Circuit Court issues injunction allowing benefits to keep flowing
A Baltimore Circuit Court judge ruled this week that unemployed workers in Maryland must continue to receive federal unemployment benefits. Governor Larry Hogan announced back in June his intention to withdraw Maryland from the federal program that granted an extra $300 per week to claimants on top of state unemployment benefits.
The Hogan Administration argued the state’s economic recovery depended on unemployed workers returning to the workforce and that the extra benefits were keeping many from going back to work.
According to NFIB’s monthly jobs report for June, 46% of small business owners reported job openings they could not fill in the current period. The same report found that 39% of owners reported raising compensation indicating that small business owners are continually adjusting ways to attract qualified applicants.
A spokesman for Gov. Hogan noted while the Administration fundamentally disagrees with the ruling, it is unlikely it will appeal the ruling given the enhanced federal benefits are scheduled to end on September 6th later this year.
