• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Kentucky Center for Economic Policy

Kentucky Center for Economic Policy

   

  • About Us
  • Press Room
  • Events
  • Job Opportunities
  • Donate

Research That Works for Kentucky

  • Topics
    • Budget & Tax
    • Criminal Justice
    • Economic Security
    • Education
    • Health Care
    • Jobs & The Economy
  • Types
    • News
    • Op-Ed
    • Research

   

  • About Us
  • Press Room
  • Events
  • Job Opportunities
  • Donate

Copyright © 2021 KyPolicy Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Sitemap

Press Release

Statement on Failed Senate “Skinny” Aid Proposal

Jason Bailey | September 10, 2020

“The now-failed Senate ‘skinny’ proposal was an even weaker version of the deeply inadequate plan Senate leaders put forward at the end of July. Doing less when we need more is no way to address the recession of our lifetime. By shortchanging the nation at a time of unprecedented need, the plan would’ve made the slump deeper, longer and more painful.

The plan left out general aid to state and local governments, which would result in cuts to services like schools and health that are always essential, but especially in this crisis. It failed to include much-needed monies for food and housing assistance, increasing hardship at a time when thousands more Kentucky families are fighting homelessness and hunger. And by cutting the $600 expanded unemployment benefits in half and allowing benefits to end prematurely, the skinny proposal would’ve punished the massive numbers of Kentuckians who have been laid off through no fault of their own.

More On Budget & Tax: Kentucky Downs Looks to Expand into Warren County

Kentucky needs a robust congressional aid package that allows families and the economy to endure the monumental challenge in front of us. The Senate skinny proposal fell far short of that.”

-Jason Bailey, Executive Director

Key facts:

  • Housing and Food Assistance: Of the 43% of Kentuckians who told the Census Bureau in August they have lost household employment income in this crisis, 1 in 6 say they “sometimes” or “often” do not have enough to eat. And 34% of Kentucky renters have “no” or only “slight” confidence in their ability to make next month’s rent. The new aid package must include an increase in SNAP benefits and monies for housing assistance.
  • Extended Unemployment Benefits: Job growth slowed in the most recent month in Kentucky, and the state’s real unemployment rate (counting people who have left the labor force since February) is a historically high 16%. Black Kentuckians have been laid off at higher rates than white Kentuckians. Congress should extend the $600 in supplemental unemployment benefits until the economy is truly recovering.
  • Aid to State and Local Governments: Kentucky has already reduced its state and local government workforce (including universities and other education employment) by 30,000 jobs since this crisis began, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. More cuts are on the way if aid to state and local governments is not forthcoming. The state projects a revenue shortfall of $290 million to $746 million this fiscal year (General Fund and Road Fund) not counting the extra costs the state is taking on, such as providing healthcare to the 226,000 more people covered under Medicaid since the pandemic began. Congress must provide much more in aid to states and localities and increase the share of Medicaid costs the federal government pays.  

FacebookTweetLinkedInEmail

Primary Sidebar

Get KyPolicy news updates in your inbox

Sign Up

Sidebar

Perspectives

The 2021 General Assembly Can Meet the Moment with Policies that Advance Racial Equity

Letter to the Kentucky House of Representatives on Raising the Inadequate Tax Rate on HHR Slot Machines

Voucher Would Drain Much-Needed Resources from Kentucky’s Public Schools

Coalition Letter to Kentucky General Assembly: End the Tax Break on Slot Machines

General Assembly Should Strengthen the Recovery by Approving Much-Needed Relief

Other Budget & Tax Items

Press Release

Kentucky Downs Looks to Expand into Warren County

Press Release

Editorial: Legislative Update

Press Release

A Taxing Issue: Historical Horse Racing Slot Machines

Ky. Policy

Footer

Research that works for Kentucky

433 Chestnut Street, Berea, KY 40403

Phone: 859-756-4605

General information and inquiries: info@kypolicy.org

   

Help us make the facts free and accessible to everyone. That’s how Kentucky will thrive.

Donate

  • Topics
    • Budget & Tax
    • Criminal Justice
    • Economic Security
    • Education
    • Health Care
    • Jobs & The Economy
  • Work
    • News
    • Op-Ed
    • Research
  • About Us
  • Press Room
  • Contact

Get KyPolicy news updates in your inbox

Sign Up

Copyright © 2021 KyPolicy Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Sitemap

made by P&P
Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!