A Lawsuit Is Challenging Louisiana’s Decision to End Pandemic Unemployment Aid
A group of unemployed Louisiana residents filed a lawsuit challenging Gov. John Bel Edwards’ decision to stop accepting the federal pandemic benefits that gave jobless workers an extra $300-a-week boost and made some self-employed and gig workers eligible for the unemployment assistance.
The Democratic governor ended the federal pandemic jobless aid Saturday, five weeks earlier than the expiration date. The move stripped benefits from more than 150,000 people and cut by more than half the unemployment benefits available to tens of thousands more.
The Advocate reports the lawsuit — filed late Friday in Baton Rouge state district court — argues the move violates federal constitutional protections and state unemployment law that compels state officials to secure available federal unemployment compensation for their jobless citizens. It asks the court to reinstate the payments immediately.
