Well, while our government ponders how it will spend $700 billion to bail out business, it’s nice to see that our elected officials are thinking about taxpayers like us–if pending legislation is passed, Bush will sign off on a bill that will give the unemployed an additional 13 weeks of unemployment insurance. Given that unemployment is at a 14-year high (http://bobbiblogger.wordpress.com/2008/11/20/jobless-claims-up-16-is-anyone-surprised/), I’m glad the government is thinking about helping.
Of course, that the government is considering extending unemployment benefits strongly suggests that the government doesn’t see an end to the recession anytime soon!
Bobbi
Bobbi
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081120/ap_on_go_pr_wh/jobless_benefits
WASHINGTON – With weekly jobless claims benefits at a 16-year high, the White House said Thursday that President George W. Bush would quickly sign legislation pending in Congress to provide further unemployment benefits.
The Senate this week is expected to take up a bill, already passed by the House, that would extend unemployment insurance checks for up to 13 additional weeks for jobless people whose benefits have run out. The Senate vote could occur as early as Thursday evening and would require support from 60 senators to pass.
White House press secretary Dana Perino, discussing the worsening economic environment, said Bush is “always concerned” when people lose their jobs and is eager to help.
More than 1.2 million jobs have been lost so far this year and the civilian jobless rate is at a 14-year high of 6.5 percent of the labor force.
Filed under: economy Tagged: | jobless benefits might be extended, no end to the recession in sight, unemployment at 14-year high
