Vote Yes On Ballot Question to Dedicate Employee Benefit Funds

Stop raids on the unemployment insurance (UI) fund and other payroll-tax-supported programs will be decided in the November 2 election.

In addition to choosing members of Congress as well as county and local officials, voters in this election will be asked to vote on a constitutional amendment that would prohibit state government from taking your payroll tax payments to the unemployment insurance fund and temporary disability fund to pay for general state government spending.

We urge you and your employees to vote yes on the ballot question: "Constitutional Amendment to Dedicate Assessments on Wages by the State to the Payment of Employee Benefits."

For many years, the Legislature has been taking your UI tax payments to help balance the state budget. The Unemployment Insurance fund was created to build up cash reserves in good economic times so employers wouldn't have to pay higher payroll taxes in a recession, when they can least afford it. 

Between 1993 and 2005, past administrations of both parties depleted the fund to the tune of $4.7 billion in UI payroll tax diversions. As a result, employers are now getting hit with higher taxes to ensure the UI fund can pay unemployment benefits. If the fund had just been left alone, there would be plenty of money to pay benefits without raising taxes.

Click Here For Text Of Ballot Question