Jan 12, 2009 7:11 pm US/Central
Minn. Lawmakers Hasten To Extend Jobless Benefits
(WCCO)
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"People are losing jobs, they're working there 18, 20 years. Good jobs, they're good workers. Out the door. It's a very serious thing," said Sen. James Metzen. (File)
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More people are without work in Minnesota, and the state's unemployment insurance fund is in money trouble. State lawmakers are fast-tracking a bill to extend benefits to workers whose unemployment benefits have already run out.
For 24 years, Paul Bollman had a good job in food supply. Then, two weeks before Christmas, he was laid off. Monday, he was looking for help at a St. Paul Workforce Center.
"I hate to be dramatic, but it's pretty devastating. You have a good job with benefits, you know, everything that you work for, for all that time. And then it's just gone," said Bollman.
Larry Hurley's been out of work at an auto parts warehouse since November. He's focusing on the basics: food, a place to live, and keeping the electricity on.
"I go out almost every day applying. Sometimes I can't when the weather is really bad 'cause I don't drive, I bus on top of that right now. So I mean it's really tough," said Hurley.
So many people are using unemployment for so long that the state's unemployment insurance fund is drying up. Lawmakers are fast-tracking a bill to extend unemployment benefits for 3,000 to 4,000 workers.
"People are losing jobs, they're working there 18, 20 years. Good jobs, they're good workers. Out the door. It's a very serious thing," said Sen. James Metzen (DFL) on the Business, Industry and Jobs Committee.
State economists predict as the recession settles in, Minnesota will lose 1,000 jobs every week this year. Unemployed roofer Maurice Smith says not even a new president may be able to turn things around.
"He's got work to do and a lot of it," said Smith.
If the bill passes, workers who have exhausted their unemployment benefits could get an additional 33 weeks of unemployment to look for work. Another bill would extend health benefits to those workers and their families.
State economists say Minnesota's economy is moving quickly downward, to the tune of at least 58,000 jobs lost. Minnesota's unemployment rate could top 7 or even 8 percent.
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