Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer outlined a radical proposal that some Democrats believe would help stimulate the economy. The plan calls for a seemingly endless expansion of unemployment benefits and is being nicknamed "unemployment on steroids or employment insurance" by Democrats.
"You lose your job because of this crisis, or any other reason, the federal government will pay you your full salary for four to six months -- we're trying to get six -- for the whole time. And that way you will have money for every month. You will have money at the same level you were making before, and you could be able to at least pay your bills, and then if the crisis is over you'll go back to your old job because you'll have your bills -- the company will just furlough you -- and that'll work."
The minority leader spoke as if he was trying to convince himself that the plan would work. He also described the plan as if he was thinking about it for the first time. But it doesn't sound like he did.
First, if you could lose your job for any reason and keep your full salary, why would anyone work?
Secondly, there's no need for a "secondly" because the first point raises enough concerns.
If these are the sort of hair-brain schemes the Democrats are proposing on the Hill, it's no wonder it's taking this long to get a stimulus package together.
.@SenSchumer on Dems’ Coronavirus “stimulus”: "You lose your job because of this crisis OR ANY OTHER REASON, the federal government will pay you your full salary for 4 to 6 months." pic.twitter.com/pcdr4I6CQY
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) March 21, 2020