Reagan Signs Jobs Bill, Easing States' Crises
In its first major ,action to relieve ,the long recession, Congressyesi^day gave final approval to a $4.6 billion jobs bill, and President Reagan quickly signed it, but riot before money for unemployment benefits ran out in a dozen states, including Virginia.</br></br>The measure, which was tied to a $5 billion appropriation to continue funding for jobless benefits in '27 states and the District of Columbia; reached the presidentÛªs desk late in the evening, according to spokesmen, and Reagan signed it shortly thereafter^ ?</br></br>Although initially he had opposed spending for jobs creation, Reagan reversed course under pressure from both parties in Congress, and made a $4.3 billion jobs offer early last month, paving the way for what amounted to a bipartisan compromise on spending for recession relief.</br></br>But enactment did not come in time to keep Colorado, Montana, Vermont and Virginia from running out of money on Wednesday or to prevent a similar cutoff yesterday for Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Missouri, according to the Labor Department. The Virgin Islands ran out of benefit money on Tuesday.</br></br>Eight other states and territories and the District of Columbia faced exhaustion of benefit funds by today, although Labor Department spokesman Jack Hashian said that the District had made plans to borrow, if necessary, in order to keep benefit, money flowing. Hashian also quoted Virginia officials as saying they would be able to meet most payments for three or four days.