- Piedmont Rising
Rising Unemployment Rate in NC Shows Cruelty of Tillis and Burr Vote to Limit Unemployment Benefits
Updated: Apr 6, 2020
With Unemployment Surging, Tillis & Burr Said No to Up to $600 for Unemployed North Carolinians
Raleigh, N.C. — Piedmont Rising Executive Director Casey Wilkinson released the following statement as the national unemployment rate climbed this morning as a result of the coronavirus pandemic:
“Among the newly unemployed are an estimated 170,000 North Carolinians who expect their Senators to put them first, especially in a time of crisis. Yet both Senators Tillis and Burr voted to prevent unemployment benefits from expanding and helping workers through this unprecedented time. They are failing to lead, just as they have when they’ve voted to increase health care costs repeatedly. Senators Tillis and Burr are not getting the job done for North Carolinians.”
Background
Yesterday, the U.S Department of Labor reported that an estimated 170,881 North Carolinians have filed new jobless claims in the past week. More than 300,000 people have filed for unemployment in North Carolina since coronavirus-related layoffs began.
Tillis and Burr voted last week to stop an expansion of unemployment benefits for those affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Tills’ history of restricting unemployment benefits dates back to his time as the Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives when he fought to reduce eligibility and “touted the benefit reductions.”
The Economic Policy Institute has estimated that over 600,000 North Carolinians will lose their jobs by summer 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jessica Coscia
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About Piedmont Rising Piedmont Rising is a 501 (c)4 issue advocacy organization built by and for North Carolinians to advocate for lower insurance premiums and prescription drug costs and to ensure that more people have access to safe and affordable health care. Through grassroots organizing, education, and engagement, we are amplifying our health care stories and holding our elected officials accountable to the people, and issues, they were elected to represent. www.piedmontrising.org