A new Washington Post report details how the millions of Americans who have lost their jobs during the coronavirus pandemic are facing “increasingly desperate situations” as a result of Senate Republicans’ refusal to extend emergency unemployment relief after allowing benefits to expire at the end of July.
The “anger” from jobless Americans “was directed at Republicans, who control the White House and the Senate” for failing to renew the expired emergency unemployment relief as millions of families face eviction, hunger, and uncertainty amid the ongoing public health and economic crisis.
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans knew the $600 per week emergency unemployment lifeline would expire at the end of July, yet they wasted weeks bickering among themselves and insisting they didn’t see “a big need” to extend the unemployment boost. As another one million Americans filed for unemployment insurance last week, McConnell and his caucus are entering the third week of their extended vacation and still refusing to renew desperately-needed relief for working families.
“As millions of Americans struggle to meet basic needs amid an ongoing crisis, it’s clear who they blame for failing them: Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans,” said DSCC spokesperson Helen Kalla. “Republicans abandoned working families when they allowed the emergency unemployment lifeline to lapse and refused to renew the relief Americans have relied on to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads. Now, these Americans ‘say they won’t forget’ how Republican senators left them out to dry in the middle of a crisis.”
Washington Post: Congress left town and let jobless benefits lapse. Unemployed Americans say they won’t forget it.
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Read the full story here.
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