I appreciate that Gov. Laura Kelly cares that people are having a hard time making ends meet and wants to do something about it.
Wish others did.
On Thursday, the Republican-led State Finance Council rejected Kelly’s proposal to boost unemployment benefits by $100 a week. The stipend would have been tacked on to the additional $300 a week that President Donald Trump authorized last month, but has yet to make its way to state coffers.
Opponents of the measure said the funds could be better spent elsewhere, including ramped up testing for the coronavirus.
I’m sure there’s a long list of things that need funding right now, but there’s nothing more critical than making sure families are able to put food on the table.
In Kansas, unemployment benefits range from $125 to $503 a week — far short of what is necessary to survive.
A full five months since the coronavirus hit Kansas, claims for unemployment are picking by up. (See graphic)
By the end of August, weekly claims exceeded 82,000. A year ago at this time, they hovered around 10,000.
In Allen County, 178 people have filed for unemployment. A year ago, that number was 30.
Even if Kelly’s additional stipend had been approved, it’s little more than window dressing.
The real picture is that the president’s executive order is only for two months at best and that unless Congress quickly passes another aid package the economy could go back into free fall.
It’s been since late July that the federal government’s $600 weekly unemployment supplement expired. Tens of millions relied on that aid to buy food, pay the rent and keep the lights turned on.
Everywhere you look are stories about critical food shortages and people getting evicted from their apartments because those funds have dried up.
Today, many segments of the economy remain shuttered due to COVID-19. Unemployment remains at 10.2%. Last year at this time it was a third that high. About half the people laid off because of the pandemic remain unemployed.
I KNOW, all this bad news is overwhelming. But the only way to get out from under it is to get through it. When Congress returns to work on Tuesday it will be up to the U.S. Senate to approve some kind of stimulus plan.
