Manchin Defends Vote To Cut Unemployment Benefits

March 7, 2021 Democrats, Employment

ABC News reports:

“I didn’t do anything intentionally whatsoever,” Manchin said. “I did everything I could to bring us together so we’d have more support, and the public would get the needed help, as needed. We have so many different ways that we’re helping the public with this piece of legislation.”

Debate over jobless benefits paralyzed the Senate for hours Friday evening when Manchin threatened to upend an agreement among Democrats about how unemployment benefits should be handled in the bill.

He pushed to lower unemployment benefits from $400 a month to $300 and shortened the duration of the benefits by one month.

Read the full article.

JUST IN: Sen. Joe Manchin defends his vote that resulted in reduced unemployment benefits in sweeping $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill: “I didn’t do anything intentionally whatsoever, I did everything I could to bring us together so we have more support.” https://t.co/iFXTQPV5pZ pic.twitter.com/UieFsk7COO

— ABC News (@ABC) March 7, 2021