During Vote-a-Rama on the Big Beautiful Bill, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) put forward an amendment to strip people making $1 million or more from getting unemployment benefits.
00:00The nays are 52. The amendment is not agreed to.
00:06Mr. President.
00:08Senator from Iowa.
00:09Mr. President, I call up my amendment number 2372 and ask that it be reported by number.
00:16Clerk will report.
00:17The Senator from Iowa, Ms. Ernst, proposes an amendment number 2372 to amendment number 2360.
00:23Mr. President, too many of the idle rich are living high off the hog collecting government checks for not working while at the same time earning a million dollars or more from some other side venture.
00:38Thousands of out of work millionaires were paid more than 271 million dollars in unemployment assistance during just the first two years of the Biden administration.
00:50In 2022, the most recent year data is available.
00:54Nearly 6,000 millionaires were paid almost 58 million dollars in jobless benefits.
01:02That's about 10,000 each for each millionaire to not work.
01:07And the question is why?
01:09Able bodied millionaires shouldn't expect handouts made possible by the overtaxed and overworked Americans.
01:15My amendment ends freebies for freeloading fat cats by disqualifying anyone making a million dollars or more from being eligible for unemployment income support.
01:27The Senate previously approved a similar proposal by a vote of 100 to 0 that unfortunately never became a law.
01:36We can't afford to miss this opportunity to save as much as 100 million dollars by passing my amendment.
01:43So let's show some bipartisan unity for reducing the deficit by getting millionaires back to work.
01:51Mr. President.
01:53Senator Morgan.
01:54I'm happy to have a voice vote.
01:55Let me just speak briefly on this.
01:57This amendment is a backdoor way to undermine unemployment insurance.
02:03The fact is Republicans have turned down numerous opportunities to ensure the wealthy pay a fair share of taxes.
02:10That's not what this amendment is about.
02:12This is about turning a social insurance program everybody pays into, a program built on earned benefits, into something Republicans can cut until it disappears.
02:22If it happens to unemployment insurance, it can happen to other parts of the safety net.
02:26I oppose the amendment.
02:28And, Mr. President, I raise a point of order that the pending measure violates Section 311A to be of the Congressional Budget Act.
02:34It's 1974 because it reduces revenues over the budget window.
02:41And I'm happy to have a voice.
02:46Ask for the yeas and nays.
02:48Okay.
02:49Mr. President.
02:51Senator from Iowa.
02:54Mr. President, we are happy to take a voice vote.
02:57And I'm happy as well.
03:19The senator has withdrawn his point of order.
03:21The question is on the amendment.
03:22Questions on the amendment?
03:24All those in favor say aye.
03:26Aye.
03:27Those opposed say nay.
03:29Nay.
03:30The ayes appear to have it.
03:32The ayes do have it.
03:33The amendment is agreed to.
03:34The amendment is agreed to.
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