HB 916, sponsored by Scott Perry, is scheduled for House floor action next week. The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO OPPOSES this bill. Attached you will find several documents that are pertinent to this issue.

According to the Dept. of Labor and Industry, it would "save" $632 million, but that estimate is significantly understated, because the Department cannot quantify the effect of eligibility cuts from a changed definition of "willful misconduct" and from eliminating personal reasons for leaving work. Almost every element of UC eligibility would be affected. The most important changes would be:

* Cutting benefits by redefining how they are calculated ($432 million alone) and reducing weeks of benefits from some claimants ($48 million)

* Redefining willful misconduct to disqualify some unintentional conduct

* Eliminating the personal reasons for leaving work (such as fleeing domestic violence, caring for sick family members, losing child care, health reasons)

* Requiring all severance benefits to be offset ($88 million impact)

To the extent that HB 916 is a "solvency" bill, it does not include employers in that solution. Moreover, the changes that it would make in benefit cuts for the unemployed would be permanent.

Support Documents:

* State Legislation Needed by May 20th to Keep  Full UC Extended Benefits Through End of 2011

* Comparison of SB 1030 to Current Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation Law

* HB-916 Packet - Analysis, Opposition Notes and Comparison

We need to talk with the following House Members between now and next week's vote and urge them to vote "NO" on HB 916:

Democrats:
Dom Costa
Davidson
Mullery
Vitali

Republicans - Possibles:
Adolph              Barrar              DiGirolamo       Emrick
Evans, John       Farry               Geist                Godshall
Hackett             Heffley             Hennessey       Killion
Marshall            Miccarelli         Miccozie           Murt
Mustio              O'Brien D        O'Neill                Ross
Stern                Taylor

Republican - Long Shots:
Masser              Scavello             Stephens           Tobash
Toohil                Vulakovich         Watson

If you have questions regarding this matter please contact your local union office or Pennsylvania AFL-CIO

In Solidarity,

UWUA & Pennsylvania AFL-CIO