Lawmakers in North Carolina moved to slash unemployment benefits, passing a measure that would cut the number of weeks and the maximum benefit allowed.

The state Senate gave preliminary approval to the proposal Tuesday and Gov. Pat McCrory, a Republican, promised to sign it into law, The Washington Post reported.

The measure would reduce the maximum number of weeks a person could receive state jobless benefits from 26 weeks to 20 weeks and reduce the maximum weekly benefit from $535 to $350. The new law also would require about 30,000 businesses to pay unemployment insurance taxes they don't currently pay.

In North Carolina, the unemployment rate is 9.2 percent, among the nation's highest.

The reductions could have fallout for the state's unemployed, the Post said. If they don't collect at least 26 weeks of unemployment checks from the state, they are disqualified from getting jobless benefits from the federal government, which adds up to an additional 47 weeks.

An estimated 170,000 people would be ineligible for federal jobless benefits in the state, the U.S. Labor Department said.

"This cutoff is automatic under federal law. I have no discretion to stop it," acting Secretary of Labor Seth D. Harris said.

Supporters said North Carolina has few options after falling into debt to finance the benefits, the Post said. Seven other states have also cut jobless benefits in the wake of the recession.

But critics said the unemployed in North Carolina take a double hit, the Post said.

"Unemployed job-seekers are facing a one-two punch, with state cuts triggering federal cuts too -- a real double-whammy hitting families whose needs remain great," said Christine Owens, executive director of the National Employment Law Project. UPI

FACTS & FIGURES

North Carolina's cuts are the deepest to unemployment benefits in the country and mean the state will also lose out on federal unemployment benefits, according to a new report on the proposal from the National Employment Law Project. The Huffington Post

The U.S. unemployment rate rose to 7.9 percent in January from 7.8 percent in December. AFP

The Labor Department’s most comprehensive alternative unemployment rate measure - which includes people who want to work but are discouraged from looking (those marginally attached to the labor force) and people working part time because they can’t find full-time jobs - was 14.4 percent in January. The Huffington Post

The labor force participation rate - that is, the share of people of working age who are either working or looking for jobs - is hovering around 30-year lows. NY TIMES