October 08,2009

Baucus Rebukes Opposition to Helping Unemployed Americans

Washington, DC – Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) rebuked an objection today from Senate Republicans to passing legislation to extend unemployment insurance by up to 14 additional weeks for jobless workers in all 50 states. Nearly two million out-of-work Americans face expiring benefits by the end of the year. The legislation would have also extended benefits for six additional weeks in states with unemployment levels over eight and a half percent. The proposal is fully paid for by extending the Federal Unemployment Tax through June 30, 2011.

“Yesterday, Senators objected to fully paid-for legislation protecting America’s senior citizens from unfair Medicare premium hikes. Today, they are objecting to fully paid-for legislation to help millions of Americans who are unemployed by no fault of their own,” Baucus said.    “This delay is a threat to millions of workers struggling to feed their families as they retrain or search for a new job. These are honest, hard-working folks who want to get back to work. They want to revive this economy and politics in Congress have simply gotten in the way. Again, I urge my colleagues to end their obstruction of this vital legislation.”


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