Unemployment compensation (running out)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.dailymail.com/Opinion/Editorials/200812290136

Monday December 29, 2008

STATE governments across the nation are straining to meet their unemployment insurance obligations as the nation faces its first extended recession in a generation.

At least 16 states have less than a year's worth of benefits in reserves, the National Conference on State Legislatures reported. Indiana and Michigan already are borrowing money to meet their obligations for benefits to the jobless.

West Virginia is not on that list. It learned its lesson in the last recession. The state's unemployment rate hit 18.3 percent in February 1983.

That strained the state's unemployment fund to the point that the state borrowed money from the federal government. The debt at one point topped $300 million and the interest on it hit $65,000 a day.

The bailout required the state to slap a payroll tax on workers until that debt was eliminated. The state must not do that again.

SNIP: One way would be to stop awarding unemployment compensation to people who go on strike.

The state should also refuse benefits to employees fired for failing a drug or alcohol test, or to temporary workers who refuse new assignments.

FULL article at link.

Marta was on strike 3 weeks in 1983. She didn't get a dime of unemployment. She did apply for it.

[Skink]

1. Alcohol test?

Sign me up.:beer:

[Merlot]

2. People on strike would be a drop in the bucket

Just more union bashing there.