About 15 of the 1,400 people put out of work by the LTV taconite plant shutdown met with Gov. Jesse Ventura Jan. 18, but he made no promises regarding legislation to provide them with extended unemployment benefits.
"I will give it a completely fair consideration," Ventura told the group, adding that he would rather focus on attracting new industries to the Iron Range. "We want to give people paychecks and jobs, not unemployment benefits," he said.
Jim Schackman, a 30-year employee of LTV, said the meeting was worthwhile even though Ventura made no commitment. "Now I think he's realizing the significance of it (the LTV shutdown)," he said.
As the meeting took place in the governor's office, the House Commerce, Jobs & Economic Development Committee approved a bill providing the workers with up to two years of unemployment benefits -- 18 months more than provided under current law. In addition to former LTV employees, workers employed by companies that had been doing business with the taconite manufacturer also would be eligible.
The hearing room was packed with workers from the Iron Range. Rep. Tom Rukavina, pointing to the crowd, told the committee, "Their families have been in the mining industry for two and three and four generations . . . These people have worked very hard . . ."
'Economic tornado'
Rep. Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, the chief author of the bill, said legislation is needed because of the poor economic conditions in northern Minnesota. "This is an economic tornado that has hit on the Iron Range and it has devastated people's lives."
Unlike other areas of the state, "there are no other jobs on the Range," he said.
At the same time, it is in Minnesota's interest to enable a skilled workforce to remain on the Range, in case another business can be found to take over the LTV facility, Bakk said. The property must be kept in saleable condition for at least one year and "the most valuable asset to that mining company property is the people in this room." Quick action is needed because the first wave of people to lose their jobs at LTV -- 30 laid off last August -- will run out of benefits next month, he said.
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On Jan. 17, the Senate Jobs, Housing and Community Development Committee approved the Senate version of the legislation. Both bills face more committee hearings before going to a floor vote.
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To read the text of the bills and track their status, go to the Legislature's website. Type in S.F. 101 and H.F. 157, the numbers assigned in each house.
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About 15 of the 1,400 people put out of work by the LTV taconite plant shutdown met with Gov. Jesse Ventura Jan. 18, but he made no promises regarding legislation to provide them with extended unemployment benefits.
“I will give it a completely fair consideration,” Ventura told the group, adding that he would rather focus on attracting new industries to the Iron Range. “We want to give people paychecks and jobs, not unemployment benefits,” he said.
Jim Schackman, a 30-year employee of LTV, said the meeting was worthwhile even though Ventura made no commitment. “Now I think he’s realizing the significance of it (the LTV shutdown),” he said.
As the meeting took place in the governor’s office, the House Commerce, Jobs & Economic Development Committee approved a bill providing the workers with up to two years of unemployment benefits — 18 months more than provided under current law. In addition to former LTV employees, workers employed by companies that had been doing business with the taconite manufacturer also would be eligible.
The hearing room was packed with workers from the Iron Range. Rep. Tom Rukavina, pointing to the crowd, told the committee, “Their families have been in the mining industry for two and three and four generations . . . These people have worked very hard . . .”
‘Economic tornado’
Rep. Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, the chief author of the bill, said legislation is needed because of the poor economic conditions in northern Minnesota. “This is an economic tornado that has hit on the Iron Range and it has devastated people’s lives.”
Unlike other areas of the state, “there are no other jobs on the Range,” he said.
At the same time, it is in Minnesota’s interest to enable a skilled workforce to remain on the Range, in case another business can be found to take over the LTV facility, Bakk said. The property must be kept in saleable condition for at least one year and “the most valuable asset to that mining company property is the people in this room.” Quick action is needed because the first wave of people to lose their jobs at LTV — 30 laid off last August — will run out of benefits next month, he said.
online pharmacy buy imuran online no prescription pharmacy
On Jan. 17, the Senate Jobs, Housing and Community Development Committee approved the Senate version of the legislation. Both bills face more committee hearings before going to a floor vote.
online pharmacy arava for sale with best prices today in the USA
To read the text of the bills and track their status, go to the Legislature’s website. Type in S.F. 101 and H.F. 157, the numbers assigned in each house.