While unemployment numbers have improved since the beginning of the pandemic, there are still millions of people without work and local families are ready for lawmakers to act.
“Until the governor lifts restrictions on large events and convention centers there will be no reason to bring me back,” explains Tate Ricker.
Ricker was working as an audio visual technician when he lost his job on April 1st. He’s been unable to find work in the industry and now he’s helping his five year old daughter navigate online learning at home.
“My wife who works in healthcare, who is an essential worker has been working-non-stop so it was left up to me to stay home and take care of the kids,” he says.
When the extra $600 federal unemployment benefit was available Ricker was able to pay his and his daughters’ health insurance. “Since that ended, now it’s everything goes on the credit card and then we pay what we can.”
According to the Associated Press, Democrats are going back to the drawing board on a huge virus relief bill.
House Democrats say they are paring back their proposal in an attempt to jump-start negotiations with the Trump administration.
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If talks fall through, the Democratic-controlled House could still pass the measure next week. The chamber passed a $3.4 trillion rescue measure in May but Republicans dismissed the measure as bloated and unrealistic.
Even as Democrats cut their offer to $2.2 trillion or so, Senate Republicans are focusing on a much smaller rescue package in the $650 billion to $1 trillion range.
“Something needs to be done, there are people who are in much worse situations than I am and I’m not in a great situation,” says Ricker.