What Legislation Is Coming for the 99ers?
In the unemployed netroots this week, rumors abounded that Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) might be planning legislation for the exhaustees or the 99ers -- those
Jul 31, 2020286K Shares3.8M Views
In the unemployed netroots this week, rumors abounded that Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) might be planning legislation for the exhaustees or the 99ers— those who have run out of the maximum number of state and federal unemployment benefits.
“„“There are a number of people who have maxed out, they’ve been looking and looking for work and haven’t found it, and there is a separate act that would extend the unemployment benefits to them,” Schumer told New York’s WENY-TV. “Extending this was really important. There are some people who go beyond the 99 weeks and we’re going to try to do that next.”
Schumer has indicated he might tryto do something for the 99ers for months now. But repeated calls to his office this week haven’t yielded any answers. Still, a Senate aide notes that the situation has not really changed in Congress and warns 99ers not to get their hopes up. The aide says that though numerous Democrats would like to create a fifth tier of unemployment benefits, it would be impossible to pass through the Senate; several Democrats won’t vote for a fifth tier, and there might not be a single Republican cross-over to break a filibuster.
That said, progressives are hoping to craft something that expands job-subsidy or job-training programs for 99ers, and will look for offsets to make the bill deficit-neutral. The bill would likely come after the November midterms, but could come before.
Rhyley Carney
Reviewer
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