Letter to the editor: Pandemic unemployment compensation must continue

At the end of July the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) will end and millions of families will be in dire straits if the $600 supplemental weekly payments end. If the feds pull the financial rug out from so many people who are hanging on with no jobs and little hope of reinstatement, we will see a terrible consequence in families and communities.

Please appeal to the GOP and Democratic congressional members. My observation is that company owners laid off many people to cut their overhead and secure their profit at the expense of their employees. Businesses large and small soothed their own self-focused consciences by letting the government provide the FPUC. People have stayed hopeful, patient and compliant, but most know their jobs are not coming back by the end of July.

With the ending of FPUC, individuals and families are very vulnerable to a financial free-fall down a deep hole. The government created the hysteria and made it impossible for the economy to function, while making it possible for employers to arbitrarily cut costs by hacking off employees. If the pandemic isn’t over, the FPUC should stay in place so people don’t despair and panic as bills pile up and disaster looms over them.

Ray Speicher

Ligonier Township