The Missouri House Approved Lowering Unemployment Eligibility
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The Missouri House Approved Lowering Unemployment Eligibility

Date: February 23, 2017
By: Jack Morrisroe
State Capitol Bureau
Links: HB 288

Intro: 
The Missouri House approved lowering unemployment benefits from twenty weeks to thirteen.
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Wrap: Republican Representative Rick Brattin said there are enough employers in Missouri to find a job within thirteen weeks.

Actuality:  BRATTIN3.WAV
Run Time: 00:06
Description: Folks, we don't have a jobs problem, we have a people-willing-to-work problem within our districts.

Democrats said many Republican states such as Alabama and Indiana have twenty-six weeks allowed on unemployment, compared to Missouri's current twenty.

Benefit length would be based on the state's unemployment rate, with over 9 percent unemployment giving twenty weeks and under six percent giving thirteen weeks.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Jack Morrisroe.

Intro: 
Black Democrats said lowering unemployment benefits would hurt their communities.
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OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: St. Louis City Representative Bruce Franks said Missouri House members must think beyond their own districts to help disadvantaged communities.

Actuality:  FRANKS1.WAV
Run Time: 00:12
Description: Especially speaking for the people who've worked in a certain field for so long that they don't know how to do anything else. So yes, it's going to take another three months, or four months to get some type of certification.

Republicans said people will not find a job until their unemployment benefits run out.

A similar measure was passed by a veto override last year, but the Missouri Supreme Court found the measure unconstitutional based on technical issues.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Jack Morrisroe.