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Jobless: Barbour's grandstanding

March 21, 2010

From The Clarion-Ledger

March 21, 2010

The political standoff between the House leadership and Gov. Haley Barbour over his refusal to accept federal stimulus funds to expand unemployment benefits makes for interesting political theater. But there is a broader question Mississippians should answer:

Are we being fair to the jobless?

In today's Perspective, Public Policy Center of Mississippi executive director Warren Yoder argues that it's past time Mississippi raise and expand the state's unemployment benefits and that the additional stimulus funds should be the catalyst for that policy change.

House Labor Committee Chairman Rufus Straughter, D-Belzoni, said $56 million in federal stimulus money for the unemployment benefits would aid 40,000 additional people during the next four years.

But getting the money means the state would have to amend the way unemployment is determined to include pay and time worked closer to the actual time of termination, along with expanding eligibility.

A similar fight over unemployment benefits prompted a special session in 2008 as lawmakers haggled over an increase in the weekly check. In reaching an agreement on payments, lawmakers included a provision to sunset the Mississippi Department of Employment Security's authorization on June 30.

By not calling Senate Bill 2404 for a vote last week, Straughter killed the measure that allows the agency to operate after July 1. The agency employs more than 850 workers and administers unemployment payments and other work programs.

It would now take a two-thirds vote to suspend the rules to reauthorize the agency. Straughter said he'd do that if Barbour accepts the stimulus funds. Barbour's not likely to do that.

There is a degree of political grandstanding by House Democrats on this issue. But Barbour also is doing some less-than-subtle national Republican political grandstanding on this issue.

Why? Mississippi's unemployment compensation is the lowest in the nation and the state's unemployment laws are among the toughest in terms of eligibility and enforcement - and Barbour knows it.

The state's unemployment laws are written in favor of employers and are, in fact, punitive to some workers, considering the fact that workers pay for the privilege of getting benefits if they need them.

Rejecting those benefits may get Barbour more of the face time he craves on the national news shows, but it ignores the human needs of displaced workers in Mississippi.

Barbour should accept the federal funds, the House should reauthorize MDES and everyone should keep they're focus on getting Mississippians through this recession.