Rep Lisa Campbell SB 160 03 27 23

Representative Lisa Campbell, GAHD35, takes to the well of the Georgia General Assembly to oppose SB 160 and instead, affirm the need to fully fund Georgia's Unemployment Trust Fund

SB 160 reestablishes a previously implemented administrative assessment fee but also could potentially risk the solvency of Georgia’s Unemployment Insurance trust fund, and this is why I rise today to speak against SB 160.

As a long time business owner in Georgia, and a long time professional worker in Georgia I have first hand experience about the benefits of contributing to our Unemployment Insurance as an important part of protecting and empowering a stable economic environment for people and companies to thrive throughout the state.

As we know, the federal-state unemployment insurance system (UI) helps many people who have lost their jobs by temporarily replacing part of their wages while they look for work. Some may not know that it was created in 1935, as a form of insurance (like health, home or car insurance) to citizens manage financial risk when a job loss happens, in which modest taxes collected from employers are paid into the system on behalf of their working employees to provide them with income support if they are laid off by those same employers. The system also helps sustain consumer demand during economic downturns by providing a continuing stream of dollars for families to spend.

Further, when it’s harder for workers to access UI during jobless spells, fewer of them have wage protections to pay for basic necessities while they search/train for quality jobs. This would likely force more Georgia workers into unstable jobs that eventually cycle them back to unemployment. OR, it would force them to suffer longer jobless spells as they struggle to job search and stay afloat without ample resources. OR, it could push them out of the workforce completely because of the weight of spiraling hardship. We can help out upstream proactively helping Georgia workers so they don’t drown when they are laid off for no fault of their own.

For GA legislators committed to equitably balancing the needs of our shared economy, working families and employers—for a body that wants to address homelessness, poverty, and improved healthcare outcomes this bill may be one of the most important ways we stop the spiral of financial ruin when people lose their jobs through no fault of their own. Let’s stop pushing people into the river of downward prospects. Saying no to this bill and going back to the drawing board would be addressing one of the root causes of homelessness. We should send this bill back to committee to reinstate the admin fee AND support minimal tax rates that fully fund the solvency of our UI Trust fund and in doing so this bill should receive your no vote.

Видео Rep Lisa Campbell SB 160 03 27 23 канала Lisa for Georgia