In the wake of President Trump signing an Executive Order to extend pandemic benefits by $400, he obligated states to pick up $100. Governor Brown is uncertain whether Oregon can do that. The big criticism for the federal $600 per week benefit is that employers can’t get employees to come back to work. But, in release of the Second Special Session bills, up-front is an increase of unemployment benefits for those working part-time.

SB 1701 does nothing to balance the budget. To the contrary, it permanently amends ORS 657.150 unemployment laws increasing the excluded amount when claiming unemployment from $132 per week (in Portland) to $300 per week statewide.

Under current law a person making minimum wage has to work a day and a fourth before unemployment is reduced based on wages. This proposal allows that same person to work almost three days before unemployment is reduced. It allows a person to work 3 days a week and get 3 days of full unemployment paid. Put another way, a person can make $1200 a month and still get full unemployment benefits.

How will that get full time employees back to work? It will force employers to split jobs into part-time work and keep the unemployment rate high. How do we pay for the higher unemployment once federal money stops flowing? We should question this redistribution of wealth which we will all pay for in increased costs.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2020-08-09 19:25:50