State Legislature Ups Unemployment Benefits

The state House passed a bill earlier today, 91-2, to increase unemployment benefits by $45—raising weekly payments to the unemployed to between $200 and $585.  

The bill taps the state’s robust unemployment fund—which legislators in Olympia boast is one of the healthiest in the country at $4 billion— to the tune of $190 million this year to increase the weekly payments.

The bill is certain to pass the Democratic Senate.