June 23, 2011

Madison — Democrats are demanding that state officials free up $89 million in federal unemployment benefits for more than 10,000 jobless Wisconsin workers.
In a letter, Sen. Tim Cullen (D-Janesville) called on the state’s Unemployment Insurance Advisory Council to send lawmakers a bill that would allow Wisconsin to offer thirteen more weeks of federally funded extended unemployment benefits to jobless workers, or up to 86 weeks. The benefits ended on April 16.

“It is outrageous for Wisconsin to turn down $89 million that will go into the pockets of unemployed people and then get spent in our economy. And this is money we don’t have to pay back,” Cullen said.

A newly released agenda for the advisory council’s Thursday meeting shows that the panel is scheduled to take up the issue.