Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has signed legislation restoring federally funded jobless benefits to thousands of Missourians, but cutting aid to people laid off in the future.
Nixon's signature Wednesday means retroactive payments will go out later this week or early next week to about 10,000 people whose eligibility for unemployment benefits ended April 2. It also means that people who lose their jobs on Sunday or later will be eligible for just 20 weeks of state-funded benefits instead of 26.
The trade-off is part of a deal struck to end a filibuster by four Republican state senators who were upset about federal spending and deficits. Republican Senate leaders also agreed to help identify up to $250 million of cuts to federal stimulus projects in Missouri.
