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Lawmakers Declare NC Debt Free On Unemployment

Unemployment lines
Wikimedia

State officials have paid down $2.8 billion owed to the federal government. The debt came from money used to pay unemployment benefits during the recession.

That debt climbed to $2.8 billion in early 2013. Months later, lawmakers then passed controversial House Bill 4, which did the following:

  • Decreased the amount of time a person can be on unemployment
  • Cut maximum payments by a third
  • Increased unemployment insurance taxes for businesses.

"I don't know in my lifetime if I've ever heard of any level of government paying off two point six billion in debt in 24 months - and I'm not sure I ever will," said Dale Folwell, Assistant Secretary of the Commerce Department.

According to the General Assembly's fiscal research office, three fourths of the repayment money came from cuts to jobless benefits.
 

Jeff Tiberii is the co-host of WUNC's "Due South." Jeff joined WUNC in 2011. During his 20 years in public radio, he was Morning Edition Host at WFDD and WUNC’s Greensboro Bureau Chief and later, the Capitol Bureau Chief. Jeff has covered state and federal politics, produced the radio documentary “Right Turn,” launched a podcast, and was named North Carolina Radio Reporter of the Year four times.
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