South Dakota has rejected President Trump’s offer of a $ 300 weekly boost in unemployment aid amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Gov. Kristi Noem said on Friday that her state was “fortunate” not to need the federal funds, with the rebounding local economy and recent job growth.
“The South Dakota economy has, never shut down, recovered nearly 80 percent of our job losses,” she said in a statement.
“[It] is the only state in the nation that does not have extended benefits, stepping in because our insured unemployment rate has been the lowest in the nation, “added Noem.
The federally enhanced unemployment benefits were included as part of an executive action announced by Trump last week. The move came after Congress failed to extend the $ 600-a-week supplement that expired at the end of July.
The executive action said states should pay for 25 percent of $ 400 weekly unemployment benefits. However, after scrapping states with cash taxes, including New York, the Department of Labor said that $ 100 already paid into regular unemployment insurance could count as the match requirement.
Four states – Arizona, Iowa, Louisiana and New Mexico – have applied for and approved the program, Trump tweeted Saturday.
The administrators of Alaska, West Virginia and North Carolina said last week that their states were in as well, CNN reported.
South Dakota appears to be the first state to say it does not need extra money.
“My administration is very grateful for the extra flexibility that this effort would have provided,” Noem said in the statement, “but South Dakota is in the fortunate position of not accepting it.”
Mount Rushmore State’s unemployment rate was 7.2 percent in June, down from 9.4 percent in May, although still more than twice March’s 3.1 percent rate.
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