Today, Congressional candidates State Rep. Jon Hoadley and Hillary Scholten held a virtual press conference highlighting Republicans refusal to extend supplemental unemployment benefits and how Donald Trump’s failed COVID-19 response has hurt Michigan workers. They also discussed their plans to support Michigan’s working families while in Congress.
Supplemental unemployment benefits passed in the COVID-19 relief bill expire on July 31, but Trump and Congressional Republicans are refusing to extend those benefits, even calling them a “mistake.” The refusal to extend the benefits comes after Trump has failed in his response to the global pandemic, leading to over 1 million Michiganders unemployed and 1 in 7 businesses not confident they will survive the recession.
“While our road to recovery for public health continues to be uncertain, as we see inaction coming out of the federal government, we also know that our road to economic recovery is bumpy, at best,” said State Representative Jon Hoadley. “When we see Congressional Republicans continually choose to not act on investing in small businesses and our state and local governments, and the types of contracts that would actually help regular Americans, people who want to work hard for a living and through no fault of their own have lost their jobs, when we see them be inactive on those critical programs, it begs the question, who are they working for in Washington DC? We will get through this crisis, but it means that we need to put those partisan games aside in DC, and actually put relief on the table for American workers.”
“These are dire numbers. 1 in 7 businesses don’t think they will make it through this economic crisis,” said Hillary Scholten. “Our state is facing a dramatic budget shortfall. The latest numbers show that over 1 million Michiganders are unemployed due to no fault of their own. It is just unconscionable the way Trump and Congressional Republicans have refused to act and extend these crucial unemployment benefits, which are set to expire at the end of this month. Republicans have called Unemployment Insurance a ‘mistake.’ It is not a mistake to support Michigan families, who are struggling because of a global pandemic that has spiraled out of control under their watch. This crisis has shined a bright light on why we need voices in Congress who will fight for West Michigan and not play politics or grandstand. Roll up your sleeves and get to work for families who need it most.”
