WA Gov. Gregoire signs bill to increase unemployment insurance benefits
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OLYMPIA, Wash. - Gov. Chris Gregoire Monday signed House Bill 1906, which will give Washingtonians receiving unemployment insurance an additional $45 a week in benefits, coming at the same time the federal government is increasing benefits by $25 a week.
The
combined impact of the state and federal increases will mean $70 more a
week for Washingtonians on unemployment and will mean $480 million
circulating through Washington's economy and into local businesses, the
governor said.
"Respected economists calculate that for every dollar of unemployment insurance benefits, another $1.64 is quickly generated in the economy," Gregoire said.
"When we apply that ‘multiplier' to the additional state and federal unemployment benefits, the total impact comes to $480 million for our state. We are putting money into the pockets of those struggling during this tough economic period, while benefiting stores and businesses in this state."