Senate Democrats to tweak jobless benefits to $300 a week in Covid relief bill

[demmiblue]

Source: NBC

WASHINGTON — On the verge of passing a $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief bill, Senate Democrats agreed to lower the measure’s federal unemployment benefits to $300 a week and extend the coverage to September, according to two Democratic sources.

That’s a reduction from the House-passed version, which included $400-per-week jobless benefits through August, and it comes as the Senate begins a long series of votes Friday to finalize the package.

The new figure is the result of an agreement between progressive and moderate Democrats, one Democratic aide said.

Moderates wanted the weekly benefit to be cut to $300 per week. Many Democrats wanted the month-long jobless bonus to avoid a “cliff” as it expires at the end of August, when Congress is typically out of session and may be unwilling to come back to fix it.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-democrats-tweak-jobless-benefits-300-week-covid-relief-bill-n1259734

[SleeplessinSoCal]

1. Do they say that their constituents won't abide $400 per week?

Do they understand how far the middle class has fallen? And why extra money means paying down interest on debt for millions of voters?

[brush]

3. Doesn't $300 a week for another month equal about the same total...

amount as $400 a week for one less month?

God, I hate how we have to go through these ministrations just to satisfy Manchin and Sinema.

I sure hope we get a couple more Senate seats in '22 do we can ignore them.

[targetpractice]

5. I think one issue is that...

...Some states were adding another $100 to the $300 federal supplements. And, that's not really fair.

So, for many they've been able to get $400 per month, but others not. And, now the folks receiving $400 per month will get less.

I don't know the details... So, maybe states can still add an extra $100 if they want.

[brush]

9. But doesn't the total amount from government work out to be...

about the same amount of money with the added month.

I'm not talking about whatever the individual states do.

[iluvtennis]

8. My back of the envelope calculation indicates one would get $800 less

$400 per week for April thru end of August = $400/week * 5 months * 4 weeks/month = $8,000

$300 per week for April thru end of September = $300/week * 6 months * 4 weeks/month = $7,200

[brush]

10. $800 is not chump change, no one will turn it down, but compared to nealy two trillion dollars...

that's sixteen zeros, it is. The government can afford it.

Manchin needs to sit his ass down.

[airplaneman]

12. Wow you did the math n/t.

[Yoyoyo77]

4. The devil's in the details.

This change also includes a tax change for 2020 unemployment filings. An added break of 10,000.00 of UI earnings. So how does that add to the +/- of the deal?

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

6. I hope the reason is to get enough votes from the Democratic Senators to pass this

You're never going to get the GOPee to vote for this so why weaken it?

[iluvtennis]

7. Last week, Manchin had asked for the reduction from $400/week to $300/week. I had hoped that

removing the $15/hour minimum wage would be enough for Manchin, but I guess not.

Anyhoo, if this is what it takes to get the Covid Relief Plan passed, so be it.

[Sucha NastyWoman]

15. What has he got against West Virginians making a decent living?

I know “the value of Joe” but it seems like he’s just pushing his weight around.

[Operaweeble]

11. Why the HELL is that Asswipe from WV holding the Dems hostage?

One would think he is getting ready to change parties. What can the Majority whip and Schumer tell him to make him tow the line? Can he be disciplined? Seriously, this guy is bitching about money that means nothing to the avg. millionaire senator, but means a lot to us common folk.

[Rebl2]

14. Suppose Schumer

could, but then manchin may threaten to leave the party and become a republican and then we lose the majority. I don’t like what manchin is doing, but I don’t want to lose the majority already. He is also worried he won’t get re-elected in the future.

[droidamus2]

13. There next move

Their next move will be to lower the amount to $0 but you will get in perpetuity.