Missouri House approves changes to jobless benefits

~ The vote came after days of debate in which some of the bill's more contentious provisions were removed.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- House members on Thursday passed legislation that would make it easier to disqualify people for unemployment benefits if they are fired for missing work or testing positive for alcohol or drugs.

The legislation would also require whistle-blowers who sue after being fired to prove that an actual law was violated. Several opponents of the provision said that sets too high a standard for people who come forward with information about possible crimes.

The bill passed the House by an 84-69 vote -- just two more votes than the 82 necessary to pass a bill -- and now moves to the Senate. The vote came after days of debate in which some of the bill's more contentious provisions were removed.

Cut from the original bill was language to reduce maximum unemployment benefits by $20 per week and to eliminate a council created last year to study unemployment issues.

Supporters of the bill said it is needed because an attempt to reform the unemployment compensation system hasn't worked.

The state owes the federal government $238 million after borrowing money from 2003 through 2005 to keep its unemployment compensation trust fund afloat. The debt means the state could lose millions of dollars in federal tax credits for Missouri businesses if it defaults on the payments.

Rep. Brad Roark said his attempt to temporarily cut unemployment benefits was designed to speed up repayment to the federal government and create a more stable unemployment compensation system.

"This system is still failing, and that's why we're still having problems," he said.

Although Democrats spoke against many of elements in the bill, the most heated dispute came from a Republican lawmaker who authored the most recent changes to the system two years ago.

Rep. Todd Smith accused Roark, R-Springfield, of presenting misleading statistics and trying to hurt workers.

"You are going to fix the system on the backs of workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own," said Smith, R-Sedalia. "You are fixing the system on their backs so employers get a windfall."

The House overwhelmingly approved Smith's amendment to eliminate a portion of the bill that would have cut the maximum weekly benefit workers can receive. Opponents and a business lobbying group said Smith's amendment amounts to a tax increase on businesses.

Even with the slimmed-down version, nine Republicans joined the Democrats in voting against it.

House Speaker Rod Jetton said he hadn't had a sense of where Republicans stood on the proposal before floor debate began. He said he believed it was an issue that needed to be addressed, but the only way to get it through was to "put it out on the floor and see where it shakes out."

Jetton, R-Marble Hill, who voted against several of the amendments that were adopted with significant Republican support, said his biggest concern in the aftermath of the floor fight was whether members would hold grudges and base their future votes on personal disputes rather than policy.