Fast Facts for May 18, 2021
Now that leading house democrats and republicans have agreed to terms – the full House is set to vote tomorrow on legislation that would establish a bi-partisan, independent, 9-11 style commission to investigate the Jan 6th attack on the Capitol.
The agreement was announced late last week but today the house minority leader Kevin McCarthy issued a statement saying he does not support the commission.
If this bill is passed the commission would:
- Study the facts and circumstances specifically around January 6th as well as the influencing factors that may have provoked the attack.
- It would be made up of 10-appointed commissioners. Five will be appointed by democrats and five will be appointed by republicans. The chair will be chosen by the speaker of the house and senate majority leader and the vice-chair will be appointed by the house and senate minority leaders.
- None of the commissioners can be current government officers, elected leaders or employees. And the commissioners must have significant expertise in the areas of law enforcement, civil rights, civil liberties, privacy, intelligence and cyber security.
- It would have the authority to issue subpoenas and it will be required to issue a final report by December 31st of 2021.
The bill to establish the commission will likely pass the Democrat controlled House but it’ll be tight in the Senate because it needs 60 votes to pass. We’ll learn more after Wednesday.
Legislative text here.
PLUS
If you’re receiving unemployment benefits – you need to understand – for some of you – those extra federal benefits will be ending long before the September date written into the American Rescue law. And before you ask, yes – they can do that.
According to the law – the extra $300 weekly federal benefit on top of regular state unemployment and PUA unemployment benefits for those who don’t normally qualify for UI could expire on September sixth. However the following states are opting out early.
Missouri, Iowa, Mississippi and Alaska all plan to drop the benefits on June 12, which is the earliest date states are allowed to leave the program.
Indiana, Alabama, West Virginia, Idaho, North Dakota and Wyoming are all planning to opt out on June 19.
Texas, Ohio, Georgia, Utah, Oklahoma, Arkansas and South Dakota will cease payments on June 26. Oklahoma will offer a one-time $1200 bonus to return to work.
Montana will withdraw from the program by June 27 but instead will offer a one time $1200 bonus for returning to work.
South Carolina will end federal benefits June 30th.
Tennessee will stop participating in the federal government’s supplemental unemployment benefits program on July 3.
Arizona will stop paying federal benefits on July 10, but the state will offer a $2,000 return-to-work bonus.
Some of these states are allowing PUA benefits to continue but only dropping the extra $300 a week. Others are dropping all federal unemployment benefits.
If you live in any of the states I mentioned, you need to see how it’ll specifically impact you and your benefits.
More states may be joining this list. Keep in mind unemployment benefits don’t last forever. Every state has a limit to the number of weeks you’re allowed.
