cross-posted from 7-West

Virginians are hurting. This year, thousands of people have lost their jobs. They didn’t do anything wrong. But the economic tsunami has caused layoffs, plant closings, and the complete shut-down of Virginia employers.

So yesterday [April 8th], Governor Kaine proposed a solution that would provide $125 million in benefits for these jobless Virginians. The Governor’s amendments would have extended unemployment coverage to some part-time workers and to those who are training for high-demand jobs.

But, living up to their reputation as the Party of No, the Republicans in the House killed the measure. The ostensible reason: the extended coverage would drive up the unemployment premiums for employers.

And they were right. The proposed changes might increase premium costs.

By five dollars.

A year.

I don’t know a single worker who wouldn’t gladly pay that small amount to provide coverage for others who lose their jobs. But ideology trumped common sense. And Virginia left $125 million–which could have provided a lot of help for a lot of people who really need it–on the table.

SB 1495 Unemployment compensation; voluntarily leaving employment to accompany military spouse.
 
floor: 04/08/09  House: VOTE: — REJECTED (46-Y 53-N)

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YEAS–Alexander, Amundson, Armstrong, BaCote, Barlow, Bouchard, Bowling, Brink, Bulova, Caputo, Dance, Ebbin, Eisenberg, Englin, Hall, Herring, Howell, A.T., Hull, Joannou, Lewis, Marsden, Marshall, D.W., Mathieson, McClellan, McQuinn, Melvin, Merricks, Miller, P.J., Morrissey, Nichols, Phillips, Plum, Poisson, Pollard, Scott, J.M., Shannon, Shuler, Sickles, Spruill, Toscano, Tyler, Valentine, Vanderhye, Ward, Ware, O., Watts–46.

 

NAYS–Abbitt, Albo, Athey, Bell, Byron, Carrico, Cline, Cole, Cosgrove, Cox, Crockett-Stark, Fralin, Frederick, Gilbert, Griffith, Hamilton, Hargrove, Hogan, Hugo, Iaquinto, Ingram, Janis, Johnson, Jones, Kilgore, Knight, Landes, Lingamfelter, Lohr, Loupassi, Marshall, R.G., Massie, May, Miller, J.H., Morgan, Nixon, Nutter, O’Bannon, Oder, Orrock, Peace, Pogge, Poindexter, Purkey, Putney, Rust, Saxman, Scott, E.T., Sherwood, Tata, Ware, R.L., Wright, Mr. Speaker–53.

 

ABSTENTIONS–0.

 

NOT VOTING–Gear–1.