News Release
DEMOCRATS CONTINUE PLAYING GAMES WITH BIPARTISAN UI RELIEF
ST. PAUL, MN — Just hours after the Minnesota Senate Finance Committee unanimously approved a bipartisan unemployment insurance repayment bill, House Democrats advanced a proposal on a party-line vote to only partially repay the unemployment insurance trust fund. Under the proposal authored by Chair Noor, the fund would only be repaid to $0, rather than the full repayment proposed by House and Senate Republicans, as well as Gov. Walz. During testimony this evening, a Deputy Commissioner from the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) confirmed that failure to fully repay the trust fund would still trigger increased tax rates for businesses.
"With Minnesota businesses worried about facing an unnecessary and harmful tax increase, House Democrats continue to play politics," said Rep. Rod Hamilton, R-Mountain Lake, Republican Lead on the House Workforce and Business Development Committee. "With a $7.7 billion surplus, there's no excuse for this half-baked bill that doesn't fully fund our unemployment system."
On Monday, the Workforce and Business Development Committee heard other bills on unemployment insurance, including a bipartisan proposal (HF2728) from Rep. Barb Haley, R-Red Wing, that would fully repay the fund and hold businesses harmless for another year from changes that may result in higher UI payments.
"Nearly everyone at the legislature is in support of fully repaying the UI fund — except for House Democrats," added Rep. Haley. "Businesses are tired of the games, they want us to work together. It's time for House Democrats to listen to the Governor, listen to their colleagues in the Senate, and work with us to get this done."
The Senate is expected to pass the UI repayment bill within the next week, giving the House the opportunity to take action soon after.
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