Group: McCrory should try to live on $350 a week

Monday, January 28, 2013

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pat mccrory, inside politics

And the Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Community leaders and advocates for the unemployed are calling on Gov. Pat McCrory to live for one week on the maximum employment benefit of $350 weekly that lawmakers are considering.

Challenge sponsor Action NC held a news conference Monday in Raleigh. Action NC policy director Kevin Rogers says McCrory doesn't understand what it's like to live on so little money.

"Governor, if you agree to take this challenge, I will take the challenge," said Rogers.

A House committee will consider decreasing the maximum unemployment benefit by about a third, from about $535 weekly to $350.

Rep. Julia Howard says the proposal would take effect in July. The starting date is important because the federal law averting the fiscal cliff this month gave states federally paid emergency benefits for another year if benefit rules were not changed.