Failure To Continue The Unemployment Insurance Increase Would Seriously Hurt The Economy In Every State

There is a very good chance that Congress will refuse to extend the $600 increase in unemployment insurance past the end of this month. The Republicans are whining that the generous unemployment insurance payout makes people refuse to return to work. That is ridiculous. They overlook the fact that if someone refuses to return to the job they had before being laid off, they don't qualify for unemployment benefits. They also overlook that many are not able to return to their jobs because their business is shut down (or no longer exists), and these people depend on the unemployment to pay their rent and buy food (and other necessities).

Finally, they are ignoring one other thing. According to the Economic Policy Institute, failure to continue the unemployment benefits (including the $600 increase) would seriously damage the economy -- the same economy they are trying to save by forcing people back to work in the midst of the pandemic. You can go here to read EPI's excellent analysis of how the economy would be hurt if Republicans block extension of the unemployment benefits.