House passes bill tying unemployment compensation to unemployment rate, falls short of veto-proof majority
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House passes bill tying unemployment compensation to unemployment rate, falls short of veto-proof majority

Date: April 21, 2015
By: Steven Anthony
State Capitol Bureau
Links: HB 150, House roll call, Senate roll call

Intro: 
The number of weeks a person could receive unemployment benefits would be reduced during periods of high employment under a bill passed by the House Tuesday
RunTime:  0:33
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: More than 20 Republicans joined Democrats in opposing the bill, including Jackson County Republican Sheila Solon.

Actuality:  SOLON.WAV
Run Time:  00:10
Description: "Unemployment insurance is not welfare. It's insurance. It provides help to people who have lost their job through no fault of their own to cover the gap under they can find a job."

Under the bill, the amount of time a person can claim unemployment insurance drops when the state's unemployment rate drops.

The bill passed by an 88-68 vote, leaving Republicans 21 votes short of a veto-proof majority.   

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Steven Anthony.

Intro: 
24 Republicans jumped ship and opposed their party's efforts to restrict the number of weeks a person can claim unemployment insurance in good economic times Tuesday in the Missouri House
RunTime:  0:30
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: It wasn't only Republicans who jumped ship. 

Representative Keith English of St. Louis County, the only independent in the House, pleaded with his colleagues to kill the bill.

Actuality:  ENGLISH.WAV
Run Time:  00:09
Description: "Let's vote this bill down. Let's sit at the table next year and let's come up with some good legislation because this hurts every man, woman, and child in the state of Missouri."

68 members voted against the bill, but it passed with 88 votes.

The bill now heads to Governor Jay Nixon's desk for his signature or veto.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Steven Anthony.