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Kentucky Forward: Jason Bailey: Meager executive action is no substitute for real Congressional aid

Berry Craig
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Thanks to Bill Londrigan for sending us this.

By JASON BAILEY

Kentucky’s economy is weakening in the face of a resurging pandemic and the end of stimulus aid. Consumer spending is sagging following the July 25 expiration of $600 a week in supplemental unemployment benefits. And just turn on the news and you hear story after story of jobless workers unable make ends meet as benefits are cut in the midst of a record slump.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate has failed to agree to legislation that would provide the aid the nation needs. The House passed the HEROES Act back in May, a bill that includes necessary aid to state and local governments, a continuation of the $600 week in unemployment benefits through the end of January, food and housing assistance, and other vital forms of relief. Senate leadership, on the other hand, proposed a deeply inadequate package that cuts back or eliminates those critical elements, and the Senate hasn’t even voted on any new relief legislation.

Read more here.