Montana Sen. Jon Tester (D) on Thursday said he supports states, including his, who are ending enhanced unemployment benefits early.
“Well, I’m going to tell you, the unemployment level in Montana is very, very low. And I think this is a regional thing. I can’t say what happens in Montana is the way it is all over the country, but I can tell you that it is low and our businesses need employees and if we’re going to expand the economy, it’s really important. I can’t tell you what’s right to do in Florida or in New Hampshire or any other state in the union, but I can tell you right now I think this is a reasonable approach.”
“But senator, you previously voted to support those enhancements,” MSNBC’s Kristin Welker interjected. “So what’s changed?”
Tester said he stood by his vote in favor of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act last spring, which enhanced and extended Americans’ unemployment benefits. He credited President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan for getting the country back on track.
“What’s changed is we’ve seen the economy, because of that rescue plan, snap back,” the senator explained. “We’ve seen businesses snap back. Now we’re not where we need to be totally, but the fact is the unemployment rate is so low in Montana [that] I think this was the proper thing to do.”
Tester went on to say he supports states with higher unemployment levels keeping enhanced benefits in place because “quite frankly, it’s important for those folks.”
“In Montana, where we’re seeing unemployment rates very low, it’s important to get folks back to work, especially coming out of this pandemic because I’m one who believes work is therapy and there’s going to be big issues that come out of this pandemic if we don’t get folks back to work as quickly as possible,” the senator said.
Democrat Senator who voted to extend extra unemployment benefits against Republicans’ warnings now thinks ending them for his state is 'the proper thing to do.'
SEN. TESTER: There will be some big issues to come out of this pandemic if we don't get folks back to work soon. pic.twitter.com/g0xX7SeJH2
— Senate Republican Communications Center (@SRCC) May 20, 2021
According to a report from The Daily Wire, under the CARES Act, four enhanced unemployment benefit programs were established:
- Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), which provides for an additional $300 weekly payment to recipients of unemployment compensation.
- Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), which provides benefits for those who would not usually qualify, such as the self-employed, gig workers, and part-time workers.
- Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), which provides for an extension.
- Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation (MEUC), which provides an additional $100 benefit to certain people with mixed earnings.
Montana’s enhanced unemployment benefits end beginning June 27, per a report from The Daily Wire. In addition to opting out of the benefits, Governor Greg Gianforte is offering a “Return-to-Work Bonus” that would provide a one-time $1,200 cash payment for anyone returning to the workforce as of May 4. Montana’s pre-COVID work search requirement will also go into effect at that time.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Montana’s unemployment rate in March of this year was 3.8%. At the height of the pandemic, the state’s unemployment rate was 11.9% in April of 2020.
Montana is one of 21 states to opt out of enhanced unemployment benefits before the benefits automatically end on September 6.
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Source: Dailywire
