As Tillis & Burr Refuse to Support Full UI Extension, Cooper Steps Up to Fix State System

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

August 27, 2020

AS TILLIS AND BURR REFUSE TO SUPPORT FULL UI EXTENSION, COOPER STEPS UP TO FIX STATE SYSTEM

Governor’s Proposed Budget Would Fix Unemployment Cuts Tillis Rammed Through in 2013

Raleigh, N.C. - While Senators Thom Tillis and Richard Burr refuse to commit to a full extension of $600 federal unemployment payments, Governor Roy Cooper has proposed fixes to North Carolina’s state unemployment system, including raising maximum weekly payments to $500 and extending eligibility to 24 weeks.

North Carolina is widely recognized as one of the worst states to be unemployed after then-North Carolina House Speaker Thom Tillis made massive cuts to the state unemployment system in 2013. Since March 15th, more than 1.2 million North Carolinians have applied for unemployment insurance, with more than 12,000 new claims just last week.

Earlier this month, Tillis and Burr took off for a three week vacation until after Labor Day without addressing a permanent legislative fix for expired $600 federal unemployment payments, desperately needed state and local aid, or any other economic stimulus.

Piedmont Rising Executive Director Casey Wilkinson made the following statement:

“Governor Cooper is stepping up to clean up the state unemployment mess Thom Tillis left behind, but North Carolina families also need federal relief now. It is shameful that Tillis and Burr would rather continue their three week vacation than fulfill their responsibility to protect the financial well-being of struggling North Carolinians. Federal unemployment payments were a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians wondering how they’d pay for housing, health care, and groceries. Tillis and Burr must return to Washington and pass a full extension of $600 unemployment payments.”

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