Republicans Tackle Last Minute Warning From Governor On Unemployment Benefits

Republican leaders at the General Assembly are rushing through a bill that would extend unemployment benefits before an April 16 deadline which would cut them off. Republican Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger and Republican House Speaker Thom Tillis told reporters Governor Beverly Perdue knew about the deadline April 1 but the leaders weren’t informed until last week. Berger explains the situation in the clip below.

The benefits would come from federal dollars. The language in HB383 was substituted to include the extended benefits plus it has a continuing resolution to keep the government running in case the Governor vetoes the Republican budget. The resolution would authorize continued spending but at 87 percent of current level.

Berger and Tillis urged the Governor not to use her “red ink” and sign the legislation that should be on her desk before the end of the week.