Shields Floating Idea of Special Session to Extend Unemployment Benefits

Speaking with his hometown paper, Senate President Pro Tem Charlie Shields (R-St. Joseph) is publicly raising the idea of a special legislative session to extend and expand unemployment benefits for struggling families.  Unfortunately, the US Department of Labor this week declined to accept the compromise proposal put forward by the state to draw down $133 million for the extended benefits. 

In response to the feds' decision, Shields says the legislature may need a special session. 

"We’re probably going to have to go back and revisit the issue," said Senate President Pro Tem Charlie Shields, R-St. Joseph. "It may be one of the issues that raises to the level of a special session."

To guarantee eligibility for the federal dollars, Missouri would have needed to permanently expand the requirements for receiving unemployment benefits, and require business to "pick up the difference once the stimulus money runs out in two years."  This didn't sit well with Republican leaders, including Shields, who promised in February to oppose any permanent changes in state law that would allow the state to draw down the money. Standing by Shields, Lt. Governor Peter Kinder even called the idea a "bribe." 

Now, however, Shields seems more open to the changes that would qualify the state for the money.

Read the full article from The News-Press here.

Image credit: CharlieShields.com