Dear friend,

You are going to hear a lot about the Mississippi Department of Employment Security and a Senate unemployment bill that the House killed today.

Know this: Everything would have been fine had Gov. Barbour accepted federal stimulus money to help the unemployed people of Mississippi during this national recession.

Gov. Barbour thought Democratic leaders in the House would fold, walk away and leave the unemployed to fend for themselves. But that’s not what’s happening. Democrats in the House are fighting for our unemployed.

Now that we’ve reached a boiling point, Gov. Barbour is in full spin mode. He’s released a statement saying the House leadership is to blame for what is going on. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

Below, I’ve included a press release from Rep. Rufus Straughter, chairman of the House Labor Committee. Rep. Straughter lays out the facts quite well. Please read it and pass it along.

Then, do me a favor. Call Gov. Barbour and Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant. Tell them you’re tired of their putting politics before people. Tell them to work with the Democratic leadership to forge a true compromise that provides much needed unemployment benefits to our people.

Gov. Barbour: 601-359-3150
Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant: 601-359-3200

Democrats will not step down. This is a fight worth waging. We must protect our most vulnerable citizens, and that includes the hard-working men and women of Mississippi who have lost their jobs and still have families to feed.

Democratically yours,

Sam R. Hall
Executive Director

STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN STRAUGHTER

Chairman Rufus Straughter is calling on Governor Haley Barbour and House and Senate Republicans to support Mississippi’s working families instead of playing a dangerous game of national politics with benefits for workers.

The debate stems from House Republicans and the Governor’s refusal to compromise for the State of Mississippi and receive more than $56 million dollars in federal support while ensuring that the Mississippi Department of Employment Security (“MDES”) is reauthorized.

“I question Governor Barbour’s refusal to accept $56.1 million that would support small businesses and 40,000 Mississippi families who are struggling in this recession, especially when the Governor has already spent $832 million in recovery funding,” Chairman Straughter said.

MDES is responsible for administering the state’s Unemployment Insurance program and is required by state law to be reauthorized every two years. If the agency is not reauthorized, the U.S. Department of Labor will take over the collection of unemployment taxes for Mississippi businesses.

“It would be unfortunate if the Governor allows this important state agency to be taken over rather than accept critical resources during the worst recession since the great depression. This money will generate over $120 million in economic activity for our communities by helping Mississippi businesses save and create jobs,” Chairman Straughter said.

If MDES is taken over by the Department of Labor, taxes on businesses will increase to 6.2% per employee, resulting in a $413 million tax bill for Mississippi businesses.

“I am opposed to a tax increase and would like to see our families benefit from the State receiving the $56 million. In fact, these federal funds will not raise taxes on 90 percent of Mississippi businesses for at least four years.

“Unfortunately, House Republicans, with the Governor’s support, decided they would rather kill HB 1346 and risk the reauthorization of this agency than give $56.1 million worth of help to 40,000 Mississippi families,” Straughter said.

HB1346, introduced by Chairman Straughter, was both pro-business and pro-worker. It would have modernized Mississippi’s antiquated employment laws and reauthorized the state agency which administers employment benefits.