White House to work with states on reimposing work search requirements following GOP outcry

[Jose Garcia]

Source: Washington Post

President Biden said on Monday that the White House will “make it clear” that Americans on unemployment must take a job if offered a “suitable” one or lose their benefits, wading into an issue that Republicans have seized on in the past week.

The White House said it is directing the Department of Labor to work with states on re-imposing work search requirements for Americans collecting unemployment benefits. The Department of Labor will also soon issue a letter to “reaffirm" the rules of unemployment to ensure workers, employers, and states understand the rules of the program, the White House said.

In remarks in the East Room, Biden reiterated that the administration disputes GOP claims that April’s disappointing jobs data, released Friday, shows that unemployment benefits are too generous and causing workers to stay home rather than rejoin the workforce. And the White House did not announce a departure from prior policy on unemployment benefits. Still, the president’s remarks suggest that the White House is sensitive to the growing political criticisms over their handling of the issue. Several GOP-run states are moving to cut the unemployment benefits on their own.

“We’re going to make it clear that anyone collecting unemployment who is offered a suitable job must take the job or lose their unemployment," Biden said in remarks in the East Room. "There are a few covid-19 related exceptions ... But otherwise that’s the law.”

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/05/10/biden-unemployment-benefits/

[PSPS]

1. Makes sense

"work with states on re-imposing work search requirements" can work and address any concerns anyone might have about people gaming the system, which is unavoidable and amounts to a mere rounding error in any case. Reagan started it with his "welfare queen" racist trope. I trust Biden won't tolerate the draconian "requirements" the confederate states will surely propose.

[TheRealNorth]

3. Sadly, there are people out there that game the system....

And those assholes.will ruin it for everyone else if left unchecked. frankly, most states will have removed most Covid restrictions by July (let's put aside for the moment whether their vaccination rates say that that is a good idea), so dropping that bonus money by July 1st. seems reasonable to me.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

2. Seems reasonable, but it puts a big burden on the states.

Someone will have to police the claims of searching for work. Did Mr Bozo really apply for a job with the company as he stated?

The White House seems a bit quick to downplay the disincentive of increased unemployment benefits, as if the correlation is not worth investigating, or just politically uncomfortable. I think the federal supplement is due to expire in September; I wonder if any debate is coming.

[Johnny2X2X]

5. The states already do this in normal times

It's a matter of activating a screen for looking for work. It's prudent to do this.

At the same time, there are bound to be Covid reasons that still allow you to turn down a job and continue to collect UE.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

6. In normal times there are far fewer cases to audit.

There may be Covid reasons to turn down a job, IF you've been vaccinated.

If you refuse to be vaccinated (unless medically unable), then "Covid" is a weak excuse to turn down a job offer.

In many markets, jobs are available, employers are seeking help.

[forthemiddle]

4. Indiana Governor just announced this

He said, on Friday, that he was signing an executive order to reinstate the looking for work requirement that had been suspended during the pandemic. He said this would be the first step while studying whether to eliminate the Federal enhancement of $300.00 a week.

[Aerator]

7. Ohio announced it today and the Governor is meeting with Biden tomorrow

[bucolic_frolic]

8. It's pro-growth and we will need it

My YouTube gurus say commodities have made their move, bonds will fall and stocks will follow, and the economy will slow in the third quarter. So any growth we can create at this point is good.