GOP considers extending unemployment benefit at reduced level of $100 a week through December

[RandySF]

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]

1. This will leave many hungry

Hungry people are dangerous people.

[Johnny2X2X]

2. $100 is insulting

These rich Republicans have no idea what things cost, so few have worked in their lives. Sickening.

[MichMan]

3. Why cant the states make up the $500 difference?

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]

8. The federal government has far more money in reserve.

[MichMan]

9. We are running a huge deficit

What are these reserves you mentioned?

[VMA131Marine]

12. Because most states cannot run deficits

The federal government has the sovereign ability to literally print money. When the economy is contracting as fast as it is, that’s exactly what it should be doing.

[MichMan]

13. Some states pay significantly more than others already

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]

18. States can't run a budget deficit.

States would quickly run out of funds to pay citizens $500 per week.

[Cattledog]

4. $14 dollars a day.

[RainCaster]

5. So generous - what will I do with all that money?

They really want to buy my vote, don't they?

[LizBeth]

6. I figure this will get to 300 and passed.

[John Fante]

7. Democrats have no reason to cave on this.

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]

10. Exactly.

[LizBeth]

14. It would be very cool if that could play out, for sure.

[JCMach1]

11. Proceed Senators, you will seal your fate

[brush]

15. It's those stingy bastards first negotiation offer. They'll probably go up...

more. We Dems have to hold fast at $600

[MichMan]

17. The $600 a week should be doubled at least IMO

[dickthegrouch]

19. You do understand that the $600 is added to the state payment?

And that it’s 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.

Let’s have some rationale for the largesse and pay people what they are worth.

[JCMach1]

16. 4-7% of current GDP (estimated by economists) will immediately disappear

[LuckyCharms]

20. Republicans only have one concern.

And that is...someone, somewhere, might be getting some badly needed assistance. Can't have that. HELPING PEOPLE IS BAD.