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Kentucky governor wants to extend jobless pay

On Sept. 10, Gov. Steve Beshear (D-Ky.) asked members of Kentucky's congressional delegation to support a fourth extension of federal unemployment benefits, according to Cincinnati.Com.

Beshear is urging Congress to adopt a bill currently circulating in the U.S. House that would preserve 20 weeks of benefits that were funded in the economic stimulus package but will expire at the end of the year. In addition, the bill would add 13 weeks of benefits for states such as Kentucky, where unemployment has averaged more than 9 percent during the past three months.

Beshear wrote to members of Kentucky's congressional delegation, saying "The loss of these benefits will be devastating to many families and will only sink Kentucky further behind as we work to position it to take advantage of an economic recovery."

In little more than a year's time, about 123,000 Kentucky residents have claimed emergency unemployment benefits after their traditional benefit allowance expired, and more than 10,000 have received extended benefits though the economic stimulus act.

Like other states, Kentucky has had to borrow money from the federal government to pay claims; since January, almost $340 million has been borrowed. Unemployment in Kentucky is 11 percent—higher than the national rate of 9.7 percent—and Beshear says 800 to 1,200 Kentucky residents lose benefits every week.

"Right now is not the time for folks not to have the support they need," Beshear says.

9/11/2009