Political Quotes

“Mr. President, later today the Senate will vote on an amendment put forward by Senator Carper and myself dealing with an extension of enhanced unemployment benefits. Some Members of the Senate wanted to hold the enhanced weekly benefit at $300 per week. My preference would have been to set it at $400 per week on the longest extension possible and then later tie benefits to economic conditions on the ground with automatic triggers. With the amendment coming later today, I believe Members have reached a solution that accomplishes two key goals. First, it is a longer extension of benefits than the House bill that avoids creating a new August cliff. It would extend the weekly benefit at $300 per week into early October, including pandemic benefits for gig workers and the self-employed. I have said time and again that having an expiration in the middle of August, when Senators are home, would be a prescription for trouble, and this option avoids the potential of benefits expiring for millions of Americans with no way to extend them. Second, it would prevent a tax surprise for millions of Americans who received unemployment benefits in 2020. The first $10,200 of the unemployment benefits they received last year would be exempt from income tax. People who already filed their taxes and found out that they owed tax on their unemployment income would be able to file an amended return to get back the difference.…”