Sen. Ron Johnson: $600 Unemployment Payment Is a 'Disincentive' For Jobless

Wisconsin GOP Sen. Ron Johnson on Sunday asserted $600 in weekly unemployment aid to workers out of a job because of the coronavirus pandemic discourages them from looking for employment.

In an interview on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures,” Johnson said Democrats’ refusal to budge from that number is “cynical.”

“It's really tragic. I was on the floor of the Senate on Thursday, offering to pass something on a unanimous consent basis to extend” the federal unemployment help, he said.

But he said “not the $600 level that has been very disincentivizing for people to re-enter the workforce.”

“They said no to that,” he said of Senate Democrats. “So we wouldn't leave anybody in the lurch, offered to extend the $600 for a week so we could negotiate. They said ‘no,’” he added.

“I think their unwillingness to work with us in good faith speaks volumes,” he declared. “They are interested in the election. They think they have the upper hand. They would rather not do anything, not help people, as opposed to have the election issue. It's very sad. It's very cynical.”

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