Governor lauds decision to deny reinstatement of COVID jobless aid

Gov. Chris Sununu (Courtesy photo)

CONCORD - Governor Chris Sununu on Monday lauded the Hillsborough County Southern District Superior Court's decision to deny plaintiffs motion to require New Hampshire reinstate the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program dismissing the case outright. The State announced it would be ending participation in the enhanced federal unemployment benefits over four months ago and gave citizens over a months notice - as required by the United States Department of Labor.

"I would like to thank the Court for their clear, concise, and decisive ruling," said Gov. Sununu. "The New Hampshire Department of Employment Security has done a phenomenal job throughout the pandemic assisting out-of-work Granite Staters receive benefits and find work, and this ruling will allow them to continue helping our citizens unobstructed as we move forward."
In their ruling, the court notes "Based on the foregoing analysis, the Court concludes that the plaintiffs have not demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits of their claims because neither of the statutes on which they rely require the defendants to act. Having failed to make this vital showing, the plaintiffs' motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction is denied."