Al Franken: Republicans always find an excuse to cut unemployment benefits 03:12 (CNN)Nearly 2 million jobless Americans are set to lose their pandemic unemployment benefits early, with Georgia, Arizona and Ohio becoming the latest Republican-led states to announce they would cease providing enhanced federal jobless payments.
Thursday s announcements bring the total to 16 states that have said since last week that they would terminate the $300 weekly federal boost to state benefits, as well as the federal expansion of jobless benefits to those who previously didn t qualify and those who have run out of their regular state benefits. Governors are citing workforce shortages and the improving economy as the reason for their decisions.
Melina Mara/The Washington Post via AP, Pool
Sen. Bernie Sanders is calling on the Labor Department to continue providing PUA benefits to workers.
In 14 GOP-led states, governors are ending their participation in federal unemployment benefits.
But Sanders and other experts say Biden s Labor Department is required by law to still pay out PUA.
Sen. Bernie Sanders urged the Biden administration on Thursday to prevent the loss of jobless benefits for unemployed Americans in the 14 GOP-led states that are on the verge of ending their participation in federal unemployment benefits next month.
Governors in red states such as Georgia, Montana, and South Carolina have cited a so-called labor shortage as necessitating fewer benefits, so that unemployed residents will be compelled to return to work. As soon as next month, hundreds of thousands if not millions of workers will experience a sharp cut in their jobless benefits.
Secretary Walsh is pushing the president s $2Trillion plan. Author: Nick LaFave Updated: 4:37 PM EDT May 13, 2021
WASHINGTON, D.C., USA The Biden Administration is trying to sell the public on its infrastructure plan.
It s more than two-trillion dollars, which would pay for traditional things like roads and bridges. But, also electric vehicle rebates, public transit, even aspects of child and elder care.
Republicans are balking at the price tag. And even Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia would like to see it pared down. Today I asked Labor Secretary Marty Walsh if that was a possibility. I think everything is on the table. There s conversations about what the bill will look like in his final version. This conversation s about paying for the bill. I think he d love to see it passed as is. But certainly I know that there s opportunities for us to have conversations in some areas. The Republicans did put up a plan - a construc
Thu, 05/13/2021 - 2:28pm tim
Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, Thursday sent a letter to Labor Secretary Marty Walsh urging the Department of Labor to ensure that workers get life-saving unemployment benefits even as Republican governors threaten to take it away.
Though not with Governor Scott in Vermont, Republican Governors across the country indicate they will renege on the promise of life-saving federal unemployment aid. Over 1.1 million workers are at risk next month of losing some or all of the unemployment benefits Congress extended in the American Rescue Plan – affecting workers in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, and Wyoming.
AP
Nearly 2 million jobless Americans are set to lose their pandemic unemployment benefits early, with Georgia, Arizona and Ohio becoming the latest Republican-led states to announce they would cease providing enhanced federal jobless payments.
Thursday’s announcements bring the total to 16 states that have said since last week that they would terminate the $300 weekly federal boost to state benefits, as well as the federal expansion of jobless benefits to those who previously didn’t qualify and those who have run out of their regular state benefits. Governors are citing workforce shortages and the improving economy as the reason for their decisions.