PBS高端访谈:随着疫情继续蔓延,美国人如何应对日渐缩水的失业救济（在线收听）

JUDY WOODRUFF: The economic crisis stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic has worn on for months now. Congress is still a long way from passing a new round of economic relief, and one of the limited actions that President Trump took a few weeks ago is still in the middle of being implemented. Here to explain where things stand is our own Lisa Desjardins. So, hello, Lisa. We know there are something like 27 million Americans who are receiving some form of unemployment benefits, and it was just a matter of weeks ago that President Trump promised an additional $300 a week. But the states had to sign on. What do we know about where all that stands?

LISA DESJARDINS: Judy, nearly every state has to apply to get that money. But it's interesting. They have to make a choice to do it. States can either ask for $300 per person, and because of some creative guidance by the Trump administration, the state doesn't have to contribute anything, or the state could choose to add another $100 on its own, for $400 a week for each unemployed person. But the trick is, Judy, each state has a different system. Many are outdated, so it is taking weeks, in some cases maybe months, for the states to process and get this going. So let's explain what is happening through a series of maps. First of all, let's look at this. Look at the red state here, South Dakota. That is the only state that has declined to participate, that state saying that its economy is good, it doesn't need that extra money. Now, the next series, let's look at these five states. These are the five states that have decided to give $400 a week for their unemployed. That is their plan. But, as you can see here in yellow, nearly every other state is opting for that $300, because most states say they just don't have the budget to contribute themselves. Now, Judy, here's the big question, though. How many workers are seeing this money right now? Those are these states. Just five states so far have been able to get out this extra, in most cases, $300 per person. And, Judy, this money is coming from a disaster fund that is also meant for hurricanes. That money is running out quickly. We're not sure how long it will last. There is a race to get this money. And it seems that maybe only four or five weeks total will be available for any state.

JUDY WOODRUFF: And, Lisa, if you step back, what does this mean for people who are counting on this money? I know our team has reached out to number of -- a number of people who are unemployed.

LISA DESJARDINS: That's right. We spent a day -- the day today really talking to a lot of people. And, Judy, it was $600 additional that these unemployed workers were getting. But that ran out weeks ago. And Congress has sort of been stuck in negotiations since. So, for many of these families, that's $3,000 less that they have. And that means a lot of anxiety. I have heard of families cutting back, trying to pool resources, but they're just not sure how long they will be able to make it with those tactics. And, in fact, one of those people is Elizabeth Bartholomew from Grand Rapids, Michigan. She is an event planner who lost her job because of the coronavirus.

ELIZABETH BARTHOLOMEW, Michigan: Before this, my husband and I kind of shared mortgage and split up our bills and stuff. And now all of that is on him. And so I think he feels a lot of pressure because of that. And my -- whatever little I make is just -- I'm -- I'm buying groceries for my kids.

LISA DESJARDINS: That theme of family and trying to help people who depend on you was apparent. Another quote, this one from a woman named Kim in Mesa, Arizona. She was a church coordinator who -- also laid off because of the coronavirus. She told us: "It's pretty much between the choices of paying car insurance at this point or buying food or keeping the Internet on for my children who are paying to go to college online." So, Judy, a lot of very difficult choices right now. People telling us they're getting creative, but they're not sure how long this can last. And anxiety is rising very quickly.

JUDY WOODRUFF: And, meanwhile, Lisa, everybody is looking to the Congress to see what they are up to, where everything stands. What do you know?

LISA DESJARDINS: That's the frustrating part. All of these people agree they expected Congress to come through with something by now. But Congress is still negotiating. Senate Republicans, I'm told, feel that they are close to having their own plan, a small plan dealing with unemployment and small businesses, largely. But it remains to be seen, Judy. And one issue is that the House itself is only supposed to be in session for three weeks in September. So, everyone agrees, experts, unemployed, everyone, that September is the window to get this done. And if Congress isn't able to come up with more relief, then we will have a more serious economic problem very soon.

JUDY WOODRUFF: A lot of people waiting to see what happens. Lisa Desjardins, following it all for us, thank you.

LISA DESJARDINS: You're welcome.

朱迪·伍德拉夫：由新冠疫情引发的经济危机已经持续了几个月。距离国会通过新一轮经济救助仍有很长的路要走，几周前特朗普总统采取的局部措施仍在实施之中。在这里，由丽莎·德斯贾丁斯为我们解释目前的现状。你好，丽莎。我们知道大约有2700万美国人正在接受某种形式的失业救济，而就在几周前，特朗普总统承诺每周增加300美元。但各州必须签字。我们对这一切有何了解？

丽莎·德斯贾丁斯：朱迪，几乎每个州都要申请得到那笔钱。不过，很有意思。他们必须做出选择。各州可以要求每人300美元，由于特朗普政府的一些有创意的指导，州政府不必出资，也可以自己出资再增加100美元，每周支付给失业者400美元。但关键在于，朱迪，每个州都有不同的制度。很多都已经过时了，所以各州需要几个星期，有些州甚至需要几个月的时间来处理这个问题。让我们通过一系列的地图坐标来解释到底发生了什么。首先，让我们来看看这个州。红色标注的那个州，南达科他州。唯一一个拒绝参与的州，据称这个州的经济发展不错，不需要额外的资金救助。现在，看看接下来的几个州，让我们看看这五个州。这五个州决定每周为失业者提供400美元。这是在他们的计划之中的。但是，正如你在这里看到的用黄色标注的这些州，几乎所有的州都选择为失业者提供300美元。因为大多数州都说他们没有足够的预算来单独出资。现在，朱迪，有个关键问题是现在有多少工人可以拿到这些钱？就是我所标注的这些州。到目前为止，只有五个州的工人能够额外获得每人300美元。还有，朱迪，这笔钱来自一项用于飓风的救灾基金。那笔钱很快就用完了。我们不确定能持续多久。为了得到这笔钱，竞争在所难免。看起来，留给所有州的时间大概只有4到5个星期。

朱迪·伍德拉夫：还有，丽莎，如果你置身事外去想的话，这对指望这笔钱的人意味着什么？我知道我们的团队已经联系了许多失业的人。

丽莎·德斯贾丁斯：是的。我们花了一天时间和很多人谈了一谈。而且，朱迪，这些失业工人额外得到的是600美元。但那是几个星期前的事了。从那以后国会就陷入了谈判的泥潭。所以，对于这些家庭中的许多人来说，他们少了3000美元。意味着他们会因此焦虑万分。我听说过家庭削减开支，试图集中资源，但他们只是不确定他们采用这些策略能够维持多久。事实上，其中一个人就是来自密歇根州大溪城，她叫伊丽莎白·巴塞洛缪。她是一名活动策划人，因为新冠疫情失去了工作。

来自密歇根州的伊丽莎白·巴塞洛缪：在此之前，我丈夫和我共同抵押贷款，分摊账单以及承担其他之类的支出。现在只能由他来承受这一切了。所以我认为他会因此感到压力很大。我所能做的只是给我的孩子买些杂货。

丽莎·德斯贾丁斯：在这个时候可以明显体现出家庭成员之间的相互依赖和相互扶持。另一段话是来自亚利桑那州梅萨市一个叫金的女人。她是一名教堂协调员，也因为新冠疫情被解雇。她告诉我们：“这在很大程度上是选择在这个时候支付汽车保险，或是为我的孩子购买食物，或者让我的孩子们上网，他们需要在网上交学费。”所以，朱迪，现在有很多非常困难的选择。有人告诉我们他们越来越有创造力了，但他们不知道这能持续多久。焦虑的气氛在持续蔓延。

朱迪·伍德拉夫：与此同时，丽莎，每个人都期待着国会来看看他们在做什么，所有的问题都摆在那里。你还知道什么？

丽莎·德斯贾丁斯：令人沮丧的是，所有人都一致认为，他们期望国会现在能通过一些法案。但国会仍在谈判。我听说，参议院的共和党人认为他们即将制定自己的计划，一个主要处理失业和小企业问题的短时计划。但还有待观察，朱迪。还有一个问题是，众议院预计在9月份召开为期三周的会议。所以，每个人都一致认为，包括专家，失业者，所有人，9月是解决这个问题的最佳时间节点。如果国会不能提供更多的救济，那么我们很快就会面临更严重的经济问题。

朱迪·伍德拉夫：很多人都在拭目以待。丽莎·德斯贾丁斯为我们解释了这么多，谢谢你。

丽莎·德斯贾丁斯：不客气。