Business & Tech

Malloy: Feds Should Pay Unemployment for Furloughed Workers

Connecticut governor says state should not be responsible for costs of unemployment benefits to workers furloughed as a result of the government shutdown.

Written by Jason Bagley.

As some employees at Stratford-based Sikorsky Aircraft steel themselves for furloughs on Monday – a result of the U.S. government shutdown and the lack of federally paid defense inspectors – Governor Malloy called on Congress Friday to pass a resolution that would reimburse states for the costs of unemployment benefits to those furloughed workers.

“These workers and many more throughout Connecticut are out of work because House Republicans insist on playing childish political games,” Malloy, a Democrat, said in a release.

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“Families are suffering and it’s unacceptable,” he said. “As many of these workers begin applying for unemployment benefits, it’s also unacceptable that Connecticut taxpayers be made to pay for the failures of Republicans in Washington.”

Hartford-based United Technologies Corp. announced Wednesday that if the government shutdown remains in effect by Monday, Oct. 7, then 2,000 workers at Sikorsky facilities in Stratford, Florida and Alabama will be furloughed from their work duties.

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Malloy said Congress should also pick up the costs incurred by the state Department of Labor for administering unemployment activities and “any of the non-profits that rely on federal money to fund their payroll.”

"It’s time for Washington to get back to work addressing the challenges confronting this great nation," Malloy said, "so I once again call on House Republicans to stop their irresponsible behavior and pass a clean continuing resolution and a clean increase in the debt ceiling.”



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