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SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah lawmakers could have taken up the federal government on its offer of extending an additional 13 weeks of unemployment benefits, but they chose not to as a stab at federal spending.
The jobless aren't happy about it.
In Utah, the unemployment lines are still long and many people are finding the job market tough, if not impossible.
Waddoups shared with KSL his three reasons for not wanting extended federal aid:
- If unemployment rate dips below 6.5 percent, the state would have to pony up money.
- It would place a burden on employers, who will have to pay some of these funds.
- The state already provides 26 weeks and the federal government 47 weeks -- a year and a half to find a job.
"It's just hard out here," said Chris Hendry, who's been looking for work. "Not too many jobs out here that want you."
The situation was much the same for William Steele. "I was unemployed for almost two years before I found a job," he said.
Steele got a job, then lost it. Now that he's back to the frustration of unemployment, he doesn't understand why Utah is one of just eight states saying no to the additional 13 weeks of help.
"They should be obligated to," Steele said. "I think they should help as many people as they can so they won't be out on the street."
Lawmakers say they understand the plight of people here, but they also say the federal government shouldn't be in the business of finding these people jobs.
Utah Senate President Michael Waddoups said, "It's not the role of government to provide jobs for people. People can't look to government to be the answer to all their problems."
As it is, Senate President Michael Waddoups says the jobless have a ton of time to find work: 26 weeks on the state's dime, 47 weeks on Uncle Sam's -- and that's before these 13 additional weeks.
Utah's unemployment rate stands at 7.5 percent.
"A year and a half should be enough for people to transition. A lot of people do it in less," Waddoups said.
Then there's the issue of the government spending money it doesn't have. Waddoups says this isn't the first time he's taken a stand -- and something has to change.
"Maybe Utah needs to be a leader again and say, 'Federal government, back off. We'll take care of our own here and you take care of the ones that are federal responsibilities,'" he said.
While that may be good fiscal policy, the jobless certainly aren't sold.
"I think it's very brutal and unconscionable," Steele said.
Many of Utah's unemployed workers say they'll take any help they can get to find work -- and the extra 13 weeks simply buys them more time.
Email: aadams@ksl.com
