2009 House Bill 4785 (Expand unemployment benefits to get “stimulus” money )

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Introduced by Rep. Richard Hammel (D) on April 2, 2009, to grant extended unemployment benefits to unemployed individuals who exhaust regular benefits and are enrolled in a government job training program. House Bill 4786 would extend benefits to individuals who are seeking only part-time work. Enactment of these provisions would enable the state to receive $138.9 million in one-time federal “stimulus” money, but it potentially would impose an annual unemployment assessment (tax) increase of $69.7 million on Michigan employers.
- Referred to the House Labor Committee on April 2, 2009.
  - Reported in the House on May 6, 2009, with the recommendation that the substitute (H-4) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
- Substitute offered in the House on May 6, 2009, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details but does not change the substance of the bill as previously described. The substitute passed in the House by voice vote on May 6, 2009.
Passed in the House (68 to 39) on May 6, 2009. [Vote Details and Comments]
Received in the Senate on May 7, 2009.
- Referred to the Senate Commerce & Tourism Committee on May 7, 2009.
  - Motion by Sen. Samuel B. Thomas, III (D) on June 24, 2009, to discharge the Committee on Commerce and Tourism from further consideration of the bill and move it directly to the House floor for immediate consideration and debate. The motion failed in the Senate (15 to 20) on June 24, 2009. [Vote Details and Comments]
- Motion in the Senate on June 24, 2009, to discharge the Committee on Commerce and Tourism from further consideration of the bill and move it directly to the House floor for immediate consideration and debate. The motion failed in the Senate (15 to 20) on June 24, 2009. [Vote Details and Comments]

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1) Re: 2009 House Bill 4785 (Expand unemployment benefits to get “stimulus” money ) [by gypsy on June 25, 2009]

It is time the legislature acted and passed this bill. People are in need of immediate help.

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2) Re: 2009 House Bill 4785 (Expand unemployment benefits to get “stimulus” money ) [by Admin003 on June 25, 2009]

Senator Prusi’s statement is as follows:

I rise to speak to the urgency of this discharge. I believe under Statements yesterday my colleague from Genesee County, Senate District No. 26, spoke about the recent unemployment numbers that were released by the Department of Energy, Labor, and Economic Growth—14.1 percent here in Michigan the highest it’s been since 1983. I would like to bring you back to 1983 because, in 1983, I was 1 of 3,500 iron ore miners laid off at the Marquette Range in the Upper Peninsula.

I went through an extended period of unemployment. The only thing that helped keep my family together was the fact that I had extended unemployment benefits. There were 3,500 iron ore miners laid off, and you could not find a job in the Upper Peninsula to save your soul. Eventually, I ended up moving to Colorado to find work. I don’t want to see the working families of Michigan go through the summer and into the fall waiting for this body to do something.

I believe there is a degree of urgency when you consider that thousands of Michigan working families are losing their unemployment benefits as each week elapses. When my unemployment benefit elapsed, I had to leave a 3- and 4-year-old daughter behind in the Upper Peninsula to go and find work. I do not want to see the working families of Michigan subjected to that same trauma that I was subjected to 26 years ago.

We have a fix here before us. If we can take these bills up; pass these unemployment extension benefits; allow people who have no job to get trained for a job; allow people to support their families as we go through this troubled turbulent economic time, I think that makes imminent sense. I think it is what this body should stand for. I think it’s what this caucus stands for. I would urge the members to support this discharge.

These bills have sat long enough. Thousands of people are going without unemployment benefits because we refuse to act in this chamber, and I think now is the time to act before we break for the summer; before we let these families go without the unemployment benefits that supports them and supports their children.

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3) Re: 2009 House Bill 4785 (Expand unemployment benefits to get “stimulus” money ) [by macdaily on May 22, 2009]

We need real help here in Michigan!

I live in St.Clair County where the Unemployment is among the worst 100 counties in the nation according to the Associate Press. Yet we have seen very little help from anyone, state of federal. According to the Times Herald only 67,000 out of 107,000 are currently employed! We lost so many small auto part plants from 2007-2009 and more jobs are expected to be lost in the coming weeks and days as GM file for Chapter 11.

What Lansing doesn't seem to understand is that our community is on the verge of a boiling point that will lash out as never before! We had enough with both parties and the endless games. People in Michigan need help now, not next month. We sent you to Lansing to do a job, if you can't do it, then its time to get out! Politics is not as usual and if you can not change it yourself, then we will change it for you! I don't care if you are a democrat or a republican! We will remember those who went against the people during hard times and you will not be reelected!

The People of Michigan expect our government to do whatever is needed to get our state going down the right path. If the people are not working then our government will and have failed! Maybe we need to cut the jobs in Lansing by half and start with the State House and Senate! We can save a large amount of money there! So if you can't stand with the people that are hurting we will get your number! This especially goes for those Republicans! Change is occuring and we need a third party that represent the people! Not some rich corporation or a lobby group that fills the political favors with nice perks!

Jon Wanner

Voter and Taxpayer

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