The States Need an Unemployment Insurance Extension

Though the Senate reached cloture on a jobs bill yesterday afternoon, they still have yet to vote on extending unemployment insurance. As we’ve said ad infinitum, with the latest extension ending February 28, a million job-seekers could lose their benefits in March alone.

NELP points to what that means for the states. For instance,

* In California, 201,274 jobless workers will lose state or federal benefits in March without an extension. By June, the number will have risen to 855,529.

* In Florida, 105,016 jobless workers will lose state or federal benefits in March without an extension. By June, the number will have risen to 415, 714.

* In Indiana, 38,360 jobless workers will lose state or federal benefits in March without an extension. By June, the number will have risen to 160,279.

* In Massachusetts, 36,781 jobless workers will lose state or federal benefits in March without an extension. By June, the number will have risen to 153,089.

* In Maine, 4,016 jobless workers will lose state or federal benefits in March without an extension. By June, the number will have risen to 18,592.

* In Michigan, 61,990 jobless workers will lose state or federal benefits in March without an extension. By June, the number will have risen to 225,708.

* In Virginia, 21,761 jobless workers will lose state or federal benefits in March without an extension. By June, the number will have risen to 91,002.

* In Wisconsin, 27,269 jobless workers will lose state or federal benefits in March without an extension. By June, the number will have risen to 127,093.

And don’t forget that every dollar of unemployment benefits spent results in $1.69 of economic stimulus in the community.

Now, we’re hearing, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has indicated that, rather than the 15-day extension being discussed yesterday, they’ll be voting on a 30-day extension. Gosh, thanks, Sen. Reid, but we’d really rather have an extension to the end of 2010. Otherwise, the Senate will be clogged up voting on this very basic, necessary issue every month or every three months, millions will continue to live in uncertainty, and the Senate will be even less likely to move forward.

So please, call your senators. Urge them to vote for an unemployment insurance extension—and let them know that these 15- and 30-day half-measures are inadequate. As they struggle to find work in an economy in which there are 6.4 workers for every single job opening, America’s job-seekers need to know that their meager insurance against disaster is guaranteed for more than 30 days at a time.
Talking Points

* 26 million Americans are unemployed or don’t have the full-time work they need to support their families.
* Up to 800,000 jobs will be lost nationwide if benefits are not extended through the end of 2010.
* Every $1 of unemployment insurance benefits that is spent results in $1.69 in economic stimulus in the community.

source: http://www.workingamerica.org/blog/2010/02/23/the-states-need-an-unemployment-insurance-extension/