Feb 7, 2011
Money will be
distributed to other states, denied to
Wyomingites
Cheyenne,
WY: Today the Wyoming House voted
down a measure that would have modified the
state’s unemployment provisions to make the
Wyoming unemployment system eligible for
additional funds and unemployed Wyoming workers
eligible for additional
benefits.
“Over 18,700 Wyomingites
are unemployed. This vote says directly to
them, ‘We know you are having a hard time, but
we don’t think you deserve this extra
help.’ I am appalled anyone in the
legislature would want to send that message,”
said the legislation’s sponsor, Rep. Cathy
Connolly (D-Laramie).
This
legislation, explained Rep. Cathy Connolly,
would have extended unemployment eligibility
for an additional 13 weeks and would have
benefitted 5,600 workers who could have
collected $24 million in additional benefits at
no cost to the state, employers, or the state
employment trust fund.
Connolly
continued, the proposal would also have
adjusted unemployment eligibility by redefining
the base period and extending benefits to
workers in approved training programs.
This $14.2 million in additional federal money
would have lasted for approximately two
years.
“Federal money that was
earmarked for Wyoming’s unemployed workers is
now gone,” said Tim Wells of the Wyoming
Building Trades.
Kim Floyd,
Executive Secretary of the Wyoming AFL-CIO
commented saying, “If you are unfortunate
enough in this economy to have either exhausted
your unemployment benefits or are getting ready
to exhaust your unemployment benefits, you just
got bulldozed by the anti federal government
faction of the Wyoming State Legislature. It
has been a while since I have seen something
that could do so much good get caught up so
entirely in pure
politics.”
Wyoming Contractors
spoke in support of this legislation because it
allowed unemployed construction workers to
receive training and skill upgrades while not
losing their unemployment benefits. In
House Minerals Committee Executive Director
Jonathan Downing characterized this as a
“hand-up and not a hand-out.”
House Bill 244, titled
Unemployment Insurance Amendments, failed
Committee of the Whole with 25 voting in favor,
34 in opposition, and with one member excused.
The following Representatives voted to
deny benefits to unemployed Wyoming
workers:
Rep. Dave Bonner
(R-Powell)
Rep. Bob Brechtel
(R-Casper)
Rep. Kermit Brown
(R-Laramie)
Spkr. Ed Buchanan
(R-Torrington)
Rep. Richard Cannady
(R-Glenrock)
Rep. Pat Childers
(R-Cody)
Rep. Kathy Davison
(R-Kemmerer)
Rep. Amy Edmonds
(R-Cheyenne)
Rep. John Eckland
(R-Cheyenne)
Rep. Gerald Gay
(R-Casper)
Rep. Keith Gingery
(R-Jackson)
Rep. Elaine Harvey
(R-Lovell)
Rep. Hans Hunt
(R-Newcastle)
Rep. Pete Illoway
(R-Cheyenne)
Rep. Allen Jaggi
(R-Lyman)
Rep. Norine Kasperik
(R-Gillette)
Rep. Kendell Kroeker
(R-Casper)
Rep. Tom Lockhart
(R-Casper)
Rep. Bunky Loucks
(R-Casper)
Rep. Tom Lubnau
(R-Gillette)
Rep. Mike Madden
(R-Buffalo)
Rep. Robert McKim
(R-Afton)
Rep. Dave Miller
(R-Riverton)
Rep. Glenn Moniz
(R-Laramie)
Rep. Bob Nicholas
(R-Cheyenne)
Rep. Frank Peasley
(R-Douglas)
Rep. Bryan Pedersen
(R-Cheyenne)
Rep. Owen Petersen (R-Mountain
View)
Rep. Lorraine Quarberg
(R-Thermopolis)
Rep. Mark Semlek
(R-Moorcroft)
Rep. Tim Stubson
(R-Casper)
Rep. Sue Wallis
(R-Recluse)
Rep. Dave Zwonitzer
(R-Cheyenne)
The
following Representatives voted to support
Wyoming workers, please take a moment to thank
them:
Rep. Joe Barbuto (D-Rock
Springs)
Rep. Rosie Berger
(R-Sheridan)
Rep. Stan Blake (D-Green
River)
Rep. Gregg Blikre
(R-Gillette)
Rep. Jon Botten
(R-Sheridan)
Rep. Don Burkhart
(R-Rawlins)
Rep. Jim Byrd
(D-Cheyenne)
Rep. Rita Campbell
(R-Gillette)
Rep. Cathy Connolly
(D-Laramie)
Rep. Bernadine Craft (D-Rock
Springs)
Rep. Ken Esquibel
(D-Cheyenne)
Rep. John Freeman (D-Green
River)
Rep. Patrick Goggles
(D-Ethete)
Rep. Mike Greear
(R-Worland)
Rep. Matt Greene
(R-Laramie)
Rep. Steve Harshman
(R-Casper)
Rep. Sam Krone (R-Cody)
Rep.
Del McOmie (R-Lander)
Rep. John Patton
(R-Sheridan)
Rep. Ruth Ann Petroff
(R-Jackson)
Rep. Jim Roscoe
(D-Wilson)
Rep. Jeb Steward
(R-Encampment)
Rep. Mary Throne
(D-Cheyenne)
Rep. Clarence Vranish
(R-Evanston)
Rep. Dan Zwonitzer (R-Cheyenne)
