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DEMOCRATS OWN THE SHUTDOWN! In many states, welfare and benefits pay more than median income December 27, 2022 The labor force participation rate was 62.1% last month, notably lower than the 63.4% mark it was at before the coronavirus pandemic struck the United States in March 2020. There are numerous reasons that unemployed Americans aren’t entering the workforce, including ongoing fears of COVID-19, disabilities such as “long COVID,” and other care responsibilities. One factor that is contributing to the relatively low labor force participation rate is the combination of unemployment benefits and recently expanded Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, according a new study by the nonprofit Committee to Unleash Prosperity. In 14 states, unemployment benefits and ACA subsidies for a family of four with two people not working amounts to an annualized equivalent of $80,000 a year in wages and benefits, the study found. This study also finds: • In 24 states, unemployment benefits and ACA subsidies for a family of four with both parents not working are the annualized equivalent of at least the national median household income. • In 5 states, those two programs provide the same family with both parents not working the annualized equivalent of at least the national median household income and benefits. • In 14 states, unemployment benefits and ACA subsidies are the equivalent to a head of household earning $80,000 in salary, plus health insurance benefits. • This is a higher wage than is earned by the national median secondary school teacher, electrician, trucker, machinist, and many other jobs. • In more than half the states, unemployment benefits and ACA subsidies exceed the value of the salary and benefits of the average firefighter, truck driver, machinist, or retail associate in those states. • In a dozen states, unemployment benefits and ACA subsidies exceed the value of the salary and benefits of the average teacher, construction worker, or electrician in those states. • A family of four with income over $227,000 qualifies for ACA subsidies in all states and families earning over $300,000 a year still qualify for ACA subsidies in 40 states and DC. Fig. 1: Highest Benefit States for Not Working and National Median Income Plus Benefits for Selected Occupations State/Occupation Earned Income Equivalent Washington - $122,653 Massachusetts - $117,063 New Jersey - $108,857 Minnesota -$98,915 Montana - $95,265 Hawaii - $91,757 Colorado - $91,281 Oregon - $86,454 Rhode Island - $85,605 https://hotair.com/jazz-shaw/2022/12/27/in-many-states-welfare-and-benefits-pay-more-than-median-income-n520167