A new Washington Post-ABC poll finds overwhelming support for extension of unemployment benefits to help the unemployed, despite deficit concerns. It is the latest in a string of public opinion polls demonstrating overwhelming public support for the extensions.
A new analysis from the National Employment Law Project (NELP) lists every U.S. Senator and Representative who voted against extending unemployment benefits last month, with the cost of that opposition to their states - both in terms of the thousands of unemployed workers who continue to be cut off benefits every week, and the millions in economic stimulus that each state is missing out on as a result of the lapsed programs. Christine Owens, Executive Director of NELP, comments on the results of the analysis:
By the end of this week, 2.5 million workers will be cut off jobless benefits since the provisions expired in June, causing states to lose millions per month in stimulus spending. Additionally: There are currently 16 states with unemployment rates of 10% or higher, yet in all but one - Rhode Island - their members of Congress voted against the extension of unemployment benefits."Despite the profound economic benefits and the growing desperation of millions of jobless Americans, most Republicans and some Democrats are blocking the continuation of unemployment insurance. It is hurting their states.
"Members of Congress who oppose the extension of jobless benefits are forcing more and more of their constituents - workers unemployed through no fault of their own - to lose benefits every week, and costing their states millions in economic stimulus."
Despite the potential for economic stimulus, Senators in the following states have all opposed the extension:
º Nevada (Ensign; 14% unemployment)
º Florida (LaMieux; 11.7%)
º Mississippi (Cochran, Wicker; 11.4%)
º South Carolina (DeMint, Graham; 11%)
º Alabama (Sessions, Shelby; 10.8%)
º Ohio (Voinovich; 10.7%)
º Kentucky (Bunning, McConnell; 10.4%)
º Tennessee (Alexander, Corker; 10.4%)
º North Carolina (Burr; 10.3%)
º Georgia (Chambliss, Isakson; 10.2%); and
º Indiana (Lugar; 10%)
By mid-July, nine states will have more than 100,000 workers prematurely cut from jobless benefits due to the lapse. Nevertheless, at least some House and Senate members in all nine have voted against continuing their benefits: California (429,000); New York (199,600); Florida (175,000); Pennsylvania (173,000); Texas (151,900); Illinois (137,600); Ohio (112,700); Georgia (107,700); and Michigan (104,000).
Forty-five days have passed since Congress allowed the unemployment insurance programs to expire, further endangering our economic recovery and turning their backs on the millions of Americans who have lost employment through no fault of their own. Check out some numbers from public opinion polls:
- In a Washington Post-ABC News poll, 62 percent of respondents said Congress should "approve another extension of unemployment benefits" to help the unemployed, even with federal budget deficit concerns.
- In a June 2010 survey (PDF) by Hart Research Associates [PDF], 74 percent of respondents agreed with the statement, "With unemployment close to ten percent and millions still out of work, it is too early to start cutting back benefits and health coverage for workers who lost their jobs."
- The most recent CBS/New York Times poll, taken in mid-June, found that 40 percent of respondents believe the economy and jobs are our country's most important issues, compared to only 5 percent who believed the deficit is the most important.
- In a January 2010 CNN poll, 83 percent of respondents approved of providing unemployment insurance and health insurance to those who have lost their jobs.
- In a December 2009 CNN poll, 74 percent of respondents said that creating jobs, even if it means less deficit reduction, was more important.
The Department of Labor forecasts that 3.2 million more unemployed workers will be cut off from jobless benefits by the end of July if Congress fails to continue the UI program.
Thanks to the Republican Senators who stood together to block cloture on a jobs bill to advance legislation to extend unemployment benefits through November, states will have no choice but to cut even more jobs and more services--causing even more Americans to fall through the cracks. We really hope Americans won't forget this when it comes time to cast their ballots this November.
(The majority of this content was initially published at www.seiu1000.org. View the original post from SEIU Local 1000 here.)
