Senate Republicans Opposed Extending Aid to Jobless in Stimulus Package

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/02/01/senate-republicans-opposed-extending-aid-to-jobless-in-stimulus-package/

by Mike Hall, Feb 1, 2008

The economic stimulus package is stalled in the U.S. Senate. Senate Republican leaders—backed by the Bush White House—threatened a filibuster against efforts by Senate Democrats to extend unemployment insurance (UI) benefits for the millions of jobless workers who will run out of benefits in the next several months.

The bill, approved Wednesday by the Senate Finance Committee, improves on the House-passed stimulus package by adding the UI extension and also providing tax rebates to more than 20 million low-income senior citizens and veterans.

In a letter to the Senate, Bill Samuel, AFL-CIO legislative director, urged lawmakers to maintain the UI extension.

We believe the economy is at risk of sliding into a very serious recession, and Congress must act immediately and decisively to head off the worst. There is a general consensus among economists that providing unemployment benefits is one of the most efficient ways to stimulate the economy, since jobless workers are most likely to spend their benefits immediately and pump more money back into the economy, generating more economic activity.

(Click here for the latest news on job loss.) http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/02/01/17000-jobs-cut-in-januaryfirst-such-drop-in-four-years/


The U.S. House bill ignores the growing number of workers running out of UI benefits and instead concentrates on one-time tax rebates for individuals and families, plus big tax breaks for businesses.

In a column in the Detroit News, UAW President Ron Gettelfinger notes that 200,000 workers a week run out of unemployment benefits before finding a job.

Unemployed workers—whether or not they qualify for a one-time rebate—will face a financial emergency when they run out of benefits. They’ll have no way to pay their bills and no capability to help the economy with enhanced spending power.

There is near universal agreement that extending unemployment insurance and enhanced food stamp benefits is the fastest, most effective way to stimulate the economy. These benefits put money directly in the hands of those who need it—and who will spend it directly into our struggling economy.


FULL story at link.

[OhioChick]

1. Republicans.....

Shitting on the poor, as usual. Big business is/always will be their main priority.

[old guy]

2. Don't let them threaten,

make them actually do it. It is a lose, lose for them politically. If they don't let it pass, they look like idiots now for blocking a real stimulus package, and will be excellent fodder in the Nov. elections.