But the congressman also conceded that the current $600 federal unemployment enhancement could serve as a disincentive to go back to work, a point Republicans have frequently made, pointing to research, including a Congressional Budget Office estimate that found that five out of six recipients would receive more in unemployment benefits than from returning to work should the $600 benefit be extended through January.
"I think that's an argument that is -- has some validity to it. And we ought to deal with that. And there is a way to deal with that, but not this way, not cold turkey," Hoyer said.