A handful of protesters took up positions outside Senator Bill Cassidy’s office in Baton Rouge demanding a full extension of 600-dollar a week enhanced unemployment benefits.
Congressional Republicans are backing a 200 dollar a week extension. Power Coalition organizer Kaitlyn Joshua helped put on the event and says payments that low-risk mass evictions.
“If they do not further that assistance hundreds of thousands in the state of Louisiana will become homeless and be suffering,” says Joshua.
The state eviction moratorium has expired and the federal moratorium is set to expire this month.
Cassidy has previously backed a greater focus on moving unemployed people into available jobs. Augustine, an unemployed worker, says there aren’t any rent-paying jobs available.
“Give me a break, he’s a doctor, would he just take any job, would he work in a fast-food restaurant? I would love to see him do that,” says Augustine.
The Democrat-backed HEROES Act would extend the 600 dollar payments through the year, but a House Democratic leader recently said the caucus is not “600 dollars or bust”.
Currently, the last enhanced unemployment check is set to ship Friday. Joshua says there can be no delays in reapproving the program.
“It is pretty much a do or die move and we need to make sure that Bill Cassidy and (Senator) John Kennedy understand that it is not about party it is about the state of Louisiana,” says Joshua.
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