Unemployment stimulus bills get unanimous committee support

Two pieces of legislation that will ensure Nevada claims all available unemployment funding in the federal stimulus package received unanimous support from the Assembly Ways and Means Committee Monday.

Several Republicans, however, expressed reservations that the state might not be able to afford the expanded eligibility required to get the $286 million once the stimulus money runs out.

The legal changes contained in AB469 would expand eligibility to more low-income people and construction workers " an estimated 4,137 additional unemployment recipients for Nevada. They would be covered by $77 in federal money specifically dedicated to that program.

Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, said it is critically important to get as much of the unemployment money as possible for people out of work. She said it also will help Nevada's economy.

"Economists say one way to reverse this is to get money in the hands of people who will spend it," she said. "People on unemployment spend it."

Assemblyman Joe Hardy, R-Boulder City, said he feels better about supporting the change after the Labor Department clarified that states can change the law back in the future. He was joined by Assembly members Minority Leader Heidi Gansert, R-Reno, and Tom Grady, R-Yerington, who said they would support the plan but reserve the right to change their votes on the floor.

In the end, the vote to recommend passage of AB479 was unanimous.

The same vote supported approval of ACR17, the resolution advising the federal government Nevada will accept all available unemployment funding in the stimulus package whether or not Gov. Jim Gibbons supports it.

The two measures were reported to the Assembly floor Monday and are expected to be voted out and sent to the Senate before the end of the week.