Schumer blames worker shortage on Trump immigration policy
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
The top Senate Democrat on Tuesday said former President Donald Trump's immigration policies are partly to blame for a nationwide worker shortage and not the weekly $300 unemployment checks provided by the federal government.
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Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, brushed off criticism that the jobless pay is discouraging people from returning to the workforce. Instead, Schumer blamed a number of other factors, including Trump administration policies that limited immigration.
"Some of it is because Trump cut off immigration so severely," Schumer told reporters. "We have half the number of immigrants that came in."
The Trump administration imposed additional limits on legal immigration, asylum-seekers, and people from certain countries living in the United States under temporary protected status. Trump also worked to block illegal crossings over the southern border by constructing new border wall and enforcing deportation laws.
Democrats Tuesday continued to defend the COVID aid legislation they passed earlier this year that provides a federal weekly enhancement of $300 in unemployment pay. Critics say the additional money has led to a significant worker shortage and is slowing an economic recovery from the pandemic. Workers are unwilling to return to the job because they are paid more to stay home in many cases, critics say.
House and Senate Republicans this month introduced legislation to repeal the enhanced federal benefits, which, under current law, expire at the end of August.
Democrats, who control both the House and Senate, have no interest in repealing the benefits.
"There are many reasons there is a shortage of workers," Schumer said Tuesday.
In addition to Trump's immigration policies, Schumer said people are refusing to go back to work because they lack child care or are waiting to ensure COVID-19 is eradicated.
"Many are helped by this $300 extra, and there is overwhelming support in our caucus to keep it," Schumer said.
Republicans Tuesday said the extra money is keeping people home and was reflected in last week's dismal jobs report, which showed only 266,000 jobs created.
"Our employers, our businesses across Iowa, are anxious to get back to their full opening, and yet, they just can't get there," Sen. Joni Ernst, an Iowa Republican, said. "The reason they are citing is that most of their former employees are receiving more dollars than when they were working full time. They are paid more to stay at home."
Tags:News, Congress, Chuck Schumer, Donald Trump, Immigration, Unemployment, Joni Ernst
Original Author:Susan Ferrechio
Original Location:Schumer blames worker shortage on Trump immigration policy
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It is almost unbelievable that Schumer is really this much of a dumbass.
Almost.
The existing administration is so futched up, they may as well put Jimmy Carter back in office.
Obama's third term is off to a rocky start, for sure.
Much of it self-inflicted.