ICYMI: Ernst Saves Taxpayers $100 Million
WASHINGTON – In addition to the One Big Beautiful Bill delivering the largest tax cut in history, the law will also save taxpayers $100 million by eliminating freebies for free-loading fat cats thanks to an amendment successfully attached by U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa).
Ernst’s effort ended the backwards practice of forcing small businesses to foot the bill for unemployment benefits for those making more than $1 million annually.
Here is some of the coverage:
NEW YORK TIMES | A bipartisan effort cuts unemployment benefits for high earners.
“There were few moments of bipartisanship during the debate over the Republicans’ sprawling tax and domestic policy bill. One exception was an amendment added by Senator Joni Ernst, Republican of Iowa, that, as she put it, ended ‘freebies for freeloading fat cats.’”
RADIO IOWA | Ernst amendment on ‘jobless millionaires’ passes U.S. Senate
“Ernst, who has been proposing this policy since 2023, said during the first two years of the Biden Administration thousands of millionaires were paid $271 million in unemployment assistance. Nearly 15,000 millionaires got unemployment checks in 2021 according to the IRS.”
WASHINGTON TIMES | Trump’s big, beautiful bill boots millionaires off unemployment benefits
“In the early morning hours of July 1, as senators were debating and voting on dozens of amendments, Sen. Joni Ernst managed to get her colleagues to accept her amendment that forbids people who show at least $1 million of income in any one year from collecting unemployment insurance benefits.”
KJAN | Grassley and Ernst back ‘Big Beautiful Bill’
“Senator Joni Ernst authored an amendment to the bill to prevent people who are laid off — but have over a million dollars in income from other sources — from getting unemployment benefits.”
NEW YORK POST |Senate smashed vote-a-rama record during struggle to pass Trump’s ‘big beautiful bill’
“Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) successfully tacked on an amendment to cut unemployment benefit funding for millionaires, which she estimated could save $100 million.”
CNN | Senate’s marathon voting session on Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ stretches into morning
“Around 3:30 a.m. ET Tuesday, the Senate adopted its first change to the bill. Offered by Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, the amendment bars federal funds from being used for unemployment benefits to individuals whose wages are at least $1 million.”
NEWSWEEK | Senate Approves Banning Unemployment Benefits For People With More Than $1m Income
“An amendment introduced by Republican Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa passed with an overwhelming voice vote on June 30, as it targeted people who have more than one million dollars in income who receive unemployment benefits.”
BIZ PAC REVIEW | Trump’s bill kicks millionaires off unemployment benefits: ‘No more freebies for fat cats!’
“President Donald Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ budget package included an amendment that will pull the unemployment benefits paid out by the federal government to the ‘idle rich,’ as Sen. Joni Ernst noted.”
NEWSER | Senate Finds a Unanimous Moment Over Unemployment
“The amendment's sponsor, GOP Sen. Joni Ernst, referred to the beneficiaries as ‘freeloading fat cats’ and previously made the case to cut their benefits.”
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