Des Moines Register: State Republicans are moving to shorten the length of time Iowans can receive unemployment benefits by two and a half months. If the measure, House Study Bill 631, becomes law, Iowa would go from offering 26 weeks of unemployment benefits to 16 weeks. Workers would also be required to take lower-paying jobs sooner, or risk losing their benefits. Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, called for the changes in her Condition of the State address last month. The bill passed its first legislative hurdle, a three-member House subcommittee, Tuesday with two Republicans in support and the panel’s Democrat opposed.