Maryland Governor, Martin O'Malley, proposed to expand unemployment benefits and to permit unions to collect fees from from non-union employees yesterday as part of a broader legislative agenda. While most of O'Malley's initiatives are cost-free (in light of a $2 billion budget deficit this year), the proposal to give unemployment benefits to part-time workers would cost the state's employment insurance trust fund an extra $16 million. The Governor presented the plan as a way of helping families through the recession. Meanwhile, allowing unions to collect service fees from non-union employees could help correct the discrepancy between the number of employees represented by unions, and the number actually paying dues.
See "Unemployment benefits sought for part-time workers", Julie Bykowicz, Baltimore Sun, January 26, 2009