WASHINGTON, DC (Wisconsin Radio Network-WSAU) — Congressional Democrats and Republicans failed to agree over the weekend on a new coronavirus stimulus package as both sides continue to argue over how much additional unemployment benefits to tack on.
Senator Ron Johnson (R) is concerned that people may be incentivized to not get back to work. “It’s nobody’s fault that they’re unemployed right now. This is because of COVID. And we want to help. But depending on which study you look at, either 68% or five out of six individuals, according to CBO, are making more on unemployment than they did on their job.”
Under the CARES act unemployment benefits were increased by $600 per week which ran out at the end of July. Republicans have proposed a smaller $200 per week benefit as part of a new bill, however, Democrats want to continue the $600 per week add on
Johnson said many people don’t want to return to work until their benefits run out. “That’s a reverse incentive to keep people out of the economy, and we need people to come back into the economy… I think we want to help people financially, but we have to do it at an appropriate level so they’re incentivized to get back into the workforce.”
Johnson, speaking on WISN’s UpFront program Sunday, said overwhelmed state unemployment agencies aren’t checking to see whether recipients are searching for work, which is a requirement to get benefits.
Wisconsin has had a persistent backlog in processing unemployment claims, with many jobless residents still waiting to get benefits.
