Sens. Tillis, Burr Vote to Limit Unemployment Benefits as Jobless Claims Rise in NC

Just This Morning, Department of Labor Reports 3.28M New Unemployment Claims – a New Record

Raleigh, N.C. — Piedmont Rising Executive Director Casey Wilkinson released the following statement after Senators Tillis and Burr voted late last night to prevent North Carolinians who are struggling in the midst of the coronavirus epidemic from  receiving expanded unemployment benefits:

“Leadership is not rushing through a secretive, corporate slush fund while voting against expanded benefits for struggling North Carolinians — but that’s exactly what Senators Tillis and Burr did. They showed their true colors once again, just as they have in the past by voting to increase health care costs repeatedly, especially for older North Carolinians. It’s clear their priorities are not us. Senators Tillis and Burr are failing to get the job done for North Carolinians.”

Background

Tillis and Burr voted along party lines last night for legislation that would “ensure that additional unemployment benefits do not result in an individual receiving unemployment compensation that is more than the amount of wages the individual was earning prior to becoming unemployed.”

Both Senators supported an earlier version of the final $2 trillion stimulus legislation that included no oversight of a $500 billion corporate slush fund that would have been overseen by President Trump. 

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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