Political Quotes

“I strongly support the extension of unemployment insurance benefits. Extending unemployment insurance benefits would fairly and rightly extend much needed assistance to Americans who are struggling to find jobs. While I was disappointed that the provision in this bill does not include extra benefits for states with high unemployment rates, I believe this unemployment insurance extension, or benefits of an additional 13 weeks for all States, is an important step forward. If the trend of rising unemployment rates continues, it is my hope that Congress will consider another emergency unemployment insurance package that will do more to help states struggling with the highest rates of unemployment. The Nation's unemployment rate jumped to 5.5 percent in May from 5 percent in April--the biggest jump in 1 month in 22 years. Since the beginning of the Bush administration, Michigan has suffered significant jobs losses and the State's unemployment rate has increased from 4.5 percent in January 2001 to 8.5 percent in May of this year, the highest unemployment rate in the Nation. Michigan has not seen an unemployment rate this high since October of 1992. For too long, the administration has stood idle as 3.3 million manufacturing jobs have been lost, and as working families have felt the squeeze of the rising costs of energy, health care and food. An estimated 428,000 Michigan residents were unemployed in May.”