Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has vetoed legislation that would have ended additional federal benefits created during the pandemic for North Carolina’s unemployed before the program expires nationwide.

His action Friday counters trends by Republican governors to no longer accept the supplemental payments.

Cooper says he blocked the measure originating from the GOP-controlled legislature because rejecting these federal funds now hurts the state.

Cooper says stopping the benefits now sends back money that could boost the state’s economy when unemployment is already declining and the federal benefit only lasts a few more weeks.

The legislation would have done away with the $300-a-week Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation benefit for at least 200,000 displaced workers in the state.

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