Unemployed Floridians left waiting as stimulus talks remain stalled

ORLANDO, Fla. — With Central Florida leading the state in unemployment and COVID-19 cases on the rise, there’s growing concern that another economic stimulus will have to wait until after the election.

For those still struggling to pay their bills, the political reality is making hard choices even more difficult.

READ: Thousands apply for second round of Orange County CARES Act stimulus checks

Unemployed since May, Orlando Resident Branaudra Wilson is one of those people.

“This week makes 5 months...I have done everything on my end only to be told it’s a waiting game. We don’t know.”

For people like Wilson, things have not improved. Not only has she been out of work, she also contracted the coronavirus.

Congress had considered another large stimulus package, but it now looks like that’ll have to wait until after the election, or longer.

Central Florida Republican Michael Waltz has watched for months as the House, Senate, and White House have all batted around numbers and plans.

READ: Coronavirus deaths are rising again in the US, as feared

The House is going big with a more than $2-trillion offer, The Senate is going smaller with a tailored $500-billion plan, and the White House- once removed from talks- has jumped back in.

“We’re trying to compromise somewhere in the middle. This is a massive amount of money that’s already been spent and could be spent again,” Waltz said.

Senate Democrat Chris Coons remains optimistic that a deal can be reached.

“I think we’re on the verge of another steady and significant increase in infections and another sharper drop towards recession, so I think we’re going to have to do more to provide relief,” Coons said.

But, coronavirus testing, jobless benefits, as well as state and local funding, remain sticking points in negotiations between the House and White House staff, leaving people like Branaudra Wilson waiting.

READ: Hundreds of Central Florida students returning to classrooms following COVID-19 closures

Unemployment actually increased from August to September with 770,000 Floridians unemployed right now.

Another stimulus package would address enhanced unemployment benefits for those still out of work as well as possible another round of stimulus checks, but all of that may have to wait until after the election or the inauguration in January.

Cox Media Group