Reeves: Mississippi can’t afford jobless benefit supplement

By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS

Associated Press

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves says the state cannot afford $100 per recipient, per week, to bolster unemployment payments during the coronavirus pandemic.

But, the Republican governor is praising President Donald Trump for proposing that states provide the money.

The federal government’s $600 a-week-jobless benefit supplement recently expired.

Trump issued an executive order during the weekend that would extend part of the supplement, with the federal government paying $300 a week and the states paying $100 a week.

Critics question the validity of the order. Reeves says the $600 weekly supplement could discourage some people from returning to work.