Darneille statement on House vote to increase unemployment benefits

We can easily afford to do what's right for our workers, businesses and economy.

On Friday, Feb 4, The Washington State House of Representatives voted 91-2 for House Bill 1906, which will energize the economy by increasing unemployment benefits and training.

I applaud the House action on increasing benefits and training opportunities for unemployed workers. This is the best stimulus package we could pass to get our economy moving again.

Working people all over our state and nation are losing jobs because of the faltering economy. In Pierce County alone, nearly 19,000 people received unemployment benefits in December, while many other workers and businesses are struggling on the margins. In fact, there were over 90,000 new applications for unemployment compensation in December alone!

Increasing unemployment benefits by $45 per week-and raising the minimum benefit from $129 to $155 per week -offers immediate help to struggling families and our economy. This money will not be put into savings. It will be spent locally, on necessities, right away, which is just what our local businesses need to get cash registers ringing again.

Moody's economists state that increasing unemployment benefits generates more economic activity than any other stimulus package we could pass.

Expanding training benefits is another great feature of this package that will help honorably discharged veterans, people with disabilities and low-wage workers get the skills they need to succeed in high demand jobs.

We can easily afford to do what's right for our workers, businesses and economy. Our UI Fund is by far strongest in the nation, with the strongest reserves. Our fund will still be the strongest in the nation-with a balance of nearly $4 billion-after these benefits are provided. Using less than $200 million of that fund to help people, families, businesses and our economy is a smart investment and can be done right now.

Democrats and Republicans united to pass this bill with a near unanimous vote. I hope Democrats and Republicans in the other Washington will also unite behind President Obama's federal stimulus package. We will get through this recession faster if we all move forward together.