Unemployment insurance -- the bosses' next target
Now that the legislature has nearly-unanimously gutted of Workers’ Compensation, the employers’ next target is Unemployment Insurance. Employer groups like the State Chamber of Commerce have already begun a chorus of whines about the “broken” unemployment insurance system and its cost.
For once, there’s some truth in their propaganda campaign. The Unemployment Insurance system isn’t broken, but it is broke —thanks to the employers and their friends in Sacramento. Since 1990, there have been only five years (from 1996 through 2000) when the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund didn’t pay out more money than it took in. With rising unemployment and a tax base which can’t support the system, the situation has grown steadily worse since 2001.
The reason is simple: employers are taxed for Unemployment Insurance on only the first $7,000 of an employee’s pay in California, the same amount as in Mississippi or South Carolina. This is the minimum amount allowed by the federal government and is the lowest taxable wage base as a percentage of average pay of any state. That means when workers go on unemployment, there isn’t enough money in the fund to pay them a decent percentage of their wages. The $7,000 amount hasn’t been raised since 1983.
This affects the solvency of the UI system and also its equity. Employers in lower-paying industries carry a greater share of the load than those in higher-paying industries. Since unemployment insurance is part of the “wages fund” of salary and benefits received by workers, the workers in those industries are also disadvantaged. Moreover, it means that employers with a stable work force are subsidizing seasonal and project-based industries like construction and movie production.
The first step toward “fixing” the unemployment insurance system is to raise the taxable wage base to $25,000 per year. This would still be lower than Idaho, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon or Alaska, and wouldn’t be much higher than Nevada’s base of $21,500. Then we need to index it to the state’s average wage so it doesn’t fall behind again. That’s the first step toward solvency.
But we want more than solvency from the Unemployment Insurance system. We want equity.
*We need to get rid of the crazy system which bases your unemployment payments on what you made months ago instead of what you were making when you got laid off.
*We need to raise the percentage of wages covered by UI benefits from the present average of 31.4% (45th among the 50 states) to at least 50%.
*We need to make it easier to get unemployment insurance. Right now only 46% of California’s unemployed workers get UI benefits.
*We need to extend the period you can get UI to reflect the rise in long-term unemployment.
All this isn’t necessary just to aid unemployed workers. Unemployment Insurance helps keep money in circulation at the bottom of the economy where it can do some good, instead of letting it all flow out to time-share condos in Bermuda.
(Get more info from California Budget Project, www.cbp.org)
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Different Car Insurance
There are different types of insurance coverage available, thus the best question to ask when applying for insurance, is which policy is available to me. In the beginning of the 19th century laws were passed stating that anyone driver a motor vehicle is by law obligated to have a measure of coverage. The drive can take out full coverage, or else �third-party� coverage, which will protect them in the event an accident occurs. The policy will keep you out of the arms of the law even if you are pulled over for a traffic violation, by protecting you from getting citations, fines, jail, or towed vehicle for no proof.
Third party will offer a measure of protection, however it will not protect you entirely if an accident occurs, and most likely will not cover you if your car is stolen. If you possess a �High-Performance� or �Classic� vehicle, then you will need supplementary coverage, outside of third-party coverage. In fact, you will need full coverage, plus the supplementary coverage to protect your vehicle. The coverage offered to these customers is to protect them extensively, since the risks are higher and the cost of repairs on such vehicles is twice more expensive than standard vehicles.
If you only take out third-party insurance on a high dollar vehicle, then you will pay the cost of repair and suffer losses in the event you are in an accident, unless the other driver is at fault. However, if that driver is at fault, still you may pay the cost that is not covered under the other drivers insurance if he too has third-party coverage. The third-party coverage will cover drivers on �public roads,� or private roads.� The policy may offer limited coverage for �legal liabilities� and �passenger indemnity.� The passenger indemnity means that if you are driving and your passenger hit�s a parked vehicle with the passenger door then you will be covered. The coverage may offer protection against fire and theft also, which will provide you a measure of coverage in the event your car is stolen or fire occurs. However, you must read the terms and agreements carefully, since some third-party coverage is minimal and will not offer this protection. On the other hand, comprehensive full coverage will defend you on nearly every possible occurrence. Comprehensive full insurance coverage �is the complete form of car insurance� that �adds accidental damage� coverage �to the 3 policies discussed.�
The comprehensive coverage can protect you, despite the level of damage, and will cover you on many �personal accidents� in the event you are injured. Third-party coverage was not planned to provide the coverage that the comprehensive policies bring. Third Party Only is a liability policy that will prevent you from charge if you cause an accident. The Policy will provide a measure of assurance that if you are in an industrial accident �the innocent party�s repair/replacement costs are insured against.
Thus, insurance coverage is different and most companies base the pricing on age, driving history, gender, type of car, and so forth. Regardless of the type of insurance you are seeking, all policies have premiums. The companies will often ask customers to provide an estimated guess as to how many miles you drive each year and this too will affect your premiums. Most companies estimate that drivers should only drive around 12,000 miles per year, but it depends on the company. Furthermore, under law you are responsible for your vehicle, therefore, if you are seeking insurance coverage and intend to allow other drivers to drive the car, make sure you get coverage for other drivers, otherwise if the driver causes an accident, by law you will pay for the damage, loss, death, and any other problem the accident caused. Thus, if you have a new car, high-performance vehicle, and other risky materials or issues that can increase your premiums, take not of each area that may be considered a high risk and point this out to the agent ahead of time. It makes sense to get several quotes if you pose a potential high risk to find the best rates on car insurance plans.
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