Mayor, Council President, and Comptroller Urge Governor Reverse Halting Federally Funding Unemployment Benefits

Baltimore, MD - This morning Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott, City Council President Nick J. Mosby, and Comptroller Bill Henry sent a letter to Governor Hogan urging him to reverse his decision to halt federally-funded unemployment benefits.

On June 1, Governor Hogan announced he would end enhanced pandemic federal unemployment benefits and reinstate work search requirements in July. He joined nearly two dozen Republican governors that have chosen to reject the extended benefits offered by the American Rescue Plan, instead of continuing the assistance until September.

"The message is clear, Governor Hogan cares more about looking like a good Republican nationally than he cares about Marylanders," said Comptroller Henry.

The letter from the Baltimore City leaders states-

"This decision further overlooks the fact that Baltimore City’s unemployment rate is 31 percent higher than the State as a whole. There simply are not enough jobs available for out-of-work Baltimore residents. Consequently, not only will thousands in Baltimore be forced to seek work in hazardous environments that fail to offer living wages, but thousands more will continue enduring joblessness with a weakened safety net."

Read the joint letter here.