Beck distorts unemployment insurance benefits in cap-and-trade bills

Beck: "[T]hey extend unemployment benefits for three years." During the May 19 edition of his radio show, Beck said, “In this cap-and-trade bill, they extend unemployment benefits for three years, along with health care benefits for three years.”

Kerry-Lieberman bill does not mention unemployment benefits. The American Power Act contains no provision for any kind of unemployment insurance benefits.

Waxman-Markey bill provides for up to three years of “climate change adjustment allowance” benefits for workers displaced by the bill -- not all unemployed workers. The American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454), sponsored by Reps. Henry Waxman and Edward Markey, would provide payments to workers in industries that produce or transform energy, those that depend on energy industries, and those in some manufacturing industries who lose their jobs as a result of changes required by the bill. From the bill:

(5) WEEKLY AMOUNTS -- The climate change adjustment allowance payable to an adversely affected worker for a week of unemployment shall be an amount equal to 70 percent of the average weekly wage of such worker, but in no case shall such amount exceed the average weekly wage for all workers in the State where the adversely affected worker resides.

(6) MAXIMUM DURATION OF BENEFITS -- An eligible worker may receive a climate change adjustment allowance under this subsection for a period of not longer than 156 weeks.

Workers receiving adjustment allowance payments may not receive other forms of unemployment insurance. From the bill:

(2) INELIGIBILITY FOR CERTAIN OTHER BENEFITS -- An adversely affected worker receiving a payment under this section shall be ineligible to receive any other form of unemployment insurance for the period in which such worker is receiving a climate change adjustment allowance under this section.

Waxman-Markey bill covers 80 percent of health insurance premiums for workers enrolled in a job-training program. From the bill:

(g) Health Insurance Continuation -- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this part, the Secretary of Labor shall prescribe regulations to provide, for the period in which an adversely affected worker is participating in a training program described in subsection (b)(2), 80 percent of the monthly premium of any health insurance coverage that an adversely affected worker was receiving from such worker's employer prior to the separation from employment described in section 425(b), to be paid to any health care insurance plan designated by the adversely affected worker receiving an allowance under this section.

Beck falsely claims cap-and-trade bill has “incentives for employees to move overseas”

Beck says the bill has “incentives for employees to move overseas.” On his radio program, Beck said, “There are also in this new health care -- in this new cap-and-trade bill, incentives for employees to move overseas.”

Kerry-Lieberman bill has no provision for relocation of workers. The American Power Act contains no provision for the relocation of workers.

Waxman-Markey bill provides for relocation “within the United States” to displaced workers who cannot find a local job. From the American Clean Energy and Security Act, as passed by the House:

(f) Relocation Allowance Authorized --

(1) IN GENERAL -- Any adversely affected worker covered by a certification issued under section 425 may file an application for a relocation allowance with the Secretary, and the Secretary may grant the relocation allowance, subject to the terms and conditions of this subsection.

(2) CONDITIONS FOR GRANTING ALLOWANCE -- A relocation allowance may be granted if all of the following terms and conditions are met:

(A) ASSIST AN ADVERSELY AFFECTED WORKER -- The relocation allowance will assist an adversely affected worker in relocating within the United States.

(B) LOCAL EMPLOYMENT NOT AVAILABLE -- The Secretary determines that the worker cannot reasonably be expected to secure suitable employment in the commuting area in which the worker resides.

(C) TOTAL SEPARATION -- The worker is totally separated from employment at the time relocation commences.

(D) SUITABLE EMPLOYMENT OBTAINED -- The worker --

(i) has obtained suitable employment affording a reasonable expectation of long-term duration in the area in which the worker wishes to relocate; or

(ii) has obtained a bona fide offer of such employment.

(E) APPLICATION -- The worker filed an application with the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the Secretary shall specify by regulation.