Governor Otter Backs Labor Director on Opposing Extended Unemployment Benefits

Earlier this week Idaho’s Department of Labor Director Roger Madsen asked state lawmakers and Idaho’s congressional delegation to oppose any further extension of federal unemployment insurance benefits.

Now, Republican Governor Butch Otter is weighing in (through his spokesman), after the Idaho Democratic Party said Madsen should resign.  Here’s what The Idaho Statesman is reporting:

“The director has the governor’s full support and confidence,” said Mark Warbis, Otter’s communications director.

Otter and Madsen agreed after the last extension of federal benefits by Congress in July 2010 that they would not support another extension, Warbis said.

The current extension is set to expire next month. About 12,000 Idahoans are receiving those benefits. Some have already exhausted their jobless benefits.

Even while Idaho’s unemployment rate hovers at 9 percent and an estimated 68,000 people are out of work, there are 17,000 jobs in the state that are going unfilled, Warbis said. Some of that may be caused by people not having the correct skills for the jobs needed, he said. But he said the Department of Labor has several programs to help people get back to work.”