Written by Julianne Foster
The total number of people who have filed for unemployment since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic hit nearly seven million, after nearly 300,000 Californians applied for unemployment benefits according to recent data.
Congressional Republicans proposed decreasing weekly benefits from $600 to $400, while Democrats are pushing to continue spoon-feeding residents by keeping the $600 weekly addition to state unemployment benefits that max out at $450 in California.
Additionally, a $100 billion stimulus plan was released by Democrats in the State Legislature, which proposes borrowing more money from the federal government in order to recover the difference in unemployment benefits. They plan to do so by encouraging taxpayers to pre-pay their income taxes in exchange for future vouchers. This way they can stimulate other sources of income while borrowing money from the federal government.
However, the federal government has lost the trust of some California Democrats, such as Assemblyman Adam Gray. “We cannot count on Washington, D.C., for anything these days,” said Gray. “If we want solutions to the economic challenges created by COVID-19, we must have the resolve to create and fund them ourselves.”
Democrats are blaming the lack of recovery from this widespread recession on Republicans because they see it as Republicans attempting to withhold money from needy Californians. However, Democrats seem to have tunnel vision on fulfilling the immediate needs of the people, while Republican leaders understand the long run sustainability concerns. They are encouraging ways to get Americans back on their feet to rebuild their financial foundations without leaning too much on government benefits that invariably accrue debt.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that “the goal is to eliminate the prospect that one can make more not working than working. We’re trying to hit that sweet spot to continue unemployment insurance at an adequate level but not in effect pay people to stay at home.”
Republicans are pushing for the economy to safely reopen in order for people to reopen their businesses and return to work, stimulating the economy and supporting themselves financially. Californians cannot rely on the money being handed to them, as that money is rapidly running out. A increase in taxes wouldn’t secure financial safety since decisions made by Democrats have proven to be a failure over prioritizing the budget and allocation of funds.
The broad blanket of shutdowns covering the major counties in California has suffocated sources of income and the economy’s ability to function properly. The focus ought to be on safely restoring our economy, not on playing politics with regard to government benefits that ultimately fall on taxpayers to fund.
