a:3:{s:16:"field_story_body";a:1:{i:0;a:2:{s:5:"value";s:1751:"Do you ever wonder who pays for the unemployment benefit that is distributed to the unemployed? Most of us probably don&rsquo;t have any idea we just take it for granted. <br />
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The truth is that it comes from the State of Michigan&rsquo;s from businesses that contribute to that fund. Additionally, because of Michigan&rsquo;s high unemployment rate, we have had to borrow money from the federal government to make the payments to the benefit recipients. Currently the state owes the federal government $3,100,000,000.00 for money they have given to recipients to pay for the benefit.<br />
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Because of the high unemployment rate businesses are having to pay higher unemployment insurance fees and they are scheduled to go even higher. As a result businesses won&rsquo;t hire.&nbsp; If they do and then they have to lay off employees it will be even more of a burden. So they make do with the employees they have.<br />
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To address the problem Michigan lawmakers are considering a Senate bill that would authorize the state to issue bonds to repay the $3.1 billion to be repaid by an assessment on businesses over a period of several years. The proposal has the backing Governor Snyder administration.<br />
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For Michigan there is no quick fix.<br />
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For an article outlining the issues, the problems, and what potential solutions are available click on the following story link:<br />
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<a href="http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20111125/NEWS01/111250321/Michigan-employers-face-higher-jobless-tax?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE">http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20111125/NEWS01/111250321/Michigan-employers-face-higher-jobless-tax?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE</a><br />";s:6:"format";s:1:"2";}}s:17:"field_story_image";a:1:{i:0;a:10:{s:3:"fid";s:4:"1945";s:4:"list";s:1:"1";s:4:"data";a:3:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";}s:3:"uid";s:1:"1";s:8:"filename";s:21:"unemployment_line.jpg";s:8:"filepath";s:48:"sites/default/files/images/unemployment_line.jpg";s:8:"filemime";s:10:"image/jpeg";s:8:"filesize";s:5:"85169";s:6:"status";s:1:"1";s:9:"timestamp";s:10:"1322231790";}}s:12:"field_weight";a:1:{i:0;a:1:{s:5:"value";N;}}}