Congress urged to extend emergency jobless benefits

[babylonsister]

Congress urged to extend emergency jobless benefits

By David Goldstein | McClatchy Newspapers


WASHINGTON — State labor officials on Monday urged Congress to renew emergency jobless benefits that have been available through economic stimulus funds, but are due to expire this month.

One million workers could lose their benefits in January without the extension, according to a new report on the stimulus act unemployment benefits, written by several labor advocacy groups.

"This is a lifeline," said Jim Garner, the secretary of the Kansas Department of Labor.

Garner was one of eight state labor officials who appeared at a news conference alongside labor advocates. Though last week's economic report showed hopeful signs, "We are facing a real catastrophe," said Christine Owens, the executive director of the National Employment Law Project, one of the co-authors of the report.

Backers of renewing the stimulus act unemployment assistance said it helped families pay for mortgages and other bills and kept money circulating into the economy.

"We stop now, we risk stalling the nascent recovery," said Heather Boushey, an economist with the Center for American Progress, a liberal policy organization and a co-author of the report.

more...

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/80214.html

[HughMoran]

1. ...how about Cobra?

I need my Cobra extended.

[tonysam]

2. They need to get on this now--not fart around on health care.

I don't know why in the hell Congress did this. It doesn't affect my situation, as I have to exhaust my state extended before I can get the federal Tier III, but other states are affected.

[truedelphi]

3. Statte of California guidelines make it impossible for

Most of those on second or third rounds to qualify. You have to have made MORE than 150% of your original salary, or kept up your quarterly earnings by a 40 week pay in.

So in a land wherein the state is in deep recession, and even prison guards are laid off, the average schmuck is expected to find a relatively long term job or one wherein they made more per hour than BEFORE the recession.