One man, Senator Jim Bunning (R-Kentucky) is blocking the extension of unemployment benefits for Americans. Monday’s obstruction marked the tenth time in the past week that Republicans blocked the extension of critical assistance to millions of out-of-work Americans.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, if Emergency Unemployment Compensation and full federal funding for the Extended Benefit program are not extended, 400,000 Americans will lose unemployment benefits during the first weeks in March. By May, nearly 3 million people could be left without these benefits.
In Florida, an estimated 49,600 individuals are projected to exhaust benefits in the coming weeks, if there is no extension of unemployment benefits.
Bunning says that he would like to know how the unemployment benefits are going to be paid for, at a time when the federal deficit is out of control and fiscal discipline is needed.
“It is essential that Congress extend the unemployment insurance and COBRA subsidy programs that are part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act,” said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. “The consequences of partisan obstructionism could not be clearer. If the extension is not approved immediately, millions of Americans could lose the safety net programs they deserve and desperately need.”
Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill to temporarily extend crucial benefits — including unemployment insurance.
Today, Bunning gave no indication of relenting from his position, saying only that he expects the matter would be resolved soon.
