Will Dreier, Bilbray, Bono, Calvert and Rohrabacher Stand With Bush or Out-of-Work Families?
California Political Desk
June 10, 2008
As Early as This Week, the U.S. House is Expected to Vote on Stand Alone Legislation to Extend Unemployment Benefits to Nearly 702,000 Californians Struggling Under the Bush Economy.
Jobless Rate Jumps to 5.5 percent in May from 5 percent in April, the largest monthly increase since 1986.
49,000 More U.S. Jobs Lost in May.
Fifth Consecutive Month of Negative Job Growth, Totaling Nearly 325,000 jobs lost since the beginning of the year.
Washington D.C. – In the face of the latest U.S. Labor Department jobs report finding 49,000 more U.S. jobs were lost in May - the fifth consecutive month of negative job growth totaling nearly 325,000 jobs lost since the beginning of the year - Americans United for Change, the non-profit progressive issue-advocacy group that recently announced its upcoming national Bush Legacy Tour, called on U.S. Reps. David Dreier, Brian Bilbray, Mary Bono, Ken Calvert and Dana Rohrabacher to put struggling out-of-work Californians ahead of their loyalty to President Bush this week in Congress.
The U.S. unemployment rate increased to 5.5 percent in May from 5 percent in April, marking the largest monthly increase since February 1986. In response, as early as this week, the Democratic-led U.S. House is expected to vote on stand alone legislation to provide up to 13 weeks of extended unemployment benefits in every state to workers exhausting the 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits – legislation that would extend benefits for nearly 702,000 California workers, according to the National Employment Law Project. In states with higher levels of unemployment, an additional 13 weeks would be available, for a total of 26 weeks of extended benefits.
"Voting to extend unemployment benefits to nearly 702,000 California workers is the very least Reps. Dreier, Bilbray, Bono, Calvert and Rohrabacher could do after voting time and again to enable President Bush´s failed policies that have contributed to and even exasperated the economic downturn," said Jeremy Funk, spokesman for Americans United for Change. "The U.S. economy is slipping further and further towards recession after five consecutive months of negative job growth. We understand that Reps. Dreier, Bilbray, Bono, Calvert and Rohrabacher believe that more Bush tax cuts for millionaires are the only prescription for the ailing economy – tax cuts that never manage to ´trickle-down´ to the people who really need it. But, we hope they can make an exception this time and vote to extend a helping hand to the Californians hit hardest by the Bush economy."
"Extending unemployment benefits is one of the most cost-effective and fastest-acting ways to help stimulate an economic recovery because the money is spent quickly; every $1 spent generates $1.73 in new economic demand, according to the Congressional Budget Office. That time to act is now. Reps. Dreier, Bilbray, Bono, Calvert and Rohrabacher will soon have a simple choice to make: either stand with Bush, or stand up for thousands of struggling, out-of-work California families. What´s it going to be?"
Jobless Rate Jumps to 5.5 percent in May from 5 percent in April, the largest monthly increase since 1986.
49,000 More U.S. Jobs Lost in May.
Fifth Consecutive Month of Negative Job Growth, Totaling Nearly 325,000 jobs lost since the beginning of the year.
Washington D.C. – In the face of the latest U.S. Labor Department jobs report finding 49,000 more U.S. jobs were lost in May - the fifth consecutive month of negative job growth totaling nearly 325,000 jobs lost since the beginning of the year - Americans United for Change, the non-profit progressive issue-advocacy group that recently announced its upcoming national Bush Legacy Tour, called on U.S. Reps. David Dreier, Brian Bilbray, Mary Bono, Ken Calvert and Dana Rohrabacher to put struggling out-of-work Californians ahead of their loyalty to President Bush this week in Congress.
The U.S. unemployment rate increased to 5.5 percent in May from 5 percent in April, marking the largest monthly increase since February 1986. In response, as early as this week, the Democratic-led U.S. House is expected to vote on stand alone legislation to provide up to 13 weeks of extended unemployment benefits in every state to workers exhausting the 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits – legislation that would extend benefits for nearly 702,000 California workers, according to the National Employment Law Project. In states with higher levels of unemployment, an additional 13 weeks would be available, for a total of 26 weeks of extended benefits.
"Voting to extend unemployment benefits to nearly 702,000 California workers is the very least Reps. Dreier, Bilbray, Bono, Calvert and Rohrabacher could do after voting time and again to enable President Bush´s failed policies that have contributed to and even exasperated the economic downturn," said Jeremy Funk, spokesman for Americans United for Change. "The U.S. economy is slipping further and further towards recession after five consecutive months of negative job growth. We understand that Reps. Dreier, Bilbray, Bono, Calvert and Rohrabacher believe that more Bush tax cuts for millionaires are the only prescription for the ailing economy – tax cuts that never manage to ´trickle-down´ to the people who really need it. But, we hope they can make an exception this time and vote to extend a helping hand to the Californians hit hardest by the Bush economy."
"Extending unemployment benefits is one of the most cost-effective and fastest-acting ways to help stimulate an economic recovery because the money is spent quickly; every $1 spent generates $1.73 in new economic demand, according to the Congressional Budget Office. That time to act is now. Reps. Dreier, Bilbray, Bono, Calvert and Rohrabacher will soon have a simple choice to make: either stand with Bush, or stand up for thousands of struggling, out-of-work California families. What´s it going to be?"