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WASHINGTON, D.C. – 730,000 more workers filed for unemployment last week, joining the over 19 million Americans looking for work in the Trump recession. While the need for substantial pandemic aid for struggling families, small businesses, and states is undeniable and urgent, Republicans in Congress are “closing ranks” against the Biden relief package that includes $1,400 stimulus checks. As Congress takes its next steps this week on President Biden’s overwhelmingly popular coronavirus relief plan, the nation cannot afford further obstruction and delay from Republican lawmakers, especially as devastating eviction and unemployment benefit cliffs loom in March.   

“It seems the more Senate Republicans smear the Biden relief plan, the more popular it becomes. Leading economists and the public strongly disagree with Republicans’ conclusion that less help for struggling families and businesses is somehow more. The persistent recession and hunger crisis have proven otherwise,” said Jeremy Funk, spokesman for Accountable.US. “Congressional conservatives’ criticism du jour is that the plan’s measures to lift wages for millions of Americans is inappropriate – ignoring that they loaded previous relief bills with corporate giveaways and other special interest pork such as horseracing tax breaks.”  

Funk continued: “Bottom line: it’s economically reckless that Mitch McConnell and his colleagues are playing games with less than a month away from another unemployment benefits cliff that would strip more than 11 million Americans of their benefits.”  

Blocking Real Relief = Economic Sabotage: Analysis from the Economic Policy Institute, the Brookings Institute and others found the economy will continue to drag without another major pandemic relief package. Moody’s Analytics chief economist and former top McCain economic adviser Mark Zandi estimates the Biden rescue plan, which includes $1,400 stimulus checks, would restore pandemic job losses by the fall of next year.   

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