Emergency Relief on the Way for Millions of Struggling Out-of-Work Americans
July 20th, 2010
Emergency Relief on the Way for Millions of Struggling Out-of-Work Americans as Democratic-Led Senate Overcomes Senseless Republican Obstruction
While Demanding More Bush Tax Cuts for the Rich, GOP Senators Continue to Block Jobs Bill, Jeopardize the Jobs of Untold Thousands of Cops, Firefighters, Teachers
WashingtonDC–The more than 2 million struggling Americans that found themselves cut off from unemployment benefits in the last six weeks finally got some good news today as the Senate overcame repeated, senseless Republican objections to extending the economy-stimulating federal insurance program. Americans United for Change executive director Tom McMahon issued the following statement:
“It’s a question of priorities. While Senate Republicans have been shouting from the hilltops for an extension of the Bush tax cuts for the Über-wealthy, it has been nothing but an uphill climb to convince even a few of them to support a basic extension of unemployment relief for Americans suffering under the Bush recession.
“It’s beyond the pale that any American who lost a job through no fault of their own was suddenly left to wonder where grocery money was going to come from while searching for work, especially given that unemployment benefits are one of the most penny-wise and fastest ways of stimulating the economy and creating jobs. Senate Republicans are pursuing a full-scale return to the failed, Bush-era economic policies that cost these Americans their jobs in the first place. If they believe going down this tortured path makes them ‘economic stewards’ in the minds of the American people, they are sorely mistaken.”
The Hill: Poll finds most voters blame Bush more than Obama for country's recession
New York Times: Polls Find Wide Support For Jobless Benefit Extension
“The Congressional Budget Office says unemployment checks offer the biggest bang for the buck of any government policy designed to jump-start economic growth — anywhere from 70 cents to $1.90 for every $1 spent on benefits. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics, pegs the figure at $1.61” [USA Today, 7/15/10]
“Instead of insisting on the “exact same agenda” that got us into this mess, isn’t it about time Congressional Republicans take some responsibility and help clean up?,” continued McMahon. “They can start by abandoning their cries for more corporate welfare and tax cuts for Paris Hilton and join their Democratic colleagues and passing an urgently needed extension of state Medicaid assistance to help local governments avoid hundreds of thousands of additional layoffs -- layoffs that include some of the most vital services in our society, including cops, firefighters, teachers and nurses. Or, will Senate Republicans instead choose to play more politics with peoples’ lives?”