About 37,000 long-term unemployed residents could see a second week without jobless benefits, as they remain caught in an impasse between the Republican-controlled legislature and Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue.
A little more than a week ago, the legislature passed a bill that would have extended benefits for the long-term unemployed, and attached to it a provision that would have weakened Perdue's position in budget negotiations. Perdue vetoed it. Benefits for 37,000 ended April 16.
Jordan Shaw, spokesman for House Speaker Thom Tillis, said the House would be wrapped up in budget preparations this week, but if the Senate moves a bill, the House would look at it.
The Asheville Citizen-Times reported that Sen. Tom Apodaca, a Hendersonville Republican and the Senate Rules Committee chairman, told the newspaper's editorial board that legislative Republicans and Perdue would find a compromise "within a week or two."
Apodaca could not be reached for comment Monday.
Perdue spokeswoman Chrissy Pearson said Perdue is eager to sign a "clean bill." That would be a bill without other provisions attached.
"She'll sign it the same day she gets it, if she can," Pearson said.
Benefits will be retroactive if a bill passes sometime this year.
