RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Gov. Pat McCrory signed into law Tuesday changes to North Carolina's unemployment insurance system that supporters say puts the plan on firmer footing and gives businesses more certainty. Critics say it will devastate the jobless with decreased benefits or none at all.

McCrory signed the bill in his state Capitol building office, a governor's spokeswoman said. The media wasn't invited to the signing, which was attended by several legislators who shepherded the bill quickly through the General Assembly in the first two weeks of this year's work session.

The unemployment plan repays $2.5 billion owed the federal government for jobless benefits paid since the Great Recession by cutting maximum weekly jobless payments from $535 to $350 and the maximum number of weeks from 26 weeks to 12 to 20 weeks, depending on the state unemployment rate.

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