Recession Draining W.Va. Jobless Benefits Fund

As early as Tuesday, legislators expect to move on Gov. Joe Manchin's proposal for shoring up West Virginia's unemployment compensation trust fund by charging temporary "assessments" to both employers and workers, The Associated Press reports.

But Senate Judiciary Chairman Jeff Kessler says that his committee may take the proposal a step further, by also hiking the rate on the existing employer tax that now supplies the fund with revenue.

"We're going to try to avoid what clearly is a train wreck waiting to happen," Kessler told AP. "We can avoid this, with a little bit of planning and a little bit of pain now."

Employers are hoping lawmakers take a different route, given the burden they already shoulder amid a persisting recession.

But as AP previously reported, West Virginia may not have much time to avert the fund's projected path toward insolvency.

"The fund balance dropping below $180 million would trigger those payments," Monday's article said. "But as written, the bill would not take effect until July 1. Program officials say it could fall to that level as early as this month."

MetroNews also has an item on the governor's bill, with audio from state Chamber of Commerce president Steve Roberts.