A U.S. Representative from Wisconsin is pushing for an extension to unemployment benefits when Congress reconvenes this week.
Congressman Ron Kind (D-La Crosse) is optimistic his colleagues will join him to find a way to extend the benefits a little longer. “I hope when we reconvene in Congress there’ll be enough interest to try to find some offsets to pay for it, but continue at least on a three month basis.”
Kind says the economy is showing signs of progress, but it’s not yet strong enough to put that many people back to work. “For every three unemployed people out searching for work, there’s one job posting today, so while there’s good signs out there of the economy starting to come back, job growth starting to return, clearly it’s not there to absorb all those workers.”
The congressman says helping the already-unemployed will actually help stabilize the economy and prevent further unemployment.
Kind agrees there will have to be some negotiations to cut other programs to fund unemployment extensions. He favors cutting certain foreign aid and also government payments to big businesses and millionaires under farm and conservation programs.
Larry Lee, WSAU
