Blake Moore: “the laid-off workers of America are waiting and waiting and waiting. They are waiting for help they need and have been…”

“the laid-off workers of America are waiting and waiting and waiting. They are waiting for help they need and have been promised time and time again. But it looks as if they will once again be held hostage by the majority leadership's decision to attach their economic agenda to a worker-relief bill. In October we were promised, and displaced workers were promised, an assistance package as soon as Congress passed a bill to help the airline industry. Airlines got help; displaced workers did not. Broken promise. In December we were promised, and displaced workers were promised, they would receive help. It did not happen. Broken promise. Even the President wants this Congress to pass a stand-alone worker-relief bill instead of continuing to play stimulus politics. I have here a chart that shows part of a letter from the President of the United States to me on December 11 on which he called on Congress to send him a stand-alone worker-relief bill regardless of the success or failure of any other elements of the economic stimulus measures now pending. The last week the Senate passed worker-relief legislation; but instead of fulfilling the promise to displaced workers, House is still trying to get a so-called stimulus package and displaced workers are the victims once again. Broken promise. Who are these displaced workers? These are people who just need assistance. They lost their jobs through no fault of their own because of the recession or because of September 11.”