Fishkind Conversations: On DeSantis Ending Federal Unemployment Assistance 2 Months Early

By Nicole Darden Creston

Published June 22, 2021 at 3:11 AM EDT

Hank Fishkind. Photo: Matthew Peddie, WMFE

Governor Ron DeSantis will stop the flow of federal pandemic unemployment assistance to Florida residents as of Saturday. DeSantis is ending the supplemental $300 per week in benefits, two months before the federal program runs out.

He says it’s because of all the job openings across the state. But economic analyst Dr. Hank Fishkind tells WMFE’s Nicole Darden Creston, it’s not that simple.

Fishkind starts with a quick refresher on how the federal program works.

Click Play Audio to hear their conversation.

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Nicole Darden Creston

Nicole came to Central Florida to attend Rollins College and started working for Orlando’s ABC News Radio affiliate shortly after graduation. She joined WMFE in 2010. As a field reporter, news anchor and radio show host in the City Beautiful, she has covered everything from local arts to national elections, from extraordinary hurricanes to historic space flights, from the people and procedures of Florida’s justice system to the changing face of the state’s economy. When local issues have received international attention, Nicole has reported worldwide for TV news outlets such as CNN, HLN, ABC, Fox News Channel, and BBC News 24.

When she’s off duty, Nicole can often be found performing with one of Central Florida’s many theatre companies, or taking in local arts, culture and music.

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