Why Are So Many States Ending Enhanced Unemployment?

When President Joe Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan into law in mid-March, he didn't just pump stimulus funds into Americans' bank accounts -- he also extended boosted unemployment benefits through early September so jobless workers could collect an extra $300 a week on top of their state benefits. At a time when the U.S. jobless rate is still considerably higher than it was before the pandemic began, you'd think the unemployed would be entitled to a bit of extra help -- especially since a relief bill was signed that expressly allows for it. Or, to put it another way, many lawmakers feel that increasing unemployment by $300 a week discourages the jobless to go out and find work, since many people -- especially lower wage earners -- can make a comparable living on unemployment as they would at a paying job.