FEE’s Brad Polumbo writes, “Debate over the welfare state is once again making headlines. On Monday, the expanded unemployment welfare system was finally allowed to expire after more than a year. Originally created as a ‘short-term’ measure authorized for a few months in March 2020 then repeatedly extended, these benefits paid many of the unemployed more than their former jobs, with benefits reaching up to $25/hour in dozens of states.

Dozens of Republican-led states chose to end the benefits early. This week’s termination of enhanced benefits was in the Democrat-run states that maintained the expanded payouts, and with their lapse, the debate over whether these benefits were disincentivizing work was reignited.

New Study Vindicates States that Canceled Expanded Unemployment Welfare Early https://t.co/3ztjHH3Ey3 via @feeonline

— Brad Polumbo ?? ?‍? (@brad_polumbo) September 8, 2021

The Wall Street Journal even published a news article, widely circulated among welfare advocates, claiming that ‘states that cut off enhanced unemployment benefits early didn’t see a significant boost in job growth.’ This was a bizarre spin given that the article itself notes that ‘economists generally agree the enhanced benefits caused some people to stay out of the labor market’ and contains several pieces of evidence suggesting they did have a significant effect. But the skewed reporting is consistent with a broad pattern in media coverage and political commentary that has attempted to downplay and deny any drawbacks of the welfare expansion.”

Read the entire column here.

The post New study vindicates states that canceled expanded unemployment welfare early appeared first on Liberty Tree.

Joe Biden’s abysmal six-month economic report card

In mid-July, President Joe Biden bragged about good economic and jobs news.

But the July jobs report has shown slower changes in unemployment numbers.

Why? Because the government continued to pay people to stay home.

The July jobs report has shown slower changes in unemployment numbers as the government pays people to stay home.

Thanks to @WaysandMeansGOP for highlighting @POTUS‘ abysmal report card. pic.twitter.com/qEHCSb1fA4

— Congresswoman Kat Cammack (@RepKatCammack) August 9, 2021

From GOP Ways and Means: “With the July jobs report showing movement with lower unemployment and revisions upward of past months, Ways and Means Republican Leader Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) released the following statement:

‘Thanks in part to Republican governors removing the Biden work barrier that pays the jobless more to stay home than to work, the July jobs report finally met expectations—although the President’s jobs deficit still remains high at 298,000 and Main Street businesses are still struggling to find workers.

‘The labor force participation rate still hasn’t improved in 2021, which is a red flag for tepid growth ahead. And while we will get the full data in mid-August, it appears rising prices will continue to beat wage growth for a seventh consecutive month, meaning inflation under President Biden will continue to shrink the purchasing power of families.”

The post Joe Biden’s abysmal six-month economic report card appeared first on Liberty Tree.