By Alexis Alex

Unfortunately, the $600 federal unemployment benefits expire today. So let's talk about what the government is doing about it, or the lack thereof. Negotiations between leadership from both parties ended Thursday night and the two sides remained far apart on a deal. The main problem is both sides are unwilling to negotiate, at the expense of the American people.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Photo via Reuters

Last night, Republicans gave a last-ditch effort proposal to renew the $600 benefit only for seven days. Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer rejected the offer, arguing that Republicans don't understand that the situation requires a solution that is larger in scope. She argued a deal to extend the unemployment benefit by one week would only be meaningful if a larger bill was nearly worked out, noting the time it would take for the measure to pass and for money to reach families. Democratic Minority leader Chuck Schumer blames Republicans for trying to push through short extensions of the jobless aid and to try to pin the blame on Democrats for blocking them.

"Right now they don't get how serious the problem is," Schumer said. "Did we have a good discussion? Yes. Will we continue to discuss? Yes. Do we want to continue to come to an agreement? Absolutely. But it's got to meet the gravity of the problem."

Democratic leaders are claiming Republicans are not taking the issue seriously. Senate Republicans have proposed their own relief bill, called the HEALS Act, that would reduce the $600 to $200 until Oct. 5, after that states figure out a system to replace 70% of a person's wages. Democrats complained that $200 a week is not enough to sustain Americans, and the wage payment system is something that could take months for local employment offices to set up.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Photo via Forbes — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Photo via *Forbes*

Senate Democrats tried to pass a $3 trillion stimulus measure, the HEROES Act, which was approved in the House in May and would have included an extension on the full $600 a week benefit until January 2021. Republicans shot it down and said it was too costly and the current unemployment insurance benefit is too generous, and may even be discouraging people from going back to work.

To sum it all up, this week ended with nothing passed, just politicians from both sides refusing to come to an agreement. Congress opens back up next week, let's hope a bill can be negotiated and voted on. This is life or death for the American people and none of our politicians are taking this seriously enough.