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State Sen. Phil Berger, (R-NC), on efforts to reduce the North Carolina’s unemployment benefits in an effort to reduce the state’s debt.
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Now North Carolina wants to cut jobless benefits.
As a way to add to the great jobs.
Lawmakers just approving a big cut to unemployment check -- business leaders they're saying.
Companies don't wanna move because the current system by the way that -- leading North Carolina -- Washington about two and have million bucks.
Leading the effort in north Carolina Republican state senator Craig Berger senator what is this all about.
And DO well it's about trying to get North Carolina in a position where.
Our businesses can create jobs currently they are saddled with this two and a half billion dollar debt.
That if we don't do any thing it'll take until 2019.
To get it paid off and that's tax on jobs.
Got a plan that will -- pay the debt off about 2006 Thain will reform our system so that the benefits for those unemployed.
-- more in line with -- with our neighbors.
And will -- we'll actually enhance the ability to create jobs in North Carolina all right so you would cut the average benefit from want to.
-- the the average benefit would be cut.
-- I don't have the exact number but the maximum benefit now is over 500 dollars.
Up per week and that would be cut back to our maximum width 350 which would still be the highest.
In the southeast but it would not be quite what it is now.
And the idea behind that being that if you are looking at less of a benefit -- less inclined to be looking for one right.
Well the the idea behind it is that one of the reasons we -- the federal government two and a half billion dollars is because the benefits structure was so out of line with our neighbors.
And so we ended up -- spending more money.
And not in the unemployment fund and our neighbors did and so what we wanted to do was reform the system so that the next time we have an economic downturn.
We will have built up they -- of -- balance in the fund and though we will not see the of the money go out quite as plants all right -- you know live over the Iraq you've got knocked on the left on -- senators that you can do it it's it's not legal you can't just Willy -- take a benefit.
And and just it would cut it down -- for those who currently are getting them what he said.
And that's that's.
True blood -- what we're doing is this will go into effect -- of those who apply for unemployment benefits on to -- one.
Of fall of this year sorted -- the prior -- benefits we're getting them prior to that would still be getting the -- other grandfather benefit.
-- the under the bill people who are currently receiving state benefits so would -- continue receive state benefits under the current law.
The new applicants would would be -- put into the benefit structure of the new law how likely is this for passage.
It has saw already passed it's a matter of the governor -- and the inclination of that is.
Governor were Cory who was just elected to in November has sought indicated publicly that he plans to sign the bill.
So it would take effect July 1.
-- 01 that's correct senator thank you very Vermont's.
Budget deal.
