Republicans accused of economic 'sabotage' as Florida becomes 23rd GOP-led state to slash jobless be

[turbinetree]

Last edited Tue May 25, 2021, 03:55 PM - Edit history (1)

BY Jake Johnson, Common Dreams
Published May 25, 2021

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Florida's Republican-led government announced Monday that it will soon cut off a $300-per-week federal boost to unemployment benefits, the 23rd GOP state to take such a step in recent weeks as the Biden Labor Department faces pressure to ensure the lifeline continues reaching jobless workers.

The Century Foundation, a progressive think tank, estimates that four million people across the nation will be harmed by the Republican benefit cuts, which GOP leaders have falsely claimed are necessary to push people back into the labor force.

"Florida is the latest state to pull the rug out from under jobless workers as Republican governors nationwide sabotage the economic recovery."
—Sen. Ron Wyden But economists and Democratic lawmakers have argued there is no good evidence behind the narrative that enhanced jobless aid—which, in states such as Florida, is notoriously difficult to obtain—is dissuading people from seeking or accepting work. Progressive analysts and members of Congress have pointed to the myriad other factors at play, such as lack of child care, low wages, and pandemic-related health fears.

https://www.rawstory.com/unemployment-benefits-2653100896/

23 states keeping people in poverty and denying them there "own" tax dollars..........

November 2022 cannot get here fast enough

[global1]

1. Seems To Me That By These Actions In These 23 GQP States.....

that they are building a cadre of voters that will ultimately vote them out of office.

Talk about shooting oneself in the foot.

[Tom Rinaldo]

2. My thoughts exactly.

They won't be able to stop the economic rebound underway. Democrats will have a good economy to campaign on regardless, and there will just be more voters motivated to vote against Republicans.

[Johnny2X2X]

10. Reps have a voting base that doesn't care if they themselves get hurt

They just want to own libs, getting rid of an UE bonus that has been a lifeline to millions hurts Democrats and Republicans. But they create a false narrative and then hurt people, and those people are crazy so they won't hold them accountable.

[FBaggins]

3. No sure how that's "sabotage"

Unemployment in the state is under 5% and the state has no restrictions that would keep people from working... and just about everyone could get vaccinated if they were still concerned about infection.

[KPN]

5. You mean at $7.25 an hour?

[FBaggins]

6. What does that have to do with anything?

Are you saying that the funds weren't to offset an impact of the pandemic but instead an attempt to force minimum wage increases?

Also - I think FL's minimum is $10/hr (or will be in a couple months) and increases to $15 over the next five years.

Aren't you making the republicans' argument for them? "Why would I go to work when the government will pay me more not to work?"

[quaker bill]

7. Because if you turn down a reasonable offer

you lose the benefits as well.

[FBaggins]

8. Again... how does this become a conversation about minimum wage?

Of course you lose unemployment payments if you get a job offer and decline to take it.

Once again - this is making the republicans' argument for them. They're saying that there are people who are able to work and aren't taking jobs because the government pays them more to stay home. You appear to be agreeing with them and saying that it should be that way.

[quaker bill]

14. Just reporting how things actually are

if you turn down work, you lose the benefits. Under current circumstances, no one is legally turning down work and still getting the $300 a week. The job search requirement was suspended last year because they really did not want people looking during the peak of the pandemic. Currently it is required that you search for a job in most places, just to keep the benefits.

I do not like the policy. Many decades ago I had to do a number of laughable job interviews just to keep getting my $44 a week.

[KPN]

13. Oh, so you want people to go back to work for less money than they have been provided under the

combination of State and federal Covid relief bill related unemployment, even though those jobs pay below poverty level and the Covid relief was intended, in large part, to buoy the economy.

I get your point, but it strikes me that the point ignores 40+ years of "trickle down" sabotage of the working class who prior to then were predominantly middle class.

Forcing people to return to jobs that pay menial wages, typically without other benefits, sabotages both those people and the economy frankly. It's about time labor had some leverage in this country -- long overdue.

As for making the Rs argument for them, I don't have to. Their argument makes it pretty clear that their goal is to continue to sabotage workers ability to demand a decent wage -- the workers get that, as do the majority of Americans. There is nothing to fear or cause policy hesitation in that.

[Jose Garcia]

9. FL's minimum wage is $8.65 and set to increase to $10 on September 1

[ProudMNDemocrat]

4. These benefits keep people from going homeless and hungry.

These asshole Republican Governors are shooting themselves in the foot as they are giving campaign fodder to Democrats running for Governor and the message that these benefits are good for their state's economies.

Talk about CRUEL. STUPID, and Anti-American.

[ScratchCat]

11. There isn't anyone in The State of Florida

Who can't get a job because of the pandemic. These benefits are not keeping anyone from going hungry or homeless at this point.

[onethatcares]

12. as a retiree, I watched my wife go thru the

unemployment maze.

The max benefit was, and still is if I'm not mistaken $265.00 per week.

She was required to apply to 5 positions each week or take classes that counted toward her applications.

when she was collecting there was no federal assistance so that 265.00 was it. If she would have turned down any position she applied to, good by unemployment compensation.

There were many reasons she could have turned any position down. Scheduling, hours, wage paid, cancer treatment, would have all counted against her.

I've not researched the job market in a long time and wonder how many of these jobs being offered are in the service industry where the schedules are juggled to begin with and full time hours (40) are hard to get anyway.

BTW,ain't no one gonna live on $265.00 in this area of West Central Floriduh, nope, no one.