Pennsylvania Looking To Expand Unemployment Benefits

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has passed a bill that would extend unemployment benefits for 7 weeks. The bill taps into federal funds that are available through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. To qualify a state must pass an 8 percent threshold of unemployment. Currently, Pennsylvania is at 8.2 percent unemployment. The bill must pass the senate before it can take affect and State Representative Marc Gergely said he wants the bill in place by July 18Th so 21,000 can extend their benefits. If approved and enacted the bill would stay in effect through the end of the year and could be extended if the states unemployment numbers to not decline.