BOISE, Idaho — The House Commerce and Human Resource Committee denied a Republican-backed bill to lessen the state's burden of unemployment payouts and encourage workforce participation.
The legislation offered a tough-love mentality - cut the maximum unemployment payout timeline from 26 weeks down to 16 weeks. To qualify for the 16-week mark, the unemployment claimants would have to be seasonal workers. Regular full-time workers would have qualified for 14 weeks; part-time worker benefits would have capped at 10 weeks.
The bill failed behind an 8-5 vote. It was sponsored by Rep Bruce Skaug (R-Nampa) and Rep. Julianne Young (R-Blackfoot).
"More than one in four unemployment claimants exhaust their benefits before finding a [new] job. We need to incentivize their return to work and help them find that next employment opportunity," Rep. Skaug said. "In Idaho, we need workers, and we need them now."
Idaho's current unemployment rate is at 3.3%, according to the Idaho Department of Labor.
The Idaho Farm Bureau and the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) supported the bill. Seasonal workers, including the Associated Logging Contractors and the Idaho Home Builders Association, opposed the legislation in testimony.
A 16-week cap on seasonal worker unemployment benefits would reduce their workforce's off-season compensation. Both industries testified it would push employees to different states or other industries.
"At what point does this become a form of corporate welfare?" Rep. Skaug said. "I think [my law practice is] gonna start hiring paralegals and say, 'I'm going to lay you off for two weeks. It's like vacation - collective employment. Then you can become eligible for EBT cards, and other benefits during the time off]. That'd be great.'"
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