House passes Iron Range unemployment bill
The Minnesota House overwhelmingly passed legislation Thursday to provide a 26-week extension of unemployment benefits for laid off Iron Range steelworkers.
The vote was 104-25.
The move follows last week’s action by the DFL-controlled Senate. But the House bill also includes a tax break for businesses that pay into the state’s unemployment trust fund that Democrats say should not be tied to the emergency aid for struggling workers.
Rep. Jason Metsa, DFL-Virginia, criticized Republicans for combining the two issues in one bill.
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“You had an opportunity last week to vote on a clean bill for the unemployment extension,” Metsa said. “You passed up that opportunity to play Washington politics.”
Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington, defended his bill. He said it was largely written by Democrats.
“The contents of this bill are opposed by no one,” Garofalo said. “Outside of the people who are under this dome, I don’t think anyone gives a rip whether there are one or two bills.”
Senate Democrats apparently do give a rip.
Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, is insisting that the two issues be considered separately. Prior to the House vote, Bakk said he will not accept a combined bill.
“We’ve sent them a clean unemployment bill with no amendments on it.” Bakk said. “We’re going to send them a clean tax rebate bill for employers with nothing attached to it, after it’s gone through the appropriate committee process. Linking things onto must-pass emergency bills is a terrible precedent for the Senate going forward.”
Still, House Republican leaders are hoping the Senate decides to accept their version and sends it to Gov. Mark Dayton.
House Speaker Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, said he sees no reason for further delay.
“It’s going to be very difficult for Democrats to explain to folks on the Iron Range that they’re holding up benefits for displaced workers because of a process argument, not because of any policy issue but because of some process,” Daudt said.