Political Quotes

“Madam President, for those who are following the Senate activities today, we are considering the extension of unemployment benefits. It is a debate which has gone on repeatedly. I see the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee has come to the Chamber and has been sitting patiently on the floor trying to work this through, and I think we may be close to a vote on this matter very shortly. If I am not mistaken, if we are successful in passing this extension, it will extend unemployment benefits to the end of May. I hope we do not face this again between now and then because not only does it tie up the Senate for a lengthy period of time, but it creates real uncertainty across America. Madam President, 212,000 people had their unemployment benefits cut off in the United States last week because we were gone and the benefits expired; so this week another 212,000 people. In my home State of Illinois, 16,000 people a week lose their unemployment benefits because of the decision by the Senate not to move forward and extend those unemployment checks. An unemployment check in my home State is about $300 a week. Some have come to the floor and argued we should not give unemployment benefits because it makes people lazy. If they are getting $300 a week, they will not go looking for jobs. I wonder when it was, if ever, that a Senator tried to live on $300 a week.…”