House Overrides Nixon's Veto of Unemployment Bill
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House Overrides Nixon's Veto of Unemployment Bill

Date: May 12, 2015
By: Jill Ornitz
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: 
The House overrode Governor Nixon's veto of a bill that would cut unemployment compensation for out-of-work Missourians. (DO NOT READ: Note: this story stands even though the Senate has not yet voted)
RunTime:  0:41
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: The bill will cut the amount of time Missourians can receive unemployment benefits from 26 weeks to as low as 20 weeks based on the percentage of the state that is unemployed.

Farmington Republican Kevin Engler says the bill will increase employment in Missouri.

Actuality:  ENGLERUN.WAV
Run Time:  00:12
Description: "We could just snap our fingers and get more jobs. Well, what takes getting more jobs is creating a business environment that has employers hiring more people."
 
In his veto letter, Governor Jay Nixon wrote the bill would disproportionately affect Missourians living in areas of the state where the unemployment rate was higher than the statewide average.
 
Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Jill Ornitz.

Intro: 
Unemployment benefits in Missouri will be cut from a 26 week period to a 20 week period after the House overrode a veto from Governor Nixon. (DO NOT READ: Note: this story stands even though the Senate has not yet voted)
RunTime:  0:38
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: In his veto letter, Governor Jay Nixon said that the bill would disproportionately impact Missourians living in areas of the state that have higher unemployment rates than the statewide average.

Columbia Republican Caleb Rowden says this bill provides workers the opportunity to find good jobs.

Actuality:  ROWDEN1.WAV
Run Time:  00:13
Description: "The middle class, the working poor, all of that is dependent not upon the government, but upon a thriving, private sector, job creating economy."

Supoorters say lower unemployment benefits would reduce potential costs to businesses.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Jill Ornitz.

Intro: 
The Missouri House overrode Governor Nixon's veto on a bill that will shorten the time during which citizens can collect unemployment benefits. (DO NOT READ: Note: this story stands even though the Senate has not yet voted)
RunTime:  0:35
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Scott Fitzgerald, the bill's sponsor, says Missouri has had to borrow money from the federal government more than five times to cover unemployment costs.

But Jackson County Democrat Brandon Ellington says the bill is hurting the people who elect representatives to serve them in Jefferson City.

Actuality:  ELLINGUN.WAV
Run Time:  00:09
Description: "I don't have the poorest district in here. Every day I come in here and y'all vote to cut the throats of the people that y'all are supposed to represent because it's going to bring businesses here."

Republicans say the bill will create an environment for businesses to succeed and generate more jobs.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Jill Ornitz.