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Gov. Jay Inslee Monday put his signature on a bill that slashes a scheduled hike in unemployment insurance for businesses and also expands jobless benefits and protections during the pandemic.

 is one of several lawmakers are quickly moving this legislative session in order to help Washington residents and businesses hurt by the pandemic and ensuing restrictions on commerce and daily life.

“And I’m very happy we’ve done this early in the session, because this really, certainly is needed,” said Inslee during the bill-signing event. “We need businesses to have confidence.”