When the the jobless rate jumps from 5 percent to 5.5 percent in one month, what's the best way to protect those who've lost their jobs? According to five six GOP members of the Illinois congressional delegation, the answer is: nothing at all.
Reps. Mark Kirk (R-10th), Donald Manzullo (R-16th), Peter Roskam (R-6th), John Shimkus (R-19th), Judy Biggert (R-13th), and Jerry Weller (R-11th) joined 139 of their House colleagues in voting against an extension of unemployment insurance benefits Wednesday night, obstructing a bill that fell just three votes shy of the two-thirds majority needed to pass a procedural hurdle and override President Bush's promised veto.
The Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2008 would have extended the average $300-a-week benefit check by 13 weeks for all unemployed Americans, a step Bush says is generally reserved for times when the rate jumps considerably higher than its current 5.5 percent. But job statistics are pretty dire: May saw the biggest monthly unemployment rise since 1986 and 8.5 million Americans who want work cannot find it now -- an increase of 1.6 million over the past year, according to the Labor Department. The Washington Post editorial board wrote Tuesday that increasing benefits would have been an more-than-adequate stopgap:
Extending unemployment benefits from 26 weeks to 39 weeks should have been in the original stimulus package; it is the best arrow left in Congress's quiver. Not only would it help cushion the blow of joblessness to those laid off through no fault of their own, but economic studies suggest that unemployment benefits stimulate the economy because they are quickly spent on goods and services.
Democratic leaders will bring the vote to the floor again Thursday, this time requiring only a majority for passage. For more on the issue, read this recent blog post by Rep. Phil Hare (D-17th).
UPDATE: The bill came up for a vote again in the House today and this time passed with a veto-proof majority. The six GOP members listed above -- Kirk, Manzullo, Roskam, Shimkus, Biggert, and Weller -- all voted against the measure ... again.
ed josefchuk (not verified) on Mon, 06/23/2008 - 16:29
Get bush and all the republicans who voted against the em unemployment bill to extend benifits to those who ran out, out of office. I am 54 yrs. old and had to file bankruptcy. This country has never been this bad off. Bush has to go down in history as the WORSE pres. in history
Christy (not verified) on Mon, 06/30/2008 - 14:28
Everyone should take note of those names that have voted against extension of unemployment and realize how worse off the country could have been for doing so. While there will always be the chance that someone may abuse the system, to live in denial of our present state of economy and basically say that an extension would not benefit the nation of unemployed workers is idiotic. As they sit in their cushy jobs getting paid with the taxes that we paid while we were working .... to make a decision such as this for those that truly cannot get a job?? Who the hell have we voted into office? Again, take note of those names and research what the people that are being voted into office are really bringing to the table and vote against them if they are not a true representative of what you want. In our time of economic fallout - to make such a negative decision that would impact the IL and nationwide force of unemployed people will no doubt affect their lives as well. It must be nice to have these people for family members, not one of them must be suffering from a loss of job .... I wonder why?
Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 07/06/2008 - 19:39
The extension passed and is law as of now.
I am so happy to see an extension of benefits.
May a living wage return to the U.S.A. now.
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