Delegate Bob Hull

ALEXANDRIA, VA - Delegate Bob Hull (D-Falls Church) was joined Monday by Congressman Gerry Connolly; Delegates Ken Plum, Kristen Amundson, Bob Brink, David Englin, Charniele Herring, Steve Shannon and Mark Sickles; and House of Delegates candidates Greg Werkheiser and Stevens Miller in a press conference at the South County Governmental Center in Fairfax County to declare their outrage at the vote by House Republicans last week to reject $125 million in federal stimulus funds for enhanced unemployed benefits for out-of-work Virginians.

To qualify for the stimulus funding, Governor Tim Kaine recommended amending Virginia unemployment insurance law at last Wednesday's Veto Session in Richmond to include workers not currently covered by Virginia unemployment insurance. This would have allowed unemployed workers looking for part time employment and unemployed workers taking state-approved job training courses to receive benefits paid by the federal government.

House Republicans led the opposition to the Governor’s proposal as the House of Delegates voted last week to reject the $125 million worth of funding by a 53 to 46 margin with all Democrats voting for it.

“House Republicans turned their backs on thousands of Virginians who are out of work through no fault of their own,” said Delegate Hull. “With the worst economic decline in over 60 years and few jobs available, people need help.“

Virginia’s unemployment trust fund is being depleted due to high unemployment claims and it is estimated that it will be below solvency by the beginning of next year. Once that happens, unemployment taxes paid by employers will double. The $125 million in stimulus funds would have put that off for several months.

“Accepting these funds would also have kept the trust fund solvent for several more months and saved employers from higher taxes,” Delegate Hull stated. “It would have been good for business.”

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