Unemployment Benefits Held Hostage for Tax Cuts
by Region 8 Webmaster John Davis

Six million Americans are approaching the end of 99 weeks of unemployment benefits and another four million are set to lose their benefits if Congress fails to act right away. This week Senate Republicans against blocked a vote on extending jobless benefits, refusing to consider any legislation until a deal is reached on making the Bush era tax cut permanent to the wealthiest 2%.

Unless something is done right away, two million Americans will lose their unemployment benefits right away and another seven million over the next few months. Studies show the cost of extending unemployment benefits would cost 56 billion dollars over the next year. However, the tax cuts to the wealthiest two percent will cost 700 billion dollars. How can a nation that claims to be caring even consider such an idea?

Opponents to extending the benefits say such programs discourage people from looking for work. This is an absurd assumption. The average unemployed American receives $290 a week in unemployment benefits. Can you imagine trying to live on that little? This isn’t about people having money for Christmas it is about feeding children.

At a rally in Washington on December 02, 2010 to extend benefits U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis stated "To those who are standing in the way of this extension, I say: the time to put politics aside is here. The welfare of millions is at stake," she said. "If Congress fails to act on an extension of the UI program 2 million Americans will lose their unemployment insurance by the end of the year. And millions more could join their ranks in the coming months. 

Renee Penny - Local 1853 Premier Springhill, TN
Tony Hawkins - Local 5285 Freightliner Mt. holly, NC

As a nation, we simply cannot let this come to pass. Politics should never punish those who need help most, and it should never get in the way of sound policy. Congress must pass this important extension. Americans — all of them — are depending on it."

In November the jobless picture held at steady at 9.6% marking 19 consecutive months with the unemployment rate being higher than 9%, breaking a post World War record.  About 42% of the unemployed have been out of work for six months or more – or about 6.3 million Americans.

On December 01, 2010, Senate leader Harry Reid received a letter from Senate Republicans vowing to block any legislation until all the Bush tax cuts are extended. While those at the top of the food chain sit comfortably in their mansions, those on the opposite end hold their breath awaiting word on whether or not there will be food on the table. Never mind that unemployment checks do little to help with paying other bills.

As a people Americans should be outraged over this. Call your representative today and demand they support extending unemployment benefits to help these unfortunate Americans.  In November 15 million Americans were jobless. If the rest stand  by and watch let it be said of us that we had 15 million unemployed and 300 million who didn’t care.

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Webmaster John Davis

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