Tennessee Bill Would Aid Unemployed Military Spouses

Military spouses who leave their jobs in Tennessee because of the frequent moves required in the military would be eligible for unemployment benefits under a proposed state bill. The measure moved quickly through the Senate last week after Governor Bill Haslam included $280,000 for the bill in his fiscal year budget proposal. With thousands of soldiers based at Fort Campbell, the state estimates about a third of military personnel are transferred each year. According to the fiscal note attached to the bill, this means more than 3,000 spouses in Tennessee have to move their families to follow their soldiers to a new military post.