Mo. governor signs extension of jobless benefits

JEFERSON CITY, Mo. – Thousands of Missouri residents cut off from long-term unemployment benefits will soon get federal payments again. But anyone laid off beginning next week will see reduced state jobless benefits.

Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon signed a law Wednesday ending Missouri's distinction as the only state voluntarily join and then quit a federal program giving extra benefits to people unemployed for a year and a half.

But Missouri gains a new distinction as the second state to trim state-funded jobless benefits from 26 weeks to 20 weeks. Michigan was the first.

The cut in state benefits was part of deal to end a filibuster against the federal benefits by four Republican state senators upset about federal spending and deficits.