MADISON, WI – Yesterday, Assembly Republicans voted to pass a package of bills to address Wisconsin’s workforce challenges. These bills would stimulate our economy by reducing fraud and helping Wisconsinites who have lost their job reenter the workforce. State Representative Brent Jacobson (R – Mosinee) is the author of AB 164, one of the bills in this package.
“Unemployment insurance was designed to help people who lose their job at no fault of their own find new employment,” said Rep. Jacobson. “Unfortunately, at the same time that businesses across our state are struggling to find workers, Unemployment Insurance has turned into a system to pay people not to work. The reforms in AB 164 will enable unemployed Wisconsinites to return to the workforce sooner, filling critical openings and helping people earn the best kind of check there is: a stable paycheck.”
AB 164 renames Wisconsin’s Unemployment Insurance program to Reemployment Assistance, and reorients it to better help Wisconsinites who lose their job find new, family-supporting jobs. Under Reemployment Assistance, claimants would receive greater support to make their job search successful. Additionally, they would have to make four work search actions per week, at least two of which must be direct contacts with employers who are hiring.
“By passing my bill, as well as the others in this package, my colleagues and I are sending a clear message to our constituents,” said Rep. Jacobson. “We are serious about tackling fraud, eliminating mismanagement, and getting Wisconsinites back into the workforce.”
