Senate Republicans make push for standalone $200 unemployment boost

(Image credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

published 30 July 2020

Republicans are stopping their push for a new coronavirus stimulus bill — at least for now.

The current iteration of the CARES Act expires Friday, and with it a $600/week boost to unemployment insurance that's been in place since the beginning of the pandemic. But disagreements both within the GOP and across the aisle led Senate Republicans to refocus just on passing a standalone unemployment boost on Thursday to avoid a lapse in benefits, Politico reports.

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Discussions of a reduced $200/week boost started among Senate Republicans earlier this week, and transformed into the basis of a proposal from Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) "gaining steam" as talks continued Thursday, Politico writes. Johnson's suggestion would enhance unemployment benefits by up to 66 percent of low wages, or $200 per week, sources familiar with the strategy say. The standalone bill is intended to "put pressure on Senate Democrats" as the current boost nears expiration, Politico continues.

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Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.

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