Missouri House votes for cuts to unemployment benefits

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. � Missouri lawmakers are trying again to reduce the duration of state jobless benefits to one of the shortest periods nationally.

House members gave the measure initial approval in a voice vote Tuesday. It needs another vote to move to the Senate.

The bill is a revival of a failed 2015 plan to cut the maximum benefits to 13 weeks if the state�s jobless rate is below 6 percent. That�s seven weeks fewer than what�s now allowed.

Missouri�s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.5 percent in December.

The maximum number of weeks will rise under Rep. Scott Fitzpatrick�s proposal if the unemployment rate creeps above 6 percent, topping out at 20 weeks if the jobless rate eclipses 9 percent.