Extra weekly unemployment aid for Kansans? Expect only $300 instead of $400 if approved

Unemployed Kansans may soon receive an extra $300 a week in benefits, instead of the $400 a week proposed by Gov. Laura Kelly.

Republican lawmakers on Thursday rejected a request to fund the additional benefits at $400 a week using federal coronavirus aid. The State Finance Council, chaired by the Democratic governor but dominated by GOP legislators, voted down the proposal.

Kelly will instead apply for additional benefits at $300 a week as part of the federal Lost Wages Assistance program, an initiative authorized by President Donald Trump after an earlier program that provided $600 a week expired in July.

If the council had approved participation at the $400 level, the federal government would have covered $300 of the amount. Kansas would have paid for the last $100 using federal virus aid it has already received.

Republicans said the state portion, estimated at $63 million, could be better spent elsewhere or preserved for the future stability of the unemployment system. They said Kelly was focused on “short term bandaids” instead of a long-term plan.

“Kansans who have lost a job deserve stability and security right now. They need to know the unemployment safety net isn’t just there for them today but will be there for them in days to come. We must take care of the basics first and give Kansans confidence in our system,” House Speaker Ron Ryckman, House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins and House Speaker Pro Tem Blaine Finch said in a joint statement.

Kelly said Republican leaders were blocking additional unemployment aid and were playing politics instead of supporting a program created by Trump.

“Republican leaders in the Legislature have said they want to help Kansans who are struggling with the impacts of COVID-19, but the first chance they had to do something about it, they voted to make a political point instead of supporting the people of this state who need help,” Kelly said in a statement.

Even if approved by the federal government, Kelly’s office has cautioned that implementing the program will take several weeks, though benefits would be retroactive to Aug. 1.

Roughly 30 other states, including Missouri, have applied to participate in the program. Missouri is providing aid at $300 a week.

This story was originally published September 3, 2020 at 6:10 PM.