Iowa expands military benefits

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Gov. Chet Culver on Tuesday signed into law an expansion of jobless benefits for the spouses of soldiers who are forced to quit their jobs when their husband or wife is deployed overseas.

Under the state's unemployment compensation laws, workers who voluntarily leave their jobs are usually not eligible for jobless benefits. The measure signed into law by Culver makes an exception for the spouses of deployed soldiers.

"I feel very good about the fact that in Iowa we are leading the nation in supporting the men and women who wear the uniform," Culver said.

Supporters said a spouse who is left behind during a deployment often finds it impossible to keep a job and care for a family, and frequently must move closer to relatives for help.

Critics worried about the impact on business. Jobless benefits are paid for through a trust fund that is financed by a tax on businesses based on their employment history, and granting additional benefits would hit those businesses, some worried.

Backers, however, noted that the number of claims is likely to be very small, and could be financed by interest generated by money in the trust fund. In addition, they included a provision making it clear that if a worker quit because of a deployment the business' tax levy would not be altered.

While the number of claims is likely to be few, backers said those who take advantage of it need it badly.

Shannon Sandig, whose husband was deployed, said she and many other spouses face difficulties.

"There were quite a few families who had to give up their job to care for their children," she said.

In addition to the "trailing spouse"' measure, Culver signed two bills for veterans.

One allows disabled veterans to apply for grants to assist in their recovery, and the second allows disabled veterans who own small businesses to get contracts from the state.

The Defense Department has prepared a list of 10 measures it wants states to support. Iowa has approved most and could be one of the first states in the nation to adopt all, Culver said.

The legislation is important, Culver said, in part because 3,500 Iowa National Guard troops are being deployed to Afghanistan later this year, the largest single deployment in the state's history.

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