Publication: KTVU Fox 2 Bay Area
Millions of Californians received their last $600 supplemental unemployment benefit last week. There's disagreement on Capitol Hill over how to continue the program.
House Democrats want to extend the boost, Senate Republicans unveiled their relief plan which includes cutting the benefit to $200.
If that's what Congress decides, Democrats in the California legislature want to step in.
“If that benefit is working in the short term, I don’t know why we’re stopping it," said Assemblyman Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), chair of the budget committee. "Because the last thing we need is thousands of people evicted onto the streets.”
Assemblyman Ting and other CA Democratic legislative leaders released a $100 billion coronavirus stimulus outline. The list of proposals includes a plan to borrow federal money to fill gaps in unemployment insurance, if the $600 payment is cut. It also extends the benefit to undocumented workers who lost jobs.
“Millions of Californians who are struggling, they’re one unemployment check away from not being able to pay rent, buy food," said Ting. "We know they have nowhere else to turn.”