Congress is back in Washington for the so-called “lame duck” session and there is still important work to be done. And incredibly, it looks like lawmakers are about to leave for Thanksgiving without extending emergency unemployment insurance—which will expire Nov. 30.
While Republicans are enthusiastically supporting an extension of Bush-era tax cuts for millionaires, they’ve told the millions of jobless Americans they “can’t afford” to extend unemployment insurance.
With five job-hunters for every one opening, the long-term unemployed are in the job search of their lives. They need this critical lifeline to pay rent and keep food on the table. So today, we’re joining together with a broad coalition of unions and other pro-worker organizations to flood Congress with phone calls.
Please call both Senator Klobuchar and Senator Franken toll free at 877-662-2889 or click here. Tell them something like this:
“Across America, unemployment is at record levels. Emergency benefits for workers who have been unemployed for more than 26 weeks are scheduled to expire November 30th. I urge you to renew them immediately!”
It is outrageously hypocritical that the same lawmakers who say we cannot afford to maintain UI for the jobless in this horrible economy are demanding Congress extend the Bush tax cuts for the rich that will cost the nation more than $700 billion.