The rift between congressional Republicans and Democrats over how best to reboot expanded unemployment insurance in the next virus-relief bill has fostered a collective anxiety and concern among the state administrators who will be tasked with implementing future legislation.
As Capitol Hill lawmakers pursued a divisive brinkmanship in recent weeks over the $600 weekly jobless-aid boost that expires July 31, state unemployment insurance officials from red and blue states alike have shared their frustrations during weekly conference calls. Their session late last week was full of angst and jitters—they know more than 20 million jobless Americans will be counting on ...