In Gov. Spencer Cox’s bow to the conservative right, the decision to end the pandemic benefits in June shows Cox’s shortsightedness and willingness to shortchange 28,000 of Utah’s unemployed residents.
Unlike welfare, these unemployed Utahns are required to look for a job each week and take suitable employment. By this same logic Cox should request that Utah families be denied any further federal money provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. Seemingly, Cox would rather kick Utah’s unemployed when they are down rather than help lift them up as the pandemic aid has done.
Notably, the cost of these unemployment benefits aren’t even shouldered by state coffers or Utahns; rather these costs are provided by the federal government. The benefits are only scheduled to last eight more weeks beyond Cox’s proposed June 26 ending date, so in order to make a political statement Cox would rather see that money go to other states instead of taking what was provided for Utah’s residents. It’s time that Cox reconsider that decision and reverse it immediately.
Ted Peterson
Salt Lake City