Latest news with #PaulCraney
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Unemployment recipients now eligible for 30 weeks of benefits
BOSTON (WWLP) – Massachusetts residents can now receive up to 30 weeks of unemployment benefits, and it is because of Springfield's climbing unemployment rate. When any of the Bay State's seven metropolitan statistical areas' unemployment rates exceed 5.1% across a one-year average, this increase in benefits kicks in. Springfield was just reported to have an unemployment rate of 5.2%, making the increase mandated by a 2003 law to kick in. Governor Healey recognizes Pediatric Organ Donation Week The other six statistical areas measure under 5%, with Barnstable trailing closest to Springfield at 4.9% unemployment. Massachusetts is the only state in the nation to allow recipients to collect benefits for this long, and it is causing stakeholders like the National Federation of Independent Business to call for reform. The state's unemployment rate is 0.8% higher than the national average, and the unemployment department predicts that the trust fund that pays for benefits, which is funded by a tax on employers, will go into the red in the next three years. These unemployment rates are impacted by loss of private sector jobs, totaling almost 25,000 over the last year, and loss of 400 federal jobs, despite a 4,400 job increase for state government positions. The Mass Fiscal Alliance said the route to fixing this fiscal uncertainty is increasing private sector jobs. 'The state is doing serious long-term damage to its economic competitiveness,' said Paul Craney, Mass Fiscal's Executive Director. 'Massachusetts needs a private sector comeback, not more bureaucrats on the state payroll.' Before this extension, unemployed individuals could receive benefits for up to 26 weeks. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mass Fiscal polls says voters support AG action on legislative audit
BOSTON (WWLP) – The Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance released a poll taking likely voters' temperature on state and federal lawmakers, ballot questions, and more. The poll was conducted via phone call, and about 48% of polled likely voters are independents, while 41% are registered democrats and 11% are registered republicans. Among other issues, likely voters were asked if the attorney general should step in on enforcing a voter-approved audit of the state legislature, and nearly 81% said yes. 'If I was the attorney general, I'd be pretty careful with this one…if she has any future aspirations in politics, even if she's suing Trump five days a week, this could be something that could come back and haunt her,' said Paul Craney, Mass Fiscal's spokesperson. Independent voters showed the strongest support for the attorney general taking action, but it is important to note that independents made up 386 of the 800 people who responded to the poll. Pollster Jim Eltringham noted that this issue is not party-based, despite most opposition coming from Democrat lawmakers. 'People who strongly or somewhat favor Trump also, it's like 79% to 8%, support the AG following this law,' said Eltringham. The legislature continues to fight this audit on the basis of constitutional concerns due to the separation of powers clause. As of now, it appears the only path to resolution is through the courts, but the Attorney General says she still needs more information from the auditor's office to proceed. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
