corrente

WaPo:

"It is incredible callousness" to refuse to consider the issue [of extending employment benefits for Christmas], Dean said. Extending benefits would cost about $1 billion per month, he said, and the Federal Unemployment Trust Funds already have roughly $20 billion in reserves.

Under the unemployment insurance system, workers who lose their job through no fault of their own are generally eligible for 26 weeks of unemployment insurance provided by state benefit systems.

Since March 2002, workers have been eligible for an additional 13 weeks of benefits provided by Congress after they exhaust state jobless benefits. Congress adjourned this year without again approving those extended benefits.

Republicans argue that the economy is beginning to improve and unemployment is on the decline, rendering it unnecessary to provide extended benefits. Dean rejected that argument, saying up to 90,000 workers will lose benefits because of the inaction in Congress.

The money is already in the fundmdash;what about all that Republican rhetoric about putting your own money back in your pocket?

Great to see the media focussing on an issue where many Americans share the same needs, instead of silly controversies about the Confederate flag and who called who before saying what ... Oh, wait.