GOP, Dems share blame for unemployment benefits lapse, voters say in CNBC/Change poll
Those six states will play a major role in determining whether Trump or Democratic former Vice President Joe Biden will win the White House in November, and whether Republicans will hold their Senate majority. The poll indicates that voters there have not yet assigned clear blame for a debacle in Congress that has left millions of people scrambling to cover their costs of living.
House Democrats first passed a bill in May that extended the $600 per week jobless benefit into January. The GOP then released its counter offer in the last week of July. It called to cut the extra unemployment insurance to $200 a week through September, then set the payment at 70% wage replacement.
Democrats say Republicans have failed to recognize the gravity of the crisis and waited too long to try to extend the unemployment benefits. The GOP says Democrats allowed the payments to lapse because they rejected White House offers to temporarily extend the insurance while the sides hashed out a larger relief package.
In an election year shaped by government failure to contain the virus, relief for jobless Americans is a critical issue. Trump recognizes his peril as polling averages show him trailing Biden in most 2020 swing states.
After coronavirus aid talks between his administration and Democrats collapsed on Friday, the president took a series of constitutionally questionable executive actions to try to continue pandemic relief. The measures extend the extra jobless benefit with payments of at least $300 per week, sustain student loan assistance, offer loose protections from eviction and create a payroll tax holiday.
It is unclear now when negotiators in Washington will strike an aid deal and pass legislation. Unemployment insurance is one of the thorny issues still holding up talks as Democrats insist on maintaining the $600 per week benefit. Some Republicans oppose even a $200 weekly payment.
The White House reportedly offered last week to support extending the supplemental insurance at $400 per week into December. Asked if $400 would be sufficient, 33% of respondents to Wednesday’s swing-state poll said the sum would not be enough.
Another 31% responded that it is about the right amount. Meanwhile, 23% said the payment would be too much.
As the parties try to assign blame for Congress’ failure to pass more assistance, the CNBC/Change poll shows a competitive presidential race in the swing states. Biden leads Trump by a 48% to 44% margin across the six states.
Biden has an edge in five of the six individual states, though the matchups in some are closer than others.
- Arizona: Biden 45%, Trump 44%
- Florida: Biden 50%, Trump 44%
- Michigan: Biden 48%, Trump 43%
- North Carolina: Trump 48%, Biden 47%
- Pennsylvania: Biden 48%, Trump 44%
- Wisconsin: Biden 47%, Trump 43%
As voters prepare to cast a historic number of ballots by mail during the pandemic, Trump has faced criticism for delays in mail delivery after campaign donor Louis DeJoy became postmaster general. Democrats have pushed for additional funding and operational overhauls at the U.S. Postal Service to ensure timely ballot delivery.
Article source: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/12/coronavirus-stimulus-voters-blame-both-parties-for-unemployment-expiration.html