Putnam Moves to Fast-Track Unemployment Insurance

(KNSI) – Minnesota State Senator Aric Putnam moved to immediately pass legislation to fully fund the state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund and provide frontline worker bonus pay for more than 667,000 Minnesotans.

“Minnesotans have made clear that they expect timely action on both these issues. When the pandemic hit, workers on the front lines stepped up for the rest of us and small businesses closed their doors when the state asked them to,” said Senator Putnam. “While they did what they needed to, the legislature has failed to honor our workers and small businesses. Today we had a chance to put partisanship aside and put Minnesotans first.”

Minnesota must begin to make payments on unemployment insurance loans from the federal government on March 15th. In addition, a senate working group tasked with finding an agreement on frontline worker bonuses has not announced a compromise.

Senate Republicans voted against moving the legislation forward, and the bill did not receive the 45 votes needed to pass.

“We asked some people to go to work and we asked some people to stay home. We owe all of them action today,” said Senator Putnam. “Though I’m disappointed in today’s result, I will continue to fight to put Minnesotans ahead of partisan politics.”

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