Legislating for Worker Justice and Fairness

The legislature is in session. I have collected some data and links that will be useful to everyone interested in worker justice and fairness. I ask you to share the information widely and thank the sources cited for their good work. Please contact me if IWJ can be of assistance to you or your faith community.


Federal Legislation

HR 3630 is titled the “Job Creation Incentive Act” and is also called the “Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act.” The bill has four major subsections. Subtitle B deals with “Unemployment Compensation.” If the bill becomes law it will hit those who need it most the hardest, and states with the highest unemployment will suffer the most. IWJ encourages you to contact your representatives and urge them to defeat this proposed legislation and to call for the renewal of unemployment benefits with no cuts and no barriers. Here are a few items I pulled from the bill as I read it on line (go to House Resolution 3630 and scan down to Subtitle B).

• Section 2122 requires jobless workers without a high school education or a GED to pursue a degree unless they get a state waiver. It may seem reasonable but it means that workers without a high school degree or a GED could be denied benefits.
• Section 2125 allows for mandatory drug testing of recipients of unemployment insurance. It is not a crime to be unemployed. The mandate implies guilt and stigmatizes jobless workers.
• Section 2142, the “Extension and Modification of Emergency Unemployment Compensation” actually reduces the compensation period from the present 53 weeks to 33 weeks in most cases.
• Section 2162 requires jobless workers to participate in re-employment services and allows states to make them pay for the service.

You can find out more at UnemployedWorkers.org. Call 888-245-3381 to let your representative know you support renewing unemployment insurance with no cuts and no barriers.


Kansas Legislation

HB 2437 “Voter Repression” bill will be considered by the Kansas House Elections Committee on Monday, Friday 6th at 9 a.m. in room 5465 in the capitol. This is the Voter Registration bill, which is also known as the Voter Suppression Act. Notice was sent out too late for me to get it posted so that you could submit written testimony. If you are able to attend the hearing contact Louis Goseland, Director of Organizing at Sunflower Community Action, 316-264-9972, or Louis@Sunfloweract.org.

The Kansas League of Women Voters is hosting a “League Day” on February 15th from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Kansas Bar Association, 1200 SW Harrison, Topeka. The session will discuss bills dealing with taxes, voting, school finance, health care, women’s choice and immigration. If you are attending let the League know and contact your legislator and let her or him know you are attending this event and would like to meet.

Kansans United in Voice and Spirit will also be holding a rally in Topeka on February 15th. Type the name into your search engine for details.

Governor Brownback’s Tax Plan: check out the site for the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (www.itepnet.org; itep@itepnet.org). They have released their analysis of the governor’s proposed budget and it is not pretty—unless you are in the top income brackets. According to their analysis people earning under $20,000 will pay an increase of $209; wage-earners with incomes between $20-35,000 will pay $246 more; Kansans with incomes between $35 and 57,000 will pay $146 more; and those with incomes between $57 and 90,000 will pay $14 more. Those with incomes between $90 and 165,000 get a tax break of $244; incomes between $165 and 400,000 enjoy a $2,054 reduction; and over $400,000 benefit with a $16,993 reduction in state taxes. Adding to taxpayer woes, the proposed budget does not allow taxpayers to deduct state income taxes on your federal return—meaning higher federal taxes for all.

The League of Women Voters notes that there is not a single requirement in the tax plan to create jobs. It will reduce the income of lower and middle income families, cost the state money to the tune of $90 million dollars next year, and reduce the ability of the state to make job-creating investments.