The Sconi

Wisconsin State Sen. Chris Kapenga has introduced legislation to overhaul the state's unemployment program.

“Opportunities for Wisconsin's workforce have changed," the legislator tweeted. "There's an abundance of high-wage jobs and a large number of available workers. Today, we introduced the Stronger Workforce Initiative to help remove the government-created barriers between the two.” 

The legislative package states that the bills would "promote re-employment, protect the safety net programs, conduct more frequent eligibility checks, eliminate fraud and tune up important programs to deliver a system that works for all Wisconsin," the senator said on his web page. 

One bill would link unemployment benefits to the state unemployment rate.

"When jobs are plentiful, claimants should spend less time on unemployment insurance," Kapenga said. "When the unemployment rate is higher, there will be a longer duration an individual could look for work and remain on the program."

Another proposal would penalize people on unemployment if they failed to show up for job interviews.

Another would allow a work requirement for "able-bodied adults without dependents to participate in the FoodShare program," Kapenga said.

Able-bodied people without children would also be prohibited from "turning down job opportunities for the sole reason of continuing eligibility of medical assistance," the legislator said.