Republican Lawmaker’s Bill Brings Huge Cuts To North Carolina Unemployment Benefits

When Gov. Pat McCrory fist signed the unemployment benefit reductions bill, he said it would “protect our small businesses from continued over-taxation and help provide an economic climate that allows job creators to start hiring again.” But now it’s being taken a step further to the detriment of his state’s constituents.

House Bill 1069 was introduced on Thursday, co-sponsored by Rep. Julia Howard. Her bill will eliminate the minimum week criteria for collecting unemployment benefits.

Behold, Gov. McCrory’s North Carolina:

The number of state unemployment benefit weeks will be reduced significantly for people who begin their claims after July 6.
A calculation formula used in the state law covering UI benefits drops the number of weeks available on July 6 from a maximum of 19 weeks to 14 weeks and a minimum of 12 weeks to seven weeks…

Bill 4 supporters said they were trying to bring the N.C. jobless benefits, which some considered too generous, in line with the maximum provided in eight Southeastern states.

Before Bill 4 was passed, the maximum benefit amount was 26 weeks — the same level that 44 states still maintain. The lowest current maximum benefit limit is 18 weeks in Georgia, while Florida also is at 19.

That would make it the most painful reduction in unemployment benefits in the country.  What isn’t explained is who these ‘job creators’ are exactly, aside from being a redundant, unproven right wing talking point.

Howard championed the sliding scale bill for weekly benefits that became law on July 1st, 2013. That bill also cut the maximum weekly benefit amount from $535 to $350. But it’s for ‘job creators’ so it’s cool.

H/T: Tech-God @ComgenKDT who you can follow on Twitter here. 

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