Republicans expand benefits to unemployed, but don’t saddle the taxpayer with millions of dollars in debt

By JR Hoeft | Friday, April 10th, 2009 | Policy

Contrary to the hysteria you might be hearing across the leftist/socialist blogs, and from the governor (who is deeply embarrassed as DNC chair that his state couldn’t move further to the left), Republicans actually did a responsible job of expanding benefits for the unemployed this past veto session.

Unemployment benefits have been extended from half-a-year to almost one year and a month! For 59 weeks, those currently eligible for unemployment benefits can now receive them, thanks to responsible governing by the GOP.

However, equally responsible was killing federal funding for unemployment insurance for those part-timers seeking part-time work. Yep. You read that right.

What the left would have you believe is that somehow the right is turning a blind eye to workers. Actually – that couldn’t be further from the truth.

The reality is that had the governor’s proposal for federal stimulus money been approved, according to Del. Tim Hugo, “the tax increase proposal would have increased a business’ tax from $98 per job this year to $159 per job next year and to $199 per job in 2012.”

That’s a 100% increase in taxes in just a couple of years…hardly what you want to do to job-creators in the middle of a recession.

As you can see, the federal stimulus money came with no sunset clause and massive strings attached. It would have hurt our economy more than helped it. Had we accepted the money, it would have resulted in HIGHER unemployment and HIGHER taxes.

But Republicans also supported several initiatives for workers, including:

• Extending benefits for an additional 33 weeks—beyond the traditional 26 weeks of coverage—for those workers currently eligible for unemployment;
• Ensuring that those who are laid off can keep their health insurance at a significantly reduced cost through extended COBRA insurance for Virginians who’ve lost their jobs at small businesses;
• Receiving $62.5 million in federal stimulus funding to support Virginia’s unemployment insurance trust fund that pays out benefits to unemployed Virginians; and
• Keeping almost 1,000 currently eligible Virginians from falling off the unemployment program rolls.

Maybe instead of fanning the flames of class warfare and hysteria, a little rational behavior might be in order.

It doesn’t always have to be about politics – sometimes doing what’s in the best interest of the citizens of the commonwealth is a good thing too.

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