By State Senator Jon Erpenbach, 27th Senate District
The Wisconsin Legislature will take action for final approval of a Wisconsin extension of Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits. This extension is paid for by federal funds which were approved late last year by the federal government. This extension means that thousands of Wisconsin families will have access to extended benefits while they continue to look for work. If Wisconsin did not approve the extension, the federal funds would have been redistributed to other states or lapsed into the general fund. That extension is good news for workers in cities in Wisconsin because unemployment rates increased in cities disproportionately with the June numbers from the Department of Workforce Development. New figures from the DWD show unemployment increased in all 31 cities with a population of 25,000 or more. Beloit had the highest unemployment at 14.2 percent, up from 13.1 percent in May. Caledonia had the lowest at 4.7 percent, up from 4.3 percent the previous month.
While new business tax credits and government subsidies to businesses that have been enacted recently should have a strong impact on the number of jobs in Wisconsin, unemployment insurance benefits will put funds directly into the hands of Wisconsin families. These taxpayers find themselves in a situation where they are struggling to even make a mortgage payment or to pay their utility bills. Unpaid bills have an economic impact on a local economy just like a business closing does.
Wisconsin taxpayers have made significant investments to subsidize our states businesses with tax credits, subsidies, and funding for BadgerCare and health savings accounts. It is my hope that those taxpayer investments, which allow businesses to save money, will create the jobs that we expect to continue to help grow our economy.
As elected officials, all of us care about the health and prosperity of the people of Wisconsin. Sometimes we just don't agree how to get there.
I am happy that the UI extension has had bi-partisan support. The UI benefit extension for 13 weeks will not be enacted until the bill is signed into law by the governor.
Individuals and families looking for information on how that extension will affect them can find more information as it happens on the Department of Workforce Development website or by contacting my office at 888-549-0027 or (608) 266-6670 or via e-mail at sen.erpenbach@legis.wi.gov.
- Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Middleton, represents the 27th Senate district. He can be reached at (888) 549-0027 or (608) 266-6670 or via e-mail at
sen.erpenbach@legis.wi.gov.
The Wisconsin Legislature will take action for final approval of a Wisconsin extension of Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits. This extension is paid for by federal funds which were approved late last year by the federal government. This extension means that thousands of Wisconsin families will have access to extended benefits while they continue to look for work. If Wisconsin did not approve the extension, the federal funds would have been redistributed to other states or lapsed into the general fund. That extension is good news for workers in cities in Wisconsin because unemployment rates increased in cities disproportionately with the June numbers from the Department of Workforce Development. New figures from the DWD show unemployment increased in all 31 cities with a population of 25,000 or more. Beloit had the highest unemployment at 14.2 percent, up from 13.1 percent in May. Caledonia had the lowest at 4.7 percent, up from 4.3 percent the previous month.
While new business tax credits and government subsidies to businesses that have been enacted recently should have a strong impact on the number of jobs in Wisconsin, unemployment insurance benefits will put funds directly into the hands of Wisconsin families. These taxpayers find themselves in a situation where they are struggling to even make a mortgage payment or to pay their utility bills. Unpaid bills have an economic impact on a local economy just like a business closing does.
Wisconsin taxpayers have made significant investments to subsidize our states businesses with tax credits, subsidies, and funding for BadgerCare and health savings accounts. It is my hope that those taxpayer investments, which allow businesses to save money, will create the jobs that we expect to continue to help grow our economy.
As elected officials, all of us care about the health and prosperity of the people of Wisconsin. Sometimes we just don't agree how to get there.
I am happy that the UI extension has had bi-partisan support. The UI benefit extension for 13 weeks will not be enacted until the bill is signed into law by the governor.
Individuals and families looking for information on how that extension will affect them can find more information as it happens on the Department of Workforce Development website or by contacting my office at 888-549-0027 or (608) 266-6670 or via e-mail at sen.erpenbach@legis.wi.gov.
- Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Middleton, represents the 27th Senate district. He can be reached at (888) 549-0027 or (608) 266-6670 or via e-mail at
sen.erpenbach@legis.wi.gov.
