Im on a conference call this morning with the media, organized by - TopicsExpress

Im on a conference call this morning with the media, organized by House Democrats, arguing that Congress’s first responsibility when it reconvenes is to restore unemployment benefits to the 1.3 million jobless who have lost them, and 4 million others who will lose them if nothing is done. Long-term unemployment remains at near record levels, with 37 percent of America’s unemployed without work for over six months. The current rate of long-term unemployment is at least twice as high as it was at the expiration of every previous unemployment insurance program going back to 1958. Republicans say unemployment benefits deters people from seeking employment, but the real reason the unemployed don’t have jobs is because there arent enough jobs: There are still 3 unemployed people for every job opening in America -- over a million fewer jobs today than when the recession began over six years ago. Lack of unemployment benefits is a huge hardship to the jobless and their families, and it also hurts the economy because they can’t buy goods and services that support other jobs. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimates unless unemployment benefits for the long-term jobless are reinstated, the economy will lose 200,000 additional jobs this year. Earth to Congressional Republicans: Restore unemployment benefits immediately.