Half of U.S. states, all of them led by Republican governors, are cutting off billions of dollars in unemployment benefits for residents, rebuffing a key part of President Joe Biden’s response to the coronavirus recession, Reuters reported. Maryland on Tuesday became the 25th state to announce it would stop the extra $300-per-week benefits on July 1 before the federal program lapses in September. Governor Larry Hogan (R) said that while the program gave "important temporary relief" during the pandemic, it was no longer needed now that "vaccines and jobs ... are in good supply." Hogan is following 24 other GOP state leaders and business lobbying groups, who say the benefits mean people are turning down good jobs, leaving companies without the workers they need to reopen. The Biden administration, Democrats, workers, activists and some economists argue, however, that a host of ongoing troubles — from lack of childcare to continued fear of infection to low wages — are keeping people out of the labor force. Just over 41% of the United States' 328 million people are fully vaccinated. The United States is about to undergo a real-time test of the issue. The 25 states turning down the federal cash have announced different end dates for the program. Benefits expire June 12 in Alaska, Iowa, Mississippi and Missouri, with the other 21 states falling off through July 10.
