My unemployment employer contribution rate jumped 50% this year because

[Bandit]

More unemployment was paid out last year and the Governor is outsourcing Alaska jobs within the state. I just got off the phone with Dept of Employment Security to find out why my rates took such a large jump and that is what she told me. All employers in Alaska had a huge rate increase because so much more was paid out in unemployment than years gone by. She also said because the Governor was outsourcing state jobs that the workload was drastically increased for those left in the state. I asked if it was because of the Federal economic policies that unemployment was so high and she said it was Republican policies period. I could tell she was not going to vote for either Bush* or Murkowski. It is a substantial hit for me though. Employees still only pay .05% but mine went from 1% to 1.53% for a combined total of 2.03%. Republicans are not helping small business no matter how many lies they tell us.

[Tempest]

1. Where in Alaska are you Bandit?

If you don't mind me asking.

[Bandit]

3. I live in Juneau ~ The Capital city

It is a statewide issue though.

[Tempest]

7. Reason I was asking...

I'm going to end back up there next spring.

I'm thinking of staying in Anchorage for most of the summer and then settling down in Fairbanks. Actually north of Fairbanks in Gold Bar.

[Bandit]

8. Good Alaska needs a few more people that are on the progressive side

You won't regret it I hope.

[beyurslf]

2. Looks more and more like you could end up with a Dem Gov.

Join KS and OK in surprising the country. :)

[Zorra]

4. All part of the republican plan to destroy small businesses

and make every American an indentured servant of corporate oligopoly.

[Bandit]

5. I am not sure that is the case

My business is a Corporation. I have ten employees and I am like most small business in America. Corporations are not bad in and of themselves. It is usually the huge mega corporations that have dealings with the republican thugs. There are literally thousands of small corporations through-out America run by families that do not exist to screw their employees. My Corporation is like one big family.

[Hamlette]

6. Could be similar to what is happening in Utah

In 2000 the legislature passed a huge unemployment tax cut which many of us argued was too big. In 2001 unemployment started to go up but we paid for it out of the reserves thinking it was a blip. It became clear throughout 2002 it was not a blip but a recession but because of a glich in the law we didn't hit a trigger until this year, 2004. Rates have tripled or worse here as a result.

Total benefits paid out more than tripled since 2000 while the tax rate stayed low. We paid the benefits out of the reserves now we have to meet the current demand for unemployment benefits as well as replenish the reserves.