Democrats Agree to Lower Unemployment Benefits as Part of Stimulus Bill Compromise
On 3/5/21 at 9:11 PM EST
Senate Democrats reached a compromise Friday evening over unemployment benefits, as competing proposals held up the passage of President Joe Biden s coronavirus stimulus package.
The original American Rescue Act, as passed by the House, included $400 in additional weekly payments to unemployed people through August. Republican Ohio Senator Rob Portman countered with an offer of $300 payments through July 18. Democratic Senator Tom Carper of Delaware made a proposal offering the lower $300 payment, but extended the deadline through the end of September.
West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin was blamed for the slowdown as he initially backed Portman s plan. But Manchin announced the compromise alongside a Democratic aide, according to the Associated Press. The new proposal is most similar to Carper s, but ends the payments on September 6, according to