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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNY-24: Katko: Both parties to blame as $600 jobless benefit is set to expire
U.S. Rep. John Katko said Friday that Democrats and Republicans are to blame for the expiration of a $600 weekly benefit that was available to millions of unemployed Americans.
The additional jobless aid was included in a $2.2 trillion COVID-19 relief package approved in late March. The $600 payments, which are on top of the weekly unemployment benefits, were set to end July 31 unless Congress acted.
The payments have provided much-needed assistance to unemployed Americans. In Katko's district, the unemployment rate in Onondaga County is 12.1% and 10.6% in Cayuga County.
In May, the House passed the Democrats' $3 trillion proposal that included an extension of the $600 payments through January 2021. Katko, R-Camillus, voted against the bill because he said it contained "poison pills," such as the release of incarcerated individuals who are age 50 or older, within a year of being released from prison or have chronic health conditions that increase their risk of serious illness if they contract COVID-19.
Katko argued that it would be unfair to the inmates who are left in prison.
Despite Katko's opposition, it was still a starting point for negotiations. However, Senate Republicans opted to wait until July to act on another COVID-19 relief. And it wasn't until this week that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell released the GOP's proposal.
https://auburnpub.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/rep-john-katko-both-parties-to-blame-as-600-jobless-benefit-is-set-to-expire/article_4a9c2ddb-818a-5b6a-ba23-ac4be84d54d6.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1
Thekaspervote
(32,796 posts)onecaliberal
(32,902 posts)Me.
(35,454 posts)aeromanKC
(3,328 posts)The $600 will be retroactive back to July 25th (or whatever date it lapsed) Yes, in the meantime the next couple weeks will be lean, but if Pelosi and the Dems prevail, we will get retroactive benefits and the full extended benefits throughout the year.