Nixon Goal: Keep Unemployment Below National Average

Governor Jay Nixon said a chief of his goal of his administration over the next year is to keep Missouri's unemployment rate below the national average and work towards five or six percent unemployment by the end of his first term.

WATCH THE KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT HERE

Nixon made the comments during an in-depth interview with Ky3 News interview Thursday in the Governor's Mansion, seated next to the First Lady.

Missouri's unemployment rate was 8 percent when Nixon took office. It is 9.5. percent now. The national rate sits at 10 percent.

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Asked if he can have a direct impact on the unemployment rate in Missouri, the Governor replied, "You have a direct impact on making a difference where you can."

ON UNEMPLOYMENT 1 YEAR FROM NOW: "I'd like to see us consistently, constantly stay below the national average."

ON THE JOB PICTURE LONG-TERM: "We certainly would like to get that down into what most economists say is the number in the five to six range . . . I think a lot will depend on how and when inflation comes late in the term.

Loophole Allows Unemployment Benefits For Those Not Laid Off

At a time when the number of unemployment insurance claims is at its highest in years, a loophole lets some people collect money even though they weren't laid off.

Attorney Stacey Page admits the unemployment system can sometimes be too lenient.

"Most of the time, if an employer doesn't contest it, it goes through," said Page.

She says, to deny unemployment benefits, it's up to the employer to prove the person was discharged for misconduct. In fact, that's what it says right on a Missouri Division of Employment Security document.

WATCH Cara Restelli's KY3 NEWS REPORT HERE

Nixon Signs Bill Extending Unemployment Benefits

Gov. Jay Nixon signed legislation Friday that extends unemployment benefits in Missouri by using $65 million dollars in federal stimulus money.

Some of the money will give jobless residents up to 20 additional weeks of benefits.
When the average total unemployment rate exceeds 6.5% during a three-month period, unemployed Missourians would qualify for an additional 13 weeks.

Right now, the benefits run out after 59 weeks.

An effort to expand who qualifies for the benefits is less clear. The U.S. Department of Labor is reviewing Missouri's law to determine if the state qualifies. The Nixon administration said Friday that the U.S. Department of Labor yesterday notified the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations that Missouri qualifies for the federally funded extension of unemployment benefits under HB 1075. But a federal labor official told The Associated Press in May that the state likely would not qualify.
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Individuals who have exhausted their unemployment benefits and who may be eligible for these extended benefits will receive a letter with claim instructions from the Division of Employment Security. Those individuals may file a claim beginning Monday, June 15 at 8:00 a.m. by calling a Division of Employment Security Regional Claims Center:

In Springfield, that number is (417) 895-6851.

Missouri Unemployment Drops in April

8.7% to 8.1%

Missouri's unemployment rate in April dropped by more than half a percentage point to 8.1 percent, the Associated Press notes.

The drop from 8.7 percent in March breaks a nearly yearlong string of rising unemployment numbers and is the greatest monthly drop since at least January 1976.

THE BAD NEWS: In April, Missouri still lost 9,300 jobs in manufacturing, retail and leisure and hospitality.

AND: April also generally posts lower unemployment rates because seasonal work and outdoor industries are hiring but school is still in session.

Labor Dept. Finds 39 Fraudulently Using Unemployment

The Missouri Department of Labor reports that audits of unemployment insurance have lead to 39 people pleading guilty to fraud charges.

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According to Director Larry Rebman, routine audits revealed that 39 ineligible individuals received the benefits. "These individuals provided false information on weekly applications for UI benefits which caused benefits to be paid improperly," said Rebman in a release.


The individuals are charged with stealing by deceit and are court ordered to pay close to $150,000 in restitution. Those charged face a Class C felony and will be ordered to make restitution.

Rebman says HB916 would prevent those with outstanding penalties due to fraud, receiving unemployment insurance.