A Tier V unemployment extension is needed after unemployment claims data was released. The Americans Want to Work Act proposed by Debbie Stabenow is a true Tier 5 benefits extension, which would add 20 weeks of benefits to the already existing 99 weeks of benefits.
One might say that we don't need to spend the money on an unemployment extension because the unemployment claims data doesn't seem to be getting better. I beg to differ - this is precisely why the extension is needed. Think about it - the 99ers want WORK. They don't want a handout. They've worked hard all their lives, and they cannot afford to lose everything they've worked so hard for in their lives because of the bad economy.
The small pittance of a lifeline is the bare minimum needed. Once the job market picks back up, the 99ers will find work, work hard, and contribute back tenfold what they were given. The unemployment claims dropped 31,000 - but that's nothing! Once the economy creates millions of jobs, then you can argue that an unemployment extension is not needed.
http://politics-and-world-5678.blogspot.com/2010/08/tier-5-unemployment-extension-big-need.html