A yes vote on Proposition 194 will STOP released prisoners from perpetrating yet another crime on Californians: collecting unemployment checks upon release from prison!
The Joint Venture Program (JVP) was passed by voters in 1990, allowing businesses to set up operations inside prisons. The intent of JVP was many fold:
JVP WAS NEVER INTENDED TO PROVIDE AN AVENUE TO FLEECE BUSINESSES AND TAXPAYERS OUT OF MORE OF THEIR HARD-EARNED MONEY, BUT THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING.
Due to a loophole in state law, JVP employers are required to pay prisoners' unemployment insurance while the prisoners serve as employees. Once those prisoners are paroled, they can actually collect unemployment benefits; a fact which offends all notions of common sense! A yes vote on Proposition 194 will stop this nonsense.
THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE SYSTEM WAS NEVER INTENDED FOR MISUSE BY PRISONERS WHO WERE NOT LAID-OFF, BUT SIMPLY PAROLED OUT OF THEIR JOBS. THEY SHOULD NOT BE ENTITLED TO UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, PERIOD!
Prisoners who work for JVP companies are ENTITLED, and in fact do collect unemployment checks when paroled. The more unemployment checks that are cashed by paroled inmates, the higher the unemployment insurance premiums JVP businesses must pay for all their employees. This cost is not only an impediment for both businesses currently involved in the program and for those wishing to participate, it is an affront to the taxpayers as well. Proposition 194 will solve this problem by closing once and for all this abusive loophole.
Although the opponents of Proposition 194 argue that unemployment insurance benefits keep people from committing crimes upon release, this is simply not true. The fact is, the JVP participants are required to save 20% of their income for future release. Moreover, one must remember that the reason the prisoner was incarcerated was to pay a DEBT to society, not to reap unearned unemployment benefits. A fact the opponents too often lose sight of. A fact that costs ALL California workers!
If you want prisoners to be productive while they pay their debt to society, not reap another unmerited benefit, vote yes on Prop. 194.
Proposition 194 is supported by The California Taxpayers Association, business groups, victim's rights organizations, law enforcement, the state Department of Corrections, and COMMON SENSE.
Vote YES on Prop. 194.
ROB HURTT
Senate Republican Leader
TOM MCCLINTOCK
Taxpayer Advocate
JEFF THOMPSON
Legislative Director, California Correctional Peace
Officers Association (CCPOA)