State lawmakers refused Monday to change laws to extend jobless benefits, meaning the checks that about 15,000 Arizonans get this week are likely their last.
Republican legislators stood in virtual unison in opposing the proposal by Gov. Jan Brewer to make the necessary change. GOP leaders said they could not in good conscience vote for keeping the checks coming for those already out of work more than 79 weeks while doing absolutely nothing to actually create jobs.
But Brewer would not back away from her demand to immediately keep the jobless funds flowing, providing only a general promise to work with lawmakers on an economic stimulus plan later.
Most immediately affected at 14,697 Arizonans who have exhausted their 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits and another 53 weeks of federally funded emergency aid. But Steve Meissner, spokesman for the state Department of Economic Security, said his agency predicts that perhaps another 30,000 Arizonans will find themselves in that position between now and the end of the year.
Meissner said, though, that anyone eligible for another 20 weeks of "extended benefits'' should continue to file the necessary paperwork in the chance that Brewer and members of her own party eventually reach a deal.
Senate President Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, and House Speaker Andy Tobin, R-Paulden, said they remain willing to try to work something out with Brewer. But both insisted that their Republican colleagues will give her what she wants only if they get tax cuts for business or other changes in law to stimulate the economy.
At this point the chances of that happening are dim. In fact, Rep. Nancy McLain, R-Bullhead City, was the lone member of her party to speak in favor of extending the benefits.
"The folks in my district understand the dire economic situation that the state of Arizona and particularly Mohave County is in,'' she said, saying there are just no jobs to be had. "They wanted me to vote for this extension of these benefits.''
But Sen. Steve Pierce, R-Prescott, said the state's high unemployment rate is precisely why lawmakers need to do more than simply keep the checks coming,
"The focus on this session needs to be about jobs and Arizonans and employment, not unemployment,'' he said.
"We need to be doing more in tax reforms,'' said Pierce, with Republicans pushing for immediate tax relief for business. "My moral obligation is to do what's right for all of Arizona, for everybody to have a job and for us to help them get that job, not continue the two years' of unemployment insurance.''
Even Sen. Don Shooter, R-Yuma, whose county has a jobless rate exceeding 25 percent, said he could not support simply keeping the benefits coming.
Shooter said he personally met with the governor to try to convince her to agree to changes in tax policy. One option, Shooter said, would be to provide tax credits for companies that actually hire those now getting unemployment checks.
But Tobin said the governor made absolutely no concessions, insisting that lawmakers approve the extension by itself.
Gubernatorial press aide Matthew Benson defended Brewer's decision not to compromise or agree to changes in tax policy.
"You don't throw together legislation that complicated and complex on the fly,'' he said. "It's not responsible.''
He said Brewer is willing to look at things that can be done to stimulate the economy.
"But the proper time for that is the (regular) legislative session that begins in January,'' Benson said. He said the purpose of Brewer calling lawmakers back to the Capitol on Friday was to address "the problem right in front of us.''
The need for that action come because federal law funds extended benefits only when a state's unemployment numbers are at least 10 percent higher than the same time in either of the last two years. Arizona posted a 9.3 percent jobless rate for the most recent month reported, falling short.
But federal law permits states to use a three-year look-back. And in early 2008, the jobless rate was below 5 percent.
Brewer's proposal was to make that lone change in the law.
She also offered to include a requirement for those getting those extended benefits -- between 79 and 99 weeks -- to have to look for work at least four days a week, twice as often as now required. And she proposed requiring that those in that category be reminded that federal law requires them to take any job offered that pays at least minimum wage.
Sen. Sylvia Allen, R-Snowflake, said that's not enough.
"What we're trying to deal with is just a Band-Aid on a very infected sore,'' she said.
"That sore is the terrible economy of the United States,'' Allen continued. "And we have got to start dealing with that because in 20 weeks we'd just be back here trying to deal with the Band-Aid again and not the infected sore.''
The refusal of Arizona lawmakers to make the change affects not only those who won't be getting the federally funded checks, which average about $212 a week, but also will mean less money coming in to the economy that people will spend. Tobin said someone could view that as another hit to Arizona's economy.
"Or you could look at it from the standpoint that we have continued to kick this bucket down the road for a long time, even here in Arizona,'' he said, saying state taxpayers are spending $300 million a year just to pay interest on the national debt.
"Are we saving ourselves by spending six more months of borrowing?'' Tobin continued. "No. I think the answer is let's go create the jobs.''
Several Republicans made it clear they were angry at Brewer for issuing her call last Thursday for them to return to the Capitol the next day.
Sen. Ron Gould, R-Lake Havasu City, said governors rarely call special legislative session unless and until they have worked out an agreement and have lined up the votes. That, said Gould, did not happen this time. Instead, he said, Brewer figured she could just get her way -- or blame lawmakers for failing to go along.
"That's disingenuous,'' he said. "Frankly, I'm offended by that.''
"The reason that we were here today is so that the governor could throw us under the bus,'' he said.
"The governor had absolutely no business calling us down here on 24 hours' notice on a Friday without the details of this session worked out.
Benson said his boss was under the impression she had the votes lined up Thursday when she issued her special session call, at least in the Senate, `and was operating under the belief that once she had the Senate on board, the House would fall in line.''
Pearce, however, said he told gubernatorial staffers Thursday night that there were not the votes for what Brewer wanted, at least not without some other concessions.
ofuque2 posted at 6:12 am on Tue, Jun 14, 2011.
The best thing we could do is put these politicians on unemployment. No cost to the state and $3.5million a week into the state's economy, where's the problem? Other states are taking the money. Our state has one of the highest employment rates. Give these poor people the money and THEN create jobs for them. Of course, there won't be ANY jobs anytime soon. So, let's look like we're being fiscally conservative and cut off funds for the needy. I'm surprised that they didn't take this opportunity to give more tax breaks to big business and the rich.
soricobob posted at 7:12 am on Tue, Jun 14, 2011.
It is my understand that the republican lawmakers were waiting to be called by the governor, and she never called them. If that's the case then shame on them all(those who waited to make up their mind from a phone call and the who did not make the phone call). Wouldn't it be nice to see legislators vote because they thought it was right, and not due to a political favor?
recherie posted at 7:50 am on Tue, Jun 14, 2011.
Just because some of us have had to rely on extended unemployment benefits does not mean we have done nothing to find work. It's tough out there and when you're pushing 60 it is tougher. I lost my home due to losing my job and now live with my son. Now, with the loss of my extended unemployment benefits I cannot continue to pay him rent or buy food, and more importantly I will not be able to afford my medications. Without my medication I cannot look for work. I don't think the legislature has thought this through, they have no idea of the impact on the unemployed this has. I won't be voting for any of them when the time comes.
What do I do now?
AmericanPatriot posted at 9:32 am on Tue, Jun 14, 2011.
recherie, You'll do exactly what you would have done 20 weeks from now if the extension were enacted. That's no help, and I'm sorry for your plight, but the reality is that unemployment cannot be a permanent paycheck. Businesses wont expand without a ready workforce, so the idea of giving money THEN creating jobs is not practical. Jobs are out there if you really want to work, but if you're not able to find a job that pays more than unemployment pays, why work.
Marcus Gallio posted at 9:33 am on Tue, Jun 14, 2011.
This killing of the unemployment benefits to 15,000 Arizonans for a 15 week period is tantamount to genocide.
They already have a hard time paying for food, rent and medicine.
I consider myself a conservative Republican but this Republican move is not only heartless but criminal.
$200 a week for 15 weeks is peanuts. Plus its being paid for by the Federal Government, not from the State of Arizona budget
I will find out which of my legislators voted this bill down and vote AGAINST them whenever/wherever they run again.
I don’t collect unemployment but for those who do in these very vicious economic times it’s a lifeline until things get better.
Let those Republican legislators experience unemployment and see how they like it.
They don’t like being tossed out on their cans?
Boo hoo. Boo hoo.
You are unfit to lead because you lack common sense and compassion.
Slabside posted at 11:11 am on Tue, Jun 14, 2011.
AmericanPatriot is correct. Extending the benefits over and over is not the answer. The GOP will always catch the heat from situations like this as the Dems do nothing but throw money (taxpayers money not theirs), at the poor. It never works.
Let me be so bold... wasn't the stimulus passed by Obummer to the tune of 800 billion dollars supposed to create all of the jobs? Come on all of you "Hope and Change" Kool-Aid drinkers, where are they?
Slabside posted at 8:23 pm on Tue, Jun 14, 2011.
Check this out: Since the stimulus bill was signed 1.9 million fewer Americans are working.
http://cnsnews.com/news/article/after-28-months-stimulus-spending-19-mil
Moderation posted at 9:30 am on Wed, Jun 15, 2011.
Slabside is right that constantly extending benefits isn't the answer, but what is? My question is what has the legislature done to help create jobs. Slashed education to decrease the longterm quality of our work force here in AZ? Created a highly charged set of laws that caused millions of dollars lost in tourism and has done little to nothing to bring in new jobs? Last time I checked the recent legislation being considered I found little in the way of substance. In this country people think you are either left or right wing nut. When it really is the moderates and independents that are the deciding factor in many elections. This current set of law makers and going to feel the sting of their ideology in the next election the way the Dems did in the last. I hope that things improve for you rerechie. The extending of benefits I believe should have been passed this time. They should have also jumped onto getting to work to help drive economic conditions so that you could possibly find meaning full employment. I don't believe that goverment is the answer to everything at all, but in these times it maybe the only help some people get. Unless slabside knows of some alternative? Maybe where to find a job for a 60 year old with some ongoing medical conditions who has been a tax payer most of his working adult life or at least financial assistance for medications. I bet we are just going to get more ideology because that helps oh so much!
NothingButTheTruth posted at 10:50 am on Wed, Jun 15, 2011.
Maybe a trillion dollar stimulus is what we need, and if that doesn't work then a ten trillion dollar stimulus will? Better yet lets just put everyone on welfare and let the Chinese pay the bill.
"This killing of the unemployment benefits to 15,000 Arizonans for a 15 week period is tantamount to genocide." Really? You say that BS in the first line and expect anyone to want read the rest of your comment?
"Slashed education to decrease the long term quality of our work force here in AZ?" Really? Do you really believe what you just wrote? Just what part of education do you think those cuts affected? Two students sharing one book? Physical Education cutting the vollyball team funds? 100 students per classroom?
That tourism was hurt by the boycott attempt is a lot of hooey. Even Los Angeles has conceded they weren't able to keep it up. This whole idea that a few extra weeks of unemployment is going to make or break or starve anyone is pure nonsense and proves only to demonstrate liberals love of throwing good money after bad.
I know of an alternative Moderation, get government off businesses back and let them go to work doing what they do so well, making money. The up side of making money is that you have to employ more people. Overtax business to pay for welfare or unemployment sounds nice but in the long run just creates more unemployment as businesses scale back operations. Cutoff unemployment, reduce business tax, create positive environment for business to expand and you have a recipe for long term recovery.
Moderation posted at 12:04 pm on Wed, Jun 15, 2011.
Oh Yes I believe what I just wrote! Tuition for college has jumped to outragous levels. To get a bacholers degree young people have to get student loans that they have to spend the next 10 plus years paying off. Teachers in every school district have larger class sizes and spend less time teaching is it a hundred students no, but still unacceptable levels. Are you a teacher? Are you in education? Do you know many people currently working in that profession? Do you have kids going through the school systems right now? If you answer yes to these questions then you would know. I do! My wifes best friend is a teacher, my kids go to local schools and I have seen how they are effected!!! I have to teach at home because the course work is taught to the level of the least educated no one on one time from the teacher who is streched thin and underpaid.
Get goverment out of business is your mantra? Well I am in business and taxes have less to do with my bottom line then many other things. I never said I was against cutting taxes or creating eviroments to drive industry. The medical school in downtown Phoenix along with the biomedical campus is an example of what we should be investing in to bring industry here! Industry chases innovation. Chasing the illegals out doesn't do much to bring business here. So far all this laws passed by this current legislation have done little to any of the things you say should be done. However I have a state gun! yeah for that! I can't think of any major economic benefits that SB1070 has brought. Please show me where we have had increase in business or job creations from it. Show me an article that cites examples of how people now have jobs who wouldn't otherwise. For the time being I would love to have the Federal money from the extended benefits infused into the local economy hey it might help some people out too! Yes I am all for a slash and burn to the federal budget! I have already made arrangements to not have to take a dime from Social Security or Medicare when I retire.
What I would like to see is announcements about bills coming out of this state about laws and policies that create an enviroment that lets new technologies and developments start here. Slashing corporate taxes is a small part of that.
As for jobless benefits. 3 million is not even a drop in the bucket for our federal budget and that money will end up going some other state. I want our citizens to benefit. I want them to spend that money at our local business to help keep them in business and hey maybe let that local business hire another employee. Try taking a economics class rather than political dogma.
EVA posted at 4:57 pm on Mon, Jun 27, 2011.
Unemployment benefits are not welfare. It's a form of public insurance whose origination can be attributed to Winston Churchill. People who collect benefits, as myself, worked to gain access to those funds. The "3-year lookback" should be enacted. I believe I'm still entitled to the funds I was receiving - they are a blessing In fact, I don't know what most people would do if they didn't receive benefits. I've tried to secure employment and knew I was even overqualified for some jobs and still wasn't hired. How frustrating. I wasn't picky. I just wanted to work, and was still turned away. Then, I'll hear how other people are offered jobs and they feel they should hold out for something better - what a disparity!
The right and mature way to behave is to extend the benefits and incorporate programs in the state to stimulate the economy. But the first priority is to help people help themselves. Unemployment benefits give you this opportunity because it lessens the stress when you're seeking a job. I appreciate the benefits I've received and feel like anyone whose worked and are receiving those benefits are entitled to receive the monies until they are depleted. That way, they know the timeframe they have in which to work. They shouldn't be cut off in mid-stream. Maybe the reason people have been receiving benefits so long is because the economy is just that bad. From personal experience, it's a drop in the bucket that does indeed stimulate the economy (every little bit helps). It's not welfare, as noted, but necessary funding in a poor economy.