Rob Andrews: “For many American families, they will only be able to celebrate this holiday if they forget about the burdens of their…”

“For many American families, they will only be able to celebrate this holiday if they forget about the burdens of their daily lives. Some are about to lose their jobs, others are about to close their businesses for the last time; some are worried they can't pay for their health care, others are worried that they're next in the layoff line. This Congress has an opportunity on this day to address those problems. Yesterday the House took action on a bill that, frankly, isn't going to go anywhere to address these problems, and today is the day we ought to act on a bill that will. On January 1, everyone who earns wages in this country is facing a tax increase if this Congress doesn't act, a $1,000-a-year tax increase on the middle class. We should suspend that tax increase today. Many people will lose their unemployment benefits. They will have no income, no check. And to those who say, well, they should go find a job, you should walk in the shoes of those who are in that predicament because here's what you would find: For every one job that's available in this country, there are four people looking for it. So failing to extend unemployment benefits is craven, in my opinion. On the 1st of January, doctors who take care of our seniors--our grandmothers, our grandfathers, our disabled citizens--will see a 23 percent cut in what Medicaid pays them if we do not act by December 31.…”