Political Quotes

“There are some numbers that bear reflection right now that came out of the marketwatch.com report today that the Labor Department estimates 3.3 million people could lose extended unemployment benefits by the end of July if they're not renewed. And all together, 9.2 million people were collecting some type of unemployment benefits in the weekend of June 12. It goes on to say that the 4-week average of initial claims rose by 3,250, to 466,500, the highest level in almost 3 months. And then it says the claims data, however, had little impact on the U.S. stock market. So there's a separation between Wall Street, which is still doing well, because the taxpayers bailed out Wall Street, and Main Street, which, in many places across the country, is falling apart. Now, I've traveled my district at countless meetings and events, parades and church services, festivals; and I hear the same thing. People are calling out from crowds asking for help. And this unemployment compensation issue is huge because people are having trouble putting food on the table. We're going to give them a lecture about the budget? Who among us, if our brother asks for a loaf of bread, we give him a stone instead? This Congress this afternoon is due to appropriate $33 billion to keep the war in Afghanistan going. And yet the amount of money we're asking here for the unemployed workers of America, for those who are trying to support their families, almost an identical amount, about $34 billion.”