|
| Date: | March 7, 2011 | | Contact Name: | Peter D. Winiecki | | Contact Phone: | 651-297-8077 | | Contact Email: | peter.winiecki@senate.mn | | For Immediate Release | |
|
| Pederson Bill Preserves Unemployment Benefits for 14,000 Workers |
(St. Paul) – Senator John Pederson (R-St. Cloud) wasted no time moving Senate File 114 through the committee process and to the Senate floor. Today, a bipartisan vote of 62-0 of the Minnesota Senate extended unemployment insurance benefits to 14,000 workers by conforming to new federal legislation.
“My hope is that this bill provides some reassurance to people who haven’t found work in this terrible economic climate,” said Senator Pederson. “Unemployment benefits are not a substitute for stable, long-term employment. However, inaction from the legislature would have penalized Minnesotans seeking unemployment insurance benefits through no fault of their own if we didn’t conform to the federal law.”
Specifically, Senator Pederson’s bill permits unemployed adult children of business owners to collect unemployment benefits under the same eligibility rules as other unemployed employees.
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development testified in support of the bill during the committee process and a bipartisan group of lawmakers explained that they have received letters of support from constituents who are business owners.
“I am very proud that the first bill that I presented on the Senate floor passed with overwhelming, bipartisan support,” said Senator Pederson. “We have a long way to go to get to economic recovery. This bill will help thousands of individuals and families get through these tough times.”
###
State Senator John Pederson was elected to his first term in 2010. Senator Pederson is the Vice Chair of the Senate Capital Investment Committee. He encourages and appreciates constituent input and can be reached at (651) 296-6455, by mail at 75 Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Capitol Building, Room
G-24, St. Paul, MN 55155, or via e-mail at sen.john.pederson@senate.mn
