Press ReleaseJuly 17, 2020

Job Creators Network Sends Letter to McConnell, Rubio and Collins Opposing Extension of Unemployment Benefits

Will Deter People from Returning to Work Quickly, Better Approach is Employer Tax Credit & Bonus

Washington, DC (July 17, 2020) — Today, the Job Creators Network (JCN) sent a letter to Senators McConnell, Rubio and Collins urging them to oppose an extension of unemployment benefits and create a new program called Employer Assurance.

This program would consist of a $300 employer tax credit for each new employee hired over the next few months plus a $300-back-to-work bonus paid directly to the new employee. Businesses with 100 employees or fewer would be eligible for the credit. New employees at businesses of any size would be eligible for the bonus. To read the letter, click here.

In the letter, Alfredo Ortiz, JCN President and CEO, wrote, “Federal unemployment benefits of $600 a week have helped millions of Americans. But the payments have been so large that they have dissuaded people from going back to work. Many could make more money by being unemployed than employed. That is untenable for an economy with as much promise as ours.”

The letter continues, “We recommend that the Senate let extended unemployment benefits lapse and start a new program called Employment Assurance. We envision it as a $300 employer tax credit for each new employee hired over the next few months plus a $300-back-to-work bonus paid directly to each new employee. Businesses with 100 employees or fewer would be eligible for the credits. New employees at businesses of any size should be eligible for this bonus. Everyone wins with such a program.”

JCN’s letter also endorses a targeted payroll tax holiday for businesses with 100 employees or fewer to “put thousands of dollars back in the pockets of ordinary workers and create more demand for goods and services.”