With Congress and the White House at an impasse, President Trump recently requested an additional $400 a week for people seeking unemployment benefits. The extra funds would be a relief for the more than 15 million jobless Americans who saw a weekly $600 benefit expire at the end of July. Yet the extra money is far from a done deal in the midst of the continuing coronavirus epidemic.
For one thing, this week California Gov. Gavin Gavin Newsom pushed back on the aspect of the program that allowed states to contribute $100 of the gain, claiming that this would result in the state facing "huge" budget cuts.
And what sort of unemployment compensation Californians will see — and, crucially, when?
With Congress and the White House at an impasse, President Trump recently requested an additional $400 a week for people seeking unemployment benefits. The extra funds will be a consolation for the more than 15 million jobless Americans who saw a weekly $600 aid expire at the end of July. Yet the extra money is far from a done deal in the midst of the continuing coronavirus epidemic.
For one thing, this week California Gov. Gavin Gavin Newsom pushed back on the aspect of the program that allowed states to contribute $100 of the gain, claiming that this would result in the state facing "huge" budget cuts.
And what sort of unemployment compensation Californians will see — and, crucially, when?
This raised questions of constitutionality from the moment the executive order arrived, as the authority to raise taxes, spend money and write laws lies with Congress. When the order is contested in court, so the entire project may be postponed or scuttled.
When the issue of legality was resolved, the order would make payments retroactive to Aug. 1. But it will take weeks or longer to see those applying for the benefits. According to job experts, states will need to set up new programs to manage the benefits.
In California, the Department of Workforce Growth, which manages unemployment compensation, has been struggling to process and pay out claims due to staff shortages reported
LOS ANGELES, CA —MARCH 23, 2020 -People worked on cleaning sidewalks, some wearing masks, in downtown Los Angeles, CA, March 23, 2020, as the city is under a new order from California Gov. Gavin Newsom, to stay home, with only critical businesses permitted to remain open, as a protective measure of the COVID-19 outbreak. (Jay L. Clendenin / The LA Times)
UPDATE
Is it coronavirus that affected your job? Here's how to register jobless
23 March 2020
But where in all of this is Congress?
Capitol Hill negotiators have so far been unable to strike a bipartisan deal on a new stimulus package. And still there are major variations.
Democrats, who rule the House, want a $3-trillion plan, while they gave a $1-trillion reduction of their proposal. Republicans, who dominate the Senate, want the stimulus to stay about $1 trillion.