It is amazing how many fools have fallen for Trump's farce $400 unemployment benefit.
Why is it a farce?
1. To get the money for its residents any state that wants it has to enter into an agreement with the Federal Government agreeing to fund $100 of that $400 weekly benefit.
2. For a state to enter an agreement to pay the $100, the agreement would have to be approved (passed) by that state's legislature and then signed by the governor. In a lot of states, at best this is a weeks-long process even if everybody agrees they want to pass it. I note it is likely conservatives that will object the most. Some state legislatures won't even be in session to begin the process.
3. If a state doesn't agree to pay the $100, the state's residents don't get the remaining $300. They get nothing.
4. Most states are strapped for cash because of COVID-19. They can't afford to pay an extra $100 a week for every unemployed person in their state over and beyond their existing state unemployment benefits. Think of needy hard-hit states like poorly run Florida and Texas that are overly dependant on sales tax and tourism. They absolutely do not have the money to do this.
5. States know the scheme will face court challenges on the Federal level and then on the state level if they pass the benefit. Since it isn't a sure thing, it is unlikely states will want to take the risk of paying out the money. See #6.
6. If the fund, Trump is pulling this money from runs out of cash, or a court rules he wasn't entitled to move the funds, the wording of the order says it will be up to the states to pay the whole $400 until December 31st.
I'd be shocked if more than a handful of states approve of Trump's unemployment scheme.
