Political Quotes

“I have a recommendation for my colleagues in the Senate. I recommend, as the Senator from New York does, that they go home--literally, leave Washington, go home, and meet up with the people who sent them to Washington to work for them. I did last Friday, as I do every weekend. I asked specifically to meet with five individuals who are out of work. I wanted them to tell me their story and to share that story with the people of Chicago. It was quite a moving experience. We have 800,000 Illinoisans who are claiming unemployment. Now there is a possibility that the $600 a week Federal benefit that was coming to them to help pay their bills will disappear. Technically, it ended last Friday. So I asked these unemployed Illinoisans to tell me their story. Roushaunda Williams told me a story about being a bartender for 19 years at the Palmer House Hilton before being laid off in March. She earned significantly more while working than she is receiving in unemployment. She is literally worried she is going to lose her home and healthcare if she loses that $600 a week. Andres Moreno worked at a restaurant in downtown Chicago before the pandemic. He was pretty proud of his career, working in the restaurant business. He said: I did well. He and his husband have both lost their jobs and their health insurance. Without the additional $600 a week in unemployment compensation, they will not be able to even buy health coverage. Aileen Dimery is an interesting person.…”