BREAKING: Republicans Deny Struggling Americans Unemployment Relief
144 Republicans voted today against desperately needed unemployment relief for struggling American families. Even after five straight months of job losses for American workers, Republicans chose to side with George Bush and his latest veto threat over middle class families struggling to make ends meet.
DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen released the following statement after the vote:
"House Republican efforts to defend the status quo and protect George Bush's and John McCain's failed economic polices have reached a new low. Less than one week after the largest one-month jump in America's unemployment rate in two decades, House Republicans blocked passage of a bill to extend unemployment insurance to workers, who are struggling to find a new job in this slowing economy.
"This is a firm reminder that Republicans are absolutely comfortable with the status quo and are completely out of touch with the harsh economic realities facing American workers."
Background
- The Emergency Extended Unemployment
Compensation Act would provide economic relief for Americans looking for work.
- Extends Unemployment Insurance for 13 weeks nationwide and for 26 weeks in high unemployment states - those with 6% unemployment or higher.
- According to the Congressional Budget Office, this would provide relief for 3.8 million Americans.
- 49,000 American jobs were lost in May, the fifth straight month of job losses. [New York Times; June 7, 2008]
- Last week, the Department of Labor announced unemployment reached 5.5% in May, up from 5%. This marks the largest single month increase in 22 years. [Kansas City Star; June 6 2008]
- So far in 2008, 324,000 jobs have been lost in America, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics [Baltimore Sun; June 6, 2008]
