WASHINGTON\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Senate Democrats have reached a deal to keep the federal unemployment benefit at $300 per week until September,\u00a0down from a proposed\u00a0increase to $400 in President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 stimulus package, according to a Democratic aide.<\/p>\n
Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., is expected to introduce an amendment to the $1.9 trillion legislation Friday as the Democrat-controlled Senate considers tweaks to the measure.<\/p>\n
His proposal would extend the $300 weekly benefit through September. The original bill that passed the House last week upped the weekly amount to $400, but ended the benefit in\u00a0August.<\/p>\n
The added unemployment benefit, currently at $300,\u00a0has been a contentious point in the bill with Republicans voicing opposition to Democrats’ plans to extend and up the payment amount.<\/p>\n
Congress faces a countdown to get the stimulus package to Biden by mid-March, when Americans are set to lose the current weekly federal unemployment boost.<\/p>\n
Both progressive and moderate Democrats agreeing to the amendment comes after moderate Republicans, like Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, told reporters Thursday he thinks “there would be Republicans who would agree to bring the number down.”<\/p>\n
The first $10,200 of the unemployment benefits will be non-taxable for the first time to prevent surprise bills for the unemployed at the end of year. The agreement also extends tax rules regarding excess business loss limitations for an additional year, through 2026.<\/p>\n
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, told reporters Friday,\u00a0 “it’s an important step that they’re looking to get it down from $400. I think that’s a positive.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
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