The House passed a bill Monday that would tweak the state's unemployment benefits, extending payments to 1,700 out-of-work residents.

It would be paid for by tapping into $20 million in federal stimulus money that the state would not get unless it makes the adjustments.

Rep. Steve Mascaro, R-West Jordan, said HB18 allows the state to modernize the formula it uses to determine who qualifies for benefits. The money will last up to eight years, at which point, he said, the state can change its law back.

But Rep. Ken Sumsion, R-American Fork, said the state shouldn't be so quick to take the federal government's money.

"At some point we have got to stop the spending," Sumsion said. "Too often, I think we as citizens, as a state, are too willing to take what we couch as 'free money' that really isn't free. This will have to be paid back someday and will likely not be done by us. It will be by our children and, frankly, I think that is on the verge of being unethical and immoral."

The bill passed the House 46-28 and goes to the Senate.

It is one piece of $60 million in federal unemployment funds that the state was willing to take. It appears the Legislature will not make other changes to state law that would bring in an additional $40 million.