Lawsuit Filed Against the Governor and Others Over Decision to End Federal UI Benefits

This week, a group of Iowans filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against Governor Kim Reynolds, Iowa Workforce Development Director Beth Townsend and the State of Iowa this week over the decision to end federal unemployment insurance benefits early. The lawsuit, filed in Polk County, aims to reinstate the benefits, which ended this June. It also seeks that benefits be paid to Iowans who were eligible for them, but didn’t receive them due to Iowa’s early withdrawal from the programs. At least 26 states have ended their participation in the federal benefits early. The benefits were created as a part of the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic. ABI is very supportive of and praised Governor Reynold’s decision to end benefits early, as there are tens of thousands of jobs waiting to be filled by unemployed Iowans. The federal benefit programs are set to expire on September 6. Read more from The Des Moines Register.