I think Pelosi & Schumer need to go to the mat on extending that $600 UI benefit

[stopbush]

Otherwise the economy is going to crash.

They need to make it clear to Yertle and Shithead that the $600 and extending it into 2021 is not negotiable. Period.

Economists are calling for the extension, saying the $600 in Fed UI benefits was the best thing that came out of the CARES Act. They’re saying that another 5-million-plus jobs will be lost if it ends on July 31.

Unemployment is on the rise again. It will continue to rise as the virus continues to rampage. More jobs will be lost as businesses are forced to once again shutdown. We are looking at 50-60-million Americans out of work. This is about as dire as it gets...until it gets worse. That $600 weekly benefit is the only thing keeping millions of people from losing their homes, and is pumping much-needed cash into our decimated economy.

Should be a no-brainer.

[Amishman]

1. Yup, that and additional aid for restaurant and entertainment businesses

This isn't going away any time soon.

[Demsrule86]

2. They passed the bill and Nancy has been on shows all last week...the Senate won't do it.

[brewens]

3. I suppose someone needs to get Trump to think it's his idea. I was actually predicting Trump

would be desperate enough to give us another little chunk of money. Boy, would that put Mitch in a bind! You know he'd be dead set against it, especially since he probably thinks Trump is going down. His only play in that case would be to try and send more billions to the 1%. He couldn't be the guy standing in the way of giving us little guys another $1200 or so.

[LizBeth]

5. I was thinking Trump might use it too. But, he is pretending nothing is wrong. That would work

against the other stance.

[NYC Liberal]

13. Get Obama to come out in support of cutting the $600.

Trump will want to make it permanent if he does.

[LizBeth]

4. And squarely put it on Republicans there playing around with covid has us where we are today.

Unsafe working environment for people waiting on others when they are in vulnerable groups is criminal.

[MichMan]

6. What Republican priority are they willing to agree to as a compromise?

[stopbush]

8. There an R proposal to cut the amount from $600 down to $300.

There’s a D proposal to tie the amount of $ to the unemployment figure in each state: as the number of unemployed shrinks, the $600 shrinks as well.

I think a compromise could be reached between those two proposals, both of which aim to cut the $600 benefit. The Ds just delay it until we’re sure we’re out of the woods.

[LizBeth]

11. I could go with 300. I just do not want to go back to a minimum wage job that can as easily give me

a deadly disease.

[fleur-de-lisa]

7. Yes!

[dawg day]

9. Absolutely. Any money given to unemployed people who need it--

will go right back into the economy. It will let them pay rent and keep small landlords from losing their rental properties. It will let everyone in their vicinity benefit-- the groceries and the dentists and the car dealers.

We can always find money to give rich people a tax cut. This will cost less than that, and save people and businesses.

[Ferryboat]

10. Trickle up

Trickle down has never worked.

[Tiger8]

12. Agree 100% and here is why I need it.

I’m an independent contractor who sells Internet Advertising.

A lot of my business comes thru canvassing, and meeting with business owners, marketing managers, etc, - all of whom have NO INTEREST in expanding their marketing footprint, especially when it means meeting with somebody they don’t have to.

Furthermore, finding employment is impossible at this point because I’m 58 years old, and have been self-employed for over 20 years. employers think I’ll quit as soon as a vaccine comes out, so why invest money in training me.

Without the $600, I guess credit cards and car/housing payments can go unpaid. I’ll spend less money. All bad for the economy, so yeah, it just makes sense to continue it.

[BComplex]

39. Independent contractor here, too.

My contract jobs are so totally dried up, I have no idea when they'll come back.

A lot of contractors pick up the slack when salaried employees are too busy to handle all the work....which right now, the salaried employees are on unemployment, too!

I'm Totally at the mercy of the $600 unemployment.

Nancy and Chuck need to hold the Senate's feet to the fire on this 24/7 on the media, social media and anywhere else they can rally the troops. They need to push phone rallies on the senate republicans by Americans who are drowning in medical debt, and who just can't make ends meet. Has anyone seen the price of hamburger? A tomato? A really small bag of spinach or salad? Food prices have exploded, and a lot of insurance policies won't pay for more and more drugs, as drug prices go through the roof.

That's before you get into the price of insurance and housing, not to mention car repairs. It seems everyone has decided they can charge 5X what they used to charge for, well, everything.

I'm really glad some folks have gone back to work, as long as they're safe. But look at the COVID cases exploding all around the country.

We need to TOTALLY shut down for a couple of months, and get this thing stopped.

[Tiger8]

40. Yes, my expenses up too, and no work for my subcontractors

I see supermarkets pay more staff to clean the store and carts & baskets after each use.

I need to do more writing and calling of senators. I have not called the WH yet, but I suppose I should, even though I’ll have to disinfect my phone afterwards.

[John Fante]

14. If the enhanced benefits aren't extended, we'll see an economic

contraction that will rival the Great Depression. It's that simple.

[GulfCoast66]

15. For a while I was dumbfounded that they are against this.

It is in their best political interest. If they don’t by October we are going to be in a depression. And they know it. And while trump is flat out stupid many of the republicans in Congress are not. Certainly not McTurtle. Bad men. But not stupid.

Then it hit me. There is something they fear worse than losing this election. Much worse. They fear the poor working class feeling for 6-8 months what it feels like to be middle class. To not live in week to week economic fear. That they will avoid at all costs. Because if extended thru 2021 anyone voting against a $15 minimum wage would be run out of office. New voters would because democratic voters. And Unions would have renewed juice. Anyway, that’s my belief.

[stopbush]

17. Indeed. So many Americans are used to living with the RW jackboot on their throats.

The $600 is allowing low-wage workers to get out of debt, to not worry about their finances from day to day. Extending it thru 2020 would give people security they haven’t had before.

The Rs know that desperate people are easily manipulated. One doesn’t aspire to higher things when just having the basics is a struggle. Rs want people to be poor and afraid.

[Tiger8]

41. Exactly! Their benefactors want a moratorium on wage laws.

It’s a Republican dream to pay flat $5/hr @ 60 hours/week, with no sick time, and a long line of desperate people.

[uponit7771]

16. That and vote by mail to be overfunded

[morat]

18. I strongly support the extension, but...

Extension or no, the economy is toast. 30k businesses in NY alone will not reopen. 53% of businesses that advertise on Yelp say they will not reopen. Etc, etc.... It's over. Extending the benefit will keep a lot of people solvent for a few more months, but even with that money, it wont matter.
The economy was about to implode on its own. COVID just made it 100x worse. Not even the Fed can keep that genie in the bottle.

[stopbush]

19. The government will need to continue to put the economy and the nations health

on the national credit card for the duration. I think the Ds recognize this - their latest bills reflect this reality. Either the full faith and credit of the USA is brought to bear as it was for WWII, or we accept Americans losing their homes and dying in the streets.

At some point, the R memes that the unemployed are just a bunch of lazy freeloaders loses all touch with reality. Funny thing is, I believe the Rs will have no problem supporting the extension after the election. Right now they have to avoid taking any action that recognizes the severity of the situation because it reflects poorly and directly on tRump. That’s why they continue to support his lies through their silence and their inaction on legislation.

[Nature Man]

24. They need to keep the nation on life support

until a Democratic administration can come in and clean up a repube mess.

Again.

[JI7]

20. How about monthly payments for everyone instead ?

[stopbush]

21. Depends on how much $ per person. My wife has gone back to work, even though she was making slightly

more on unemployment. Would it be nice if she was to receive some kind of monthly relief? Sure. But right now, she's doing well at work - she's a cosmetologist, so she has a clientele of people desperate for haircuts/styling. She's booked solid from dawn to dusk. Sorta hard to justify sending her $ when others have no income coming in at all. I'd rather the growing ranks of the unemployed continue to get $600 a week, rather than them getting less to spread the $ around to those who are not in dire straits.

Monthly payments for all would certainly help us retire some debt we've been saddled with.

[JI7]

22. Because there are people who would go back to work but they get more on unemployment

becsuse of the 600 extra.

So I think increase natural minimum wage to 15 and a monthly payment would help people and the economy overall.

The monthly payment can be decreased for people at higher levels of income and perhaps even eliminated for some.

[stopbush]

23. People make more on unemployment because they are underpaid at their McJobs. I can't blame anyone

for staying home and collecting unemployment right now. It's the smart move, if for no other reason than one's health.

What the Rs should realize is that the extra money incentivizes people to stay home and not spread the virus. Reopening early was a disaster. The country would have been better off if everyone would have stayed home and collected relief money from the Feds, rather than going back to work and giving the virus the conditions it needed to explode. That will do far more damage to the economy and the debt that handing out money ever did.

[JI7]

26. That's true, but there are jobs that people can do and WANT to do

but the jobs would not make as much money. I think everyone getting monthly checks helps a lot more because it makes people free to try different jobs and even to leave jobs. It's even easier if it's a couple or there are school age children in the house. And jobs i'm talking about include things like working at home or essential service type jobs.

I just feel like unemployment rules hold people back because it makes people reluctant to try things because it might not work out any number of reasons and they can afford to lose the regular payments .

regular checks would also have helped many small businesses A LOT more than funding for businesses which went to many businesses that did not need it and i'm sure to many Trump connected people with him getting a cut.

[stopbush]

30. Here in CA, you need to attest that you are available and looking for work

to qualify for UI, and you do that every two weeks when you certify for benefits.

That said, those two requirements have been suspended due to the high number of unemployed, but you still have to answer both questions and answer them positively to qualify for benefits.

[obamanut2012]

27. Everyone 18 and older should get $500 a week

From now until December 31.

For folks like me who still have their jobs and should continue to have jobs, I would buy a new (or new used car) car. It's something I need, but was putting off until next Spring. Possibly a new laptop. Those of us with jobs would put it mostly back into the economy.

[maxrandb]

25. There's sooooo much more they should... and should have...gone to the mats for

Please, I'm not bashing. Lord knows if they asked for someone to run for election, I'd have my hands so far down my pockets I could scratch my ankles.

I normally defer to the experience and expertise of the senior Dems in office, but the past three years have been nothing even close to normal.

The normal deal making and compromise doesn't work with these Retrumplican fucksticks.

Their idea of a compromise deal is "give us everything we want and 'maybe' we'll kill and harm a few less."

They are like terrorists. They only understand power, and you only get their attention by hitting them across their teeth with a folding chair.

Bold, Strong and "uncompromising" action is required.

The examples are all around us. The Washington Redskins, Cleveland Indians, Wendy's, Coca Cola, hell even Facebook... fucking Facebook...! Only responded when they began to feel real pain!

Three years ago, Dan Snyder (owner of the Redskins) said he would "Never" even consider a name change. Here's a clue. He's not considering it now because he had some type of cultural epiphany that made him "woke". He's negotiating a name change because it's costing him millions not to do so.

When dealing with mobsters and terrorist, you have to take the horsehead in the bed approach.

The Democrats need to dictate to Donnie Dipshit, Mnuchin and Moscow Mitch what they want. If they disagree, you tell them that you'll be ready to take their call when the Dow hits 1,000... and then, you don't take their call until it's at 100.

There are no more half measures that are acceptable.

We're going to end up negotiating America to the grave.

[Tom Rinaldo]

28. That's a broad brush approach that isn't broad enough

On one hand there are a lot of people in desperate need who do not qualify for unemployment insurance. On the other hand, truth be told, I do know some people who have seen their weekly income go up significantly with this benefit from what they had been making on their jobs. Personally, I have no problem with it since low wage workers do not make a high enough salary. But I know of at least one individual who resented it when his employer tried to recall him to work at a restaurant that was not seating people indoors. I think the formula can be tinkered with (but extended) AND more money sent directly to all Americans.

[stopbush]

33. The Feds came up with the $600 figure by calculating working 40 hours a week

at $15 an hour. That is the proposed minimum wage. Minimum. That people are making more on unemployment than they were working simply highlights that they are grossly underpaid.

Unemployed workers also receive state benefits, but those can be pretty low for people working McJobs. My daughter is on UI in CA where her weekly state benefit is $97. So she is getting $697 a week, at least she is until July 31.

[kentuck]

29. Getting into panic button territory for Republicans.

Nothing in the 30's is good.

[Wounded Bear]

31. The economy is crashing. All they can do is soften the landing...

Yes, we need additional rescue funds.

Will McConnell allow it? Time will tell.

[onetexan]

32. K&R - way too many families with parents out of work who will be hurt by this

An additional $600 will be enough to buy bare minimum groceries for family of 4 for a month.

[stopbush]

34. It's $600 a week, or $2400 a month per unemployed person.

If a wife and husband are both out of work, that’s $4800 before state UI benefits.

[onetexan]

35. my bad. Thanks for the update. Still there are mortgages to pay and other living expenses.

[Cal Carpenter]

36. I dont disagree, but we need something more comprehensive

Like monthly payments to everyone.

Not everyone who needs help qualifies for unemployment. Not everyone who needs help is in the labor force.

My spouse and I own a mom-and-pop business. We are busting ass to keep it limping along without compromising the health of our community. Everything goes to rent, operational bills and vendors. We haven't drawn paychecks since March but we aren't unemployed. We need help fast, or we will lose our business.

There are a million other scenarios like mine. Basing so much assistance on unemployment means plenty of people slip through the cracks, and adds pressure to reopen because states are going broke.

[Johnny2X2X]

37. The PPP help missed the mark IMO

Small businesses needed help with their bills during the shutdown more than they needed help paying people who aren't working IMO. Let people collect UE, but the businesses who are shutdown and have little to no revenue coming in need help staying afloat by paying their bills. Not enough was done for small businesses.

That being said, PUA needs to be extended for 3 months, but I suspect it will ether be extended for 6 weeks, otr they'll reduce that $600 to $300 and extend that for 12 weeks.

[Cal Carpenter]

38. Yeah. I've started calling the PPP 'cash for clunkers'

Lol. Remember that bullshit? The PPP is just about as useful to those of us who actually need help.

We all know the stories about the tens of millions of dollars granted to major corporations, and most of the other very small businesses I know either couldn't use it (like us) or decided not to take it once they saw the hoops you'd have to jump through not to have to repay it.

The first round of funding disappeared in a couple weeks, but by the time they added more $$ it was clear it wouldn't help most of us. Now they can't even give that money away.

We need rent relief more than anything. Thank goodness we could do some online sales during the shutdown, and we have super loyal customers. Now we could reopen but we don't think it is safe so we are only offering curbside.

We are trying our damndest but this crisis is out of our control.

[Hortensis]

42. No-brainer is that McConnell is already working on a deal.

Remember, it's disease control and patient care the Republican legislators have refused to take even ONE substantial action on. Proven beyond any doubt. And since voters gave REPUBLICANS control of the senate, Democrats can't force them.

BUT, propping up the economy's different. McConnell spends money he had slated for transfer to the wealthy interests he serves for that. So of course he's planning to deal now.

"Unemployment is extremely important. And we need to make sure, for those who are not able to recover their jobs, unemployment is adequate," McConnell told reporters. "That is a different issue from whether we ought to pay people a bonus not to go back to work. And so I think that was a mistake.

"And we're hearing it all over the country that it's made it harder actually to get people back to work," he added. "But to have the basic protections of unemployment insurance is extremely important and should be continued."

McConnell didn't elaborate on what Republicans have in mind.

Uhuh. Reality is the real, much larger motivation for unwillingness to return to work: It's DANGEROUS. Workers fear dying, months of debility, and huge bills insurance won't pay.

Another way to look at that is that millions of citizens refuse to sacrifice themselves to serve the state, among them conservatives. McConnell doesn't care if they died of disease or starvation, but there is the economy to be protected for others. So he would have to deal with that reality even if Pelosi and Schumer didn't remind him.

[stopbush]

43. Of course, this ignores that fact that some states have a very low weekly max

for unemployment benefits.

Here in CA, the max benefit is only $450 a week, well below the level of many other states. Yet our CoL is much higher than what is found in states that pay a higher weekly UI benefit. That $600 a week from the Feds helps tremendously here in CA. I am currently unemployed. Our monthly rent for a 4-bdrm house is $3200, and that’s below market rate. I get $1800 a month from CA UI. The Fed’s add $2400 to that. I can make the rent with that assistance and pay a few other bills. Take away that $600 and I’m screwed.

I work as a fund-raising independent contractor/consultant for arts organizations, all of which are shut down in CA. There is no hiring going on. In fact, staffs are being laid off and furloughed. Many of these jobs will be permanently lost. The chances of my being employed any time soon are slim to nonexistent.

[Hortensis]

44. Really sorry to hear your rock and hard place, Stopbush.

This is hurting so many and threatening major life disruptions of many more. It sounds like you're not locked into a lease at least.

Of course the argument for continuing those payments is maintaining the safety net, both for individuals and society. As things pick up, most employers will need workers right there, available and ready to go. Not dispersed into the desert or in Indiana with family. McConnell knows that, just hope he puts a lot of weight on that among many interactive considerations.

(And that he eventually flees to China to avoid prosecution. He's acted like a crime boss who maintains careful separation, but surely we can get him for something.)

[MichMan]

45. I thought a wealthy blue state like California would pay 3x that for UI

Our max in purple Michigan is $362 a week, but the cost of living is less

[stopbush]

46. States that have a higher max weekly unemployment benefit than CA:

Massachusetts $742
Minnesota $683
Washington $681
New Jersey $677
North Dakota $633
Illinois $613
Connecticut $598
Oregon $590
Ohio $587
Pennsylvania $573
Colorado $568
Rhode Island $566
Hawaii $551
Iowa $548
Oklahoma $505
Utah $496
Texas $493
Montana $487
Kansas $474
Wyoming $471
Vermont $458
Arkansas $451