General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsGOP considers extending unemployment benefit at reduced level of $100 a week through December
Republicans are considering extending the enhanced unemployment insurance benefit at a dramatically reduced level of $400 per month, or $100 a week, through the rest of the year, sources told CNBC.
Congress passed a $600 per week, or $2,400 a month, boost to jobless benefits in March to deal with a wave of unemployment unseen in decades as states shut down their economies to combat the coronavirus pandemic. The policy expires at the end of July as the U.S. unemployment rate stands above 11%, despite two strong months of job growth.
The GOP, which has not made a final decision on how it will craft unemployment insurance in a bill set to be released this week, previously discussed extending the benefit at an additional $200 per week instead of $600. Democrats want to make the $600 per week sum available at least until next year.
The level Republicans are mulling would slash the amount of money beneficiaries receive at a time when roughly 30 million people are receiving unemployment insurance in some form. The additional assistance has helped Americans cover food and rent during the outbreak, and many economists say it has boosted household spending and buoyed the economy.
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/22/coronavirus-stimulus-republicans-consider-unemployment-insurance-extension.html
Richard D
(8,803 posts)Hungry people are dangerous people.
Johnny2X2X
(19,240 posts)These rich Republicans have no idea what things cost, so few have worked in their lives. Sickening.
MichMan
(12,000 posts)Especially the blue states
I was unemployed in 2009 and the max weekly benefit was $362. It is still the same $362. Dont understand why it hasn't been increased long before now.
John Fante
(3,479 posts)MichMan
(12,000 posts)What are these reserves you mentioned?
VMA131Marine
(4,158 posts)The federal government has the sovereign ability to literally print money. When the economy is contracting as fast as it is, thats exactly what it should be doing.
MichMan
(12,000 posts)Every state pays a different amount as the maximum.
Michigan has a max benefit of $362 that hasn't gone up for well over a decade. Delaware for example is only $330 while Massachusetts is more than double that amount. In California, with a high cost of living, it is $450 while Iowa pays around $500. Obviously there is no law that prevents states from paying more.
In 2009 with the Bush recession, the length of time you could collect increased, but the weekly amount never did. How were people supposed to live on those amounts?
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)States would quickly run out of funds to pay citizens $500 per week.
Cattledog
(5,920 posts)RainCaster
(10,938 posts)They really want to buy my vote, don't they?
LizBeth
(9,952 posts)John Fante
(3,479 posts)Let Trump and Moscow Mitch tell the American people that the "free ride" is over and it's time to get back to work. With the pandemic raging out control again, no less.
$100 a week is an insult.
stopbush
(24,397 posts)LizBeth
(9,952 posts)JCMach1
(27,582 posts)brush
(53,947 posts)more. We Dems have to hold fast at $600
MichMan
(12,000 posts)dickthegrouch
(3,184 posts)And that its not tied to previous income?
$900 * 52 = $46,800 /year for doing what?
My partner is working in an unsafe job and getting $30,000.
Lets have some rationale for the largesse and pay people what they are worth.
JCMach1
(27,582 posts)LuckyCharms
(17,469 posts)And that is...someone, somewhere, might be getting some badly needed assistance. Can't have that. HELPING PEOPLE IS BAD.