On Thursday, after amending a previously non-controversial bill, the Michigan House voted 60-49 to end the extra $300 in supplemental federal payments to job seekers receiving unemployment benefits.
The idea being reviewed is to take that federal funding intended for unemployment assistance and turn it around and offer that additional $300 weekly to people who have been unemployed but agree to return to work.
West Michigan Republican State Representative Luke Meerman says it’s time Michigan dumps federal extended unemployment benefits. Meerman says the idea of paying people an extra $300 a week for unemployment is a major factor behind many refusing to go back to work.
As of early March there were still about 640,000 people in our state continuing to receive unemployment. For 75% of those, they got federal pandemic benefits, not state.