Karl W. Smith, Columnist

Congress Should Give Returning Workers a Bonus

A one-time lump-sum payment would also help the overall economy.

May 27, 2020 at 2:30 PM UTC

Karl W. Smith is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. Previously, he was vice president for federal policy at the Tax Foundation and assistant professor of economics at the University of North Carolina.

Fairness demands action.
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As the temporary $600-per-week boost in unemployment benefits nears its expiration, the first serious partisan battle over federal Covid-19 relief is looming.

At the extremes, some Democrats have proposed keeping the temporary increase in place at least through next year, while some Republicans have vowed to end the aid entirely when the current authorization ends on July 31. Either option would be a mistake. Instead, Congress should consider offering a buyout to workers willing to return to work.