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A closer look at Christie’s unemployment plan
Gov. Christie laid out his plan to decrease New Jersey unemployment benefits and soften a $1 billion tax hike on businesses last week. Here’s a closer look at some of the details of his proposal, and the politicking to come. The plan, which would impact newly unemployed people only: – Cut maximum unemployment benefits from $600 per week to $550 (saves $295 million) With the reduction, New Jersey’s top benefit would go from being second-highest in the nation to third. Right now Massachusetts pays the most, up to $628 per week, according to the New Jersey labor department. Pennsylvania is third, at $558, and would move up to second. Hawaii ($545) is fourth, followed by Washington ($541) and Rhode Island ($528). Christie said that until the start of 2010, New Jersey’s maximum benefit was $584, so the cut would be only $34 less than the unemployed received in 2009. (Tamari, The Inquirer)
https://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/nj_politics/A_closer_look_at_Christies_unemployment_plan.html