FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 9, 2005 Contact: Rep. LaMar Lemmons Jr.Phone: (517) 373-0106
Contact: Rep. LaMar Lemmons III
Phone: (517) 373-0881
LANSING - Battling for hundreds of thousands of unemployed people in Michigan, House Democrats introduced a series of amendments to the State Unemployment Tax Act (SUTA) on Wednesday that would expand a range of benefits.
The five amendments, which would have benefited about 350,000 people, were all defeated in the House after Republicans used parliamentary measures.
Rep. LaMar Lemmons III (D-Detroit) said the defeat was a blow to unemployed people across Michigan.
"These measures could have helped thousands upon thousands of people facing unemployment," Rep. Lemmons III said. "Right now, more than 7 percent of our state's workforce is unemployed and it is our duty to help the men and women who have lost their jobs in these tough economic times."
Rep. Lemmons Jr. agreed saying the actions the Republicans took to block the measures was a lost opportunity to improve the lives of the unemployed, many of whom have lost their jobs through changing life circumstances and a weak economy.
"While we try to create and keep jobs in our state, we must not turn our backs on the families who have been hard hit by joblessness," Lemmons Jr. said. "Nobody wants to be unemployed. Nobody chooses to be unemployed. We have to help people without jobs get through this hardship with dignity."
Details of the amendments:
• State Rep. Dudley Spade (D-Tipton) introduced a measure to extend unemployment benefits to spouses who lost their jobs while relocating because their husbands or wives are in the military and were posted somewhere else.
• State Rep. Alma Wheeler Smith (D-Salem) sponsored a measure to extend benefits to victims of domestic violence who relocate for safety reasons and, in the process, lost their jobs.
• State Rep. Barbara Farrah (D-Southgate) sponsored a measure to increase the amount of money unemployed people can withdraw from their benefits, by $30 a week.
• State Rep. Herb Kehrl (D-Monroe) sponsored a measure to expand the time frame when a person can collect benefits.
• State Rep. Morris Hood III (D-Detroit) sponsored a measure to close a loophole some professional organizations have used to avoid paying into the state's unemployment compensation fund.