Unemployment bill in limbo

The Senate's version of the unemployment compensation tax bill, debated since February, faces a bit of uncertainty after the Senate Budget Committee postponed action on the measure Tuesday. The House approved its version 81-36 in mid-March.

The bill provides tax relief for employers, and allows them to continue to have the option to pay unemployment compensation taxes in installments over next three years.

The committee met Monday and Tuesday, and does not yet have another meeting scheduled this week, normally the final week for bills to get through their final committee of reference so the can move on to the full Senate. However, by Senate rules, during the last two weeks of the session, a committee meeting may be called with four hours notice.