, providing only a general promise to work with lawmakers on an economic stimulus plan later…”
- Jobless benefits extension fails; special session ends with no action, By Mary Jo Pitzl, Alia Beard Rau and Ginger Rough, June 14, 2011, Arizona Republic: “Arizona lawmakers on Monday refused to extend unemployment benefits for the long-term unemployed, meaning 15,000 people will get their last checks this week. The inaction makes Arizona one of the few states eligible for the extra federal aid that didn’t accept it. Other states, such as Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, are still debating similar measures. The abrupt end of the special session also is a defeat for Gov. Jan Brewer. The Republican governor called lawmakers back to the Capitol last week with an appeal to throw a lifeline to Arizonans hammered by the recession. Legislative Republicans, however, were unmoved. Reasons varied. They included the theory that extended unemployment checks – an average of $216 a week – are a disincentive to seeking work. Some lawmakers said rebuffing the benefits would help reduce the federal deficit…”
Poverty-related issues in the news, from the Institute for Research on Poverty