Wednesday, Apr 8, 2009 @08:58am CST

As if getting laid-off isn't bad enough, now many Hoosiers seeking unemployment may face more cuts.  A bill is making its way through the Indiana Legislature that could cut unemployment insurance benefits by more than 25%.  Today a group of union workers were kicked off of Work One's property in Evansville while passing out information about new legislation.  The members of Indiana State Building and Construction Trades Council were eventually allowed to return with hundreds of fliers.  Nearly ten percent of Hoosiers are out of work through no fault of their own.  Before passing House Bill 1379, Senate Republicans made a few adjustments to the legislation, making it more difficult to qualify for unemployment and cutting benefits up to 30% over an eight week period.  The bill is currently being negotiated in a conference committee. In the meantime, union workers urge residents to contact local law makers to let them know where they stand on the bill.  State Representative Russ Stilwell who is an advisor on the bill.  He says the state will be about a billion dollars in the hole by the end of the year from unemployment.  He believes a fix will be hammered out in the General Assembly in the next few weeks.