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Rep. Lightner: Governor’s veto further hurts Michigan’s unemployed
RELEASE|December 29, 2020

Rep. Sarah Lightner of Springport today said a veto from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer related to unemployment benefits will further hurt Michigan workers, job providers and their families.

The governor’s veto eliminates a six-week extension of benefits – from 20 weeks to 26 weeks – that otherwise was set for January, Lightner said. That is because the extension of benefits included in Senate Bill 604, which the governor signed, was specifically tied to and contingent upon the $220 million she vetoed from Senate Bill 748.

“The governor, once again, has chosen politics over people with this step related to unemployment benefits,” Lightner said. “Without this appropriation, the six-week extension doesn’t take effect. It’s become clear that her request for this extension was purely political, since she chose to veto the appropriation that would make it happen.

“With so many families struggling as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, this is a cruel way to lead Michiganders into the new year,” Lightner said. “The governor refuses to let people safely go back to work or reopen their businesses, the governor’s Unemployment Insurance Agency doesn’t respond to claims in a timely manner, and now the governor is failing to extend benefits  through her ‘pause’ – a ‘pause’ that was supposed to last three weeks but has already lasted much, much longer.

“Governor, you can’t have it both ways. Either let people safely go back to work, or allow the investment approved by the Legislature help Michigan workers and job providers survive your mandated ‘pause.’”

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