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Republicans Pass 7 Unemployment Reform Bills
The Republicans in the Wisconsin Assembly who muscled through a series of unemployment reforms on Tuesday say they’re more focused on getting people back to work, rather than taking away benefits.
Republican state reps approved seven pieces of legislation all tied to unemployment, or getting people back to work.
Rep. Brent Jacobson, R-Mosninee, said the point is to get people off the couch in the state.
"What this really is, is an opportunity for Wisconsin to help people find a rewarding, family supporting career,” Jacobson said. “The goal here, really, is we need to help people transition to new jobs. That may be extremely different from the job they have, but the point is they're getting back into the workforce.”
Rep. Duke Tucker, R-Grantsburg, was the lead sponsor on the plans that cuts off unemployment benefits to people who get fired for actual misconduct on the job.
"I think we all know that the unemployment insurance program is for helping [people] find employment after they lose their job through no fault of their own,” Tucker explained. “Those who are violating company policies and they're let go, that's through their own fault. They shouldn't be able to be on unemployment at that point.”
And Rep. Rob Kreibich, R-New Richmond, pushed through a plan to give state prosecutors more time to look into COVID-era unemployment fraud causes.
“Part of this bill extends the statute of limitations,” Kreibich explained. “It was going to end in 2026, it extends it another two years to 2028.”
There's also a plan that would stop local communities from using unemployment benefits for guaranteed income programs, and another that would require people to show their ID in order to get unemployment benefits.
The plans, however, are all likely doomed.
Gov. Evers is expected to veto the legislation when it makes it to his desk.
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