W.Va. Jobless Fund Already in Trouble

Legislation that survived Wednesday's crossover deadline include Gov. Joe Manchin's proposal to increase revenues for the unemployment compensation trust fund. As The Associated Press reports, the aid is coming along just in time.

"The bill passed to the House 30-4 would hit up both employers and workers for additional money if the fund balance falls below $180 million," the article said. "But Unemployment Compensation Director Mike Moore said the state passed that threshold in March."

“We’re going to be below that,” Moore told The Associated Press. “We’re going to be in the neighborhood of $170 million.”

The measure as amended would also increase the tax that employers now pay into the fund, and link its rate to state wage levels. "Moore said indexing the wage base rate should help the fund’s long-term revenue levels," AP reports.