At the halfway point of the legislative session, Gov. Mitch Daniels once again lashed out at lawmakers for failing to solve the unemployment fund crisis that has occurred on his watch. In addition to not proposing any solutions as Governor, he also announced last week that he will not accept federal stimulus money for unemployment benefits.
Here’s what he had to say about Indiana’s benefits:
“We cannot afford Rolls Royce benefits and eligibility in Indiana unless we want absolutely, job-killing taxation,” said Daniels.
Here’s what’s currently available to unemployed Hoosier workers:
Indiana workers have to earn about $37,000 a year while employed to receive the maximum benefit of $390. The average benefit paid in Indiana is about $290 a week.
Rolls Royce type of benefits! Are you kidding me?
As with most things important to any society, health, environment, education, wages, etc Indiana ranks in the lower percentage compared with the rest of the US.
The unemployment benefits also rank in the bottom. The only reason repubs can point to a 55% of wage earned as a benefit amount is because Indiana has a low average wage.
They sound more like Studebaker Unemployment Benefits to me.
Once again, Indiana has been balking at the notion of improving needed unemployment benefits to the working families and individuals … in which they need benefits the most. Governor Mitch Daniels has ignored — if not neglected — the fact that Indiana has been stingy with paying out benefits to those that need money for doctor’s bills, property tax payments, dentist’s bill, medicine, groceries, car payments, and other essential requirements of life. Has it been any wonder that Indiana’s unemployment benefits assistance earnings have been worse than that of California, New York, New Jersey, Florida, Illinois, and Missouri? The Governor and the members of the Republican Controlled Senate of the Indiana General Assembly have ignored this issue altogether. It would be no wonder that they would be more interested in maintaining their images instead of improving the benefits for unemployed working families and individuals. The public would be wise not to be fooled into bad politics of the past … especially when Indiana’s unemployment rate was 13 percent in 1983 during the Robert D. Orr Administration … and when Indiana’s unemployment benefits where those of the 1950’s. Governor Mitch Daniels has been a second generation Robert D. Orr; and in truth, he could not have cared less about assisting the hard working people of Indiana … for which he would be more interested in allocating money for his wealthiest friends in America and in Indiana at cocktail parties. I would like to say this: Indiana would be smart to allocate a minimum of $440 per week in unemployment benefits for indviduals — and $560 per week in unemployment benefits for families. This needed assistance would not force anyone to obtain public aid in the near future. You make me sick — Governor Daniels!!
where oh where is tollroad money,did it buy a rolls royce.and where do he get off sitting on board of privatized penal system as a shareholder ,why did he not stay in washington where the other crummy crooks were and as former budget director for the bush gang ,have he forgot we are watching how he deals w/our money,
Great post! Tnx.