Rep. Thomas Albert – the incoming chair of the Michigan House Appropriations Committee – today said a veto from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer hurts families and job providers at a time of critical need.

Albert said the governor’s veto essentially eliminates a six-week extension of benefits – from 20 weeks to 26 weeks – that otherwise was set for January. That is because the extension of benefits included in Senate Bill 604, which the governor signed, was specifically tied to and contingent upon the $220 million she vetoed from Senate Bill 748.

“The governor essentially ended the unemployment benefits extension the Legislature had just approved – and that is terribly unfortunate for Michigan workers and job providers,” said Albert, who will be the House Appropriations chair during the 2021-22 term. “It already has been a rough year for thousands and thousands of people across Michigan – and this will make it even rougher for many of them.”

Albert, of Lowell, also said he was disappointed by the governor’s statement that the Legislature’s budget measure ‘went too far’ and that the rejected portion didn’t have anything to do with extending unemployment benefits.

“Money to pay for unemployment benefits doesn’t magically appear from nowhere,” Albert said. “Job providers regularly pay into the unemployment trust fund – and in the case of this particular extension, the Legislature decided it was extremely important that businesses were held harmless and did not have to pay even more to fund it. Businesses have less money coming in because of the governor’s decisions to close and restrict the economy, and they still have other bills to pay.”

Albert said that the best way to help the unemployed is to fully and safely reopen Michigan’s economy.

“Enough is enough,” Albert said of the restrictions from the governor’s administration. “Businesses can operate safely, and people know what precautions to take to stay safe. We need to end these draconian measures now.”