First, Senate Republicans decided to take a two-week break in the middle of July. Next, they wasted all of last week “bickering” in Washington. Then, they decided to take another long weekend off while letting the $600 per week emergency unemployment boost expire. Now, jobless claims are rising while Mitch McConnell and his fellow GOP senators are getting ready to roll out a new plan that will slash that unemployment relief — triggering a “devastating” financial squeeze for the millions of Americans who are still unable to go back to work because of COVID-19.
As Senate Republicans roll out their plan to gut unemployment relief today, here’s what voters have been reading in the Senate battlegrounds:
AK – Anchorage Daily News: With congressional action unclear, jobless Alaskans face more hardship if extra unemployment benefits expire
AL – AL.com: Loss of unemployment benefit could devastate thousands in Alabama
AZ – Arizona Republic: Arizonans set record for expanded jobless benefit claims as program’s expiration looms
AZ – ABC 15: Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program expiring July 25, as countless Arizonans remain unemployed
AZ – Fox 10: United Food Bank prepares for surge of hungry Arizona families as $600 weekly unemployment benefits end
AZ – ABC News: Nearing the end of $600 unemployment lifeline, an Arizona woman risked coronavirus to help pay bills
CO – Denver Post: “Frightening.” “Terrifying.” Coloradans brace for fiscal fallout as federal $600 weekly unemployment aid ends
CO – CBS 4: Colorado Restaurant Workers Call On Sen. Gardner To Extend Unemployment Benefits
GA – Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Georgia economy braces for impact as pandemic jobless payment ends
GA – 11Alive: $600 federal unemployment benefits end this week. What happens after that?
IA – Des Moines Register: Extra money for jobless Iowans about to run out, leaving them wondering how they’ll get by
KS – KSHB: Unemployed workers hope lawmakers extend weekly federal payments
KY – WDRB: Loss of $600 weekly unemployment boost called ‘devastating’
KY – Lexington Herald-Leader: McConnell criticized for inaction as extra $600-a-week unemployment benefit ends
ME – Bangor Daily News: What’s at stake for Maine as $600 unemployment bonus winds down
MI – MLive: ‘I just need a little more time:’ Unemployed workers hope lawmakers find way to replace expiring $600 benefit
MS – WDAM: Some unemployment benefits ending soon for Mississippians
MT – KBZK: Concerns grow over federal unemployment benefit deadline
NC – WBTV: $600 in federal unemployment benefits set to expire in NC this weekend
NC – Durham Herald-Sun (Letter): Senate Republicans dawdled. Now unemployment and rent protection benefits will expire.
SC – Charleston Post & Courier: Halt of federal jobless payments likely to put more demand on Lowcountry Food Bank
SC – Charleston Post & Courier: Unemployed workers set to lose extra $600. It could cost SC economy $120 million per week.
TX – NBC DFW: ‘Tidal Wave’ of Evictions Feared as Extra $600 Unemployment Benefits End
TX – Houston Chronicle: With extra $600 in unemployment set to expire, many face hardship as pandemic worsens in Texas
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