Republicans move to reinstate work-search requirement

By TODD RICHMOND Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republican lawmakers have reinstated a requirement that unemployed people look for work to qualify for benefits.

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers suspended the requirement in March 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic was taking hold in the state, forcing businesses to close.

Lawmakers have extended the suspension for months by passing emergency rules. The Legislature's Republican-controlled rules committee voted Wednesday to reinstate the requirement beginning next week.

The requirement was slated to automatically be reinstated in July, but Republicans want to move faster to alleviate a shortage of workers as the pandemic wanes and businesses reopen.

Republicans unveiled a bill on Tuesday that would end a $300 weekly federal unemployment supplement.

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