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Governor says Mississippi opting out of additional federal unemployment benefits
Angela Williams
Digital Media Manager
Governor says Mississippi opting out of additional federal unemployment benefits
OF COVID CASES NEARING 314 THOUSAND... THE DEATH TOLL OVER 72 HUNDRED.. GOVERNOR TATE REEVES SPEAKING PUBLICLY FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE ANNOUNCING HIS DECISION TO OPT OUT OF ADDITIONAL FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI. REEVES SAYS HE AGREED WITH THE BENEFITS GIVING MISSISSIPPIANS AN EXTRA 300 DOLLARS EARLIER IN THE PANDEMIC BUT NOW SAYS FOR THE MOST PART, THE PANDEMIC IS BEHIND US.. <FOR OUR ECONOMY TO FULLY RECOVER WE HAVE TO GET OUR PEOPLE BACKL TO WORK AND IF YOU GO AROUND ANYWHERE IN OUR STATE AND YOU TALKJ TO SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, LARGE BUSINESS OWNERS, YOU TALK TO EMPLOYEES WHAT YOU HEAR FROM PEOPLE IS THAT IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND PEOPLE, TO FIND LABOR AND SO WE THINK THE PANDEMIC FOR INTENSIVE PURPOSES IS BEHIND U
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Governor says Mississippi opting out of additional federal unemployment benefits
Angela Williams
Digital Media Manager
Gov. Tate Reeves says Mississippi will opt out of additional federal unemployment benefits.Reeves said Monday on social media that he has informed the Department of Employment Security to direct the Biden administration that Mississippi is opting out as of June 12, which is the earliest federal law allows."The purpose of unemployment benefits is to temporarily assist Mississippians who are unemployed through no fault of their own. After many conversations over the last several weeks with Mississippi small business owners and their employees, it has become clear that the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and other like programs passed by the Congress may have been necessary in May of last year but are no longer so in May of this year," Reeves said. The governor said he has also told MDES to prioritize pre-pandemic enforcement of all eligibility requirements for any individual to receive unemployment benefits under state law. "It has become clear to me that we cannot have a full economic recovery until we get the thousands of available jobs in our state filled," Reeves said. "Mississippi is open for business."Mississippi Democratic Chairman Tyree Irving released a statement Tuesday in response. "Mississippi boasts one of the highest poverty rates in the United States. The decision to forgo federal dollars that would assist struggling Mississippians, at no additional cost to the State, is cold and heartless," Irving said. "Raising the minimum wage to a living wage or to $15 per hour may also be an incentive to boost the number of people seeking employment. It is my hope that Gov. Reeves, along with his Republican colleagues, will focus on improving the low wages that continue to plague our State and that have caused us to lose population and growth to other Southern states."Tap here to read the full statement.
JACKSON, Miss. —

Gov. Tate Reeves says Mississippi will opt out of additional federal unemployment benefits.

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Reeves said Monday on social media that he has informed the Department of Employment Security to direct the Biden administration that Mississippi is opting out as of June 12, which is the earliest federal law allows.

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"The purpose of unemployment benefits is to temporarily assist Mississippians who are unemployed through no fault of their own. After many conversations over the last several weeks with Mississippi small business owners and their employees, it has become clear that the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and other like programs passed by the Congress may have been necessary in May of last year but are no longer so in May of this year," Reeves said.

The governor said he has also told MDES to prioritize pre-pandemic enforcement of all eligibility requirements for any individual to receive unemployment benefits under state law.

"It has become clear to me that we cannot have a full economic recovery until we get the thousands of available jobs in our state filled," Reeves said. "Mississippi is open for business."

Mississippi Democratic Chairman Tyree Irving released a statement Tuesday in response.

"Mississippi boasts one of the highest poverty rates in the United States. The decision to forgo federal dollars that would assist struggling Mississippians, at no additional cost to the State, is cold and heartless," Irving said. "Raising the minimum wage to a living wage or to $15 per hour may also be an incentive to boost the number of people seeking employment. It is my hope that Gov. Reeves, along with his Republican colleagues, will focus on improving the low wages that continue to plague our State and that have caused us to lose population and growth to other Southern states."

Tap here to read the full statement.