LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — U.S. Senate Candidate Amy McGrath listened to faith leaders talk about their coronavirus concerns in Lexington on Friday.
"People who deeply care about their community are very worried about the coronavirus, how it's going to affect peoples' lives, the economy, the homelessness that people are facing right now with possible evictions," said McGrath after the visit. "They're talking to me about what's going on in government, and how come we have the trajectory that we have, and where are the leaders."
McGrath voiced her frustration with no prepared stimulus bill from Washington.
"We have a million Kentuckians who are unemployed - or who have filed for unemployment insurance in the last few months," said McGrath. "We have some real problems here."
McGrath, who is running against Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, believes another coronavirus relief bill should have been worked out to avoid the current situation where extra federal unemployment benefits for millions of people have run out.
"We knew this was going to happen," said McGrath. "We knew these benefits - that were not only propping up so many Kentuckians and so many Americans and helping, but were also propping up our economy to some extent - were going to end."
As leaders in Washington continue to negotiate on a deal, McGrath said she supports keeping the $600 per week in federal unemployment funding.
"I think the $600 is a good amount," said McGrath. "To slash it to $200 - to me, that seems like you're completely disconnected from everyday Kentuckians, that you don't care."
