Senator Baldwin touts unemployment legislation as lawmakers discuss COVID-19 relief

WISCONSIN (CBS 58) -- Lawmakers in Washington are still trying to cut a deal on a new package of coronavirus relief bills, and Wisconsin's democratic senator says her unemployment legislation should be included.

Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin) introduced the Jobs for Economic Recovery Act in June.

It would essentially ramp-up existing job training programs to help unemployed Americans find work.

Baldwin says it's backed by job creators who have already had success with job placement programs.

"In part because they know the infrastructure is there to scale it up, but it simply has to be scaled up given the magnitude of our situation," Baldwin said. 

If passed, Baldwin's bill would subsidize labor costs for employers, encouraging them to hire even in the midst of an economic downturn.