September 11, 2009
Dear Friend, The Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation released the latest employment figures recently, and their findings are simply staggering. Nearly one million Floridians are jobless today, struggling to survive in an economic storm that has battered Florida for months. At 10.7 percent, Florida’s unemployment rate for July is the highest it’s been in 34 years. And while thousands struggle to find a new job or fight to hold on to the one they have, health care costs are increasing, gas prices are going up and it is getting more and more expensive to send our kids to college. Our citizens, and the small businesses that employ so many of them, are in need of serious, common-sense solutions to help weather the economic storm we are currently facing.
Florida families affected by unemployment are clearly feeling the economic crunch and so are their former employers. Florida businesses contribute taxes to the Florida Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund that are used to pay unemployment benefits to their former employees. With so many Floridians receiving unemployment benefits to stay afloat until they can find a new job, the trust fund recently became entirely depleted. As a short term fix, the state borrowed over $6 million from the federal government to replenish the trust fund, but if Florida is to continue providing unemployment benefits, we need to make significant changes to prevent a dramatic increase in taxes on small businesses or a cut to critical benefits.
I co-sponsored legislation last session that would have modernized our 75-year-old unemployment laws to allow Florida to receive $444 million in unemployment benefits from the federal economic recovery package. The legislation prevents an unemployed individual from being disqualified for benefits if he or she separates from work for compelling family reasons, such as to care for an ill or disabled family member or follow a spouse whose job has been relocated. Unfortunately the majority of the Florida House of Representatives blocked these changes, and I am both disappointed and frustrated that we were not able to bring needed relief to so many Floridians and small businesses. I will be fighting for these changes again during the next legislative session and I hope my colleagues will do what is right for Florida.
9/11 Remembrance Day: My condolences go out to the family members of those whose lives were lost on September 11, 2001, and thank you to the brave heroes who responded to the emergency in our time of need. You will always be in my thoughts and prayers.
As always, I appreciate the opportunity to be of service to you. Please do not hesitate to contact me or my staff if you have any questions or concerns. Our district office number is (561) 470-6593.
Kelly Skidmore, State Representative, District 90
**********************************************************************************************************
To read my article in Sunday, September 13 Sun-Sentinel CLICK HERE.