Start over on unemployment compensation bill

Lawmakers need bi-partisan, inclusive approach to fix system without punishing workers.

For immediate release

Contact: Hannah Halbert, 614.221.4505

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The Ohio Senate majority is rightly concerned about House Bill 394, the severely flawed bill to overhaul Ohio’s unemployment compensation system. The Columbus Dispatch reported that an “informal group” of Republican representatives and senators would meet to discuss the bill. Policy Matters Ohio has testified in opposition to this extreme legislation, which would weaken our unemployment system. It is encouraging that the House has chosen to press, “pause” on HB 394. However, if the group of legislators discussing the bill want to take a balanced approach to fixing Ohio’s insolvent unemployment compensation system, they should scrap the bill and initiate real stakeholder engagement. Like many others, Policy Matters Ohio has said the General Assembly should start over because HB 394 places the entire load for improving the system on unemployed workers