On April 29, the Legislature agreed to spend $2.7 billion of the state’s $9.2 billion surplus to replenish the unemployment insurance trust fund rather than having businesses pay higher tax rates to refill it themselves, as normally required by law. The move, which will generate considerable savings for businesses following one of the most profitable years on record, has been a top priority for the Chamber of Commerce, Republicans, and the governor this legislative session.
In exchange, Democrats in the House sought $1 billion in hazard pay for essential workers — in health care, child care, food processing, retail, and other fields — who helped keep things moving during the pandemic. In the final deal, Republicans agreed to $500 million in COVID bonus checks, but refused to yield on another pro-worker DFL proposal aimed at addressing the worker shortage plaguing public schools: Unemployment insurance protections for hourly school employees who are currently excluded from the system.
Even though the requested funding — $162 million spread over several years — was only a small fraction of the UI replenishment cost, the GOP vociferously objected. In the ugly House floor debate that followed, several opponents of the proposal made their disregard for rank-and-file workers apparent, with special animosity directed at school workers.
Rep. Jon Koznick,...
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