Governor urges Senate to pass more unemployment compensation legislation
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Governor urges Senate to pass more unemployment compensation legislation
Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today urged the U.S. Senate to vote to end debate and pass HR 4851, the Continuing Extension Act of 2010. HR 4851 temporarily extends unemployment compensation benefits through May.
The 30-day extension has been passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. The Senate took up the measure two weeks ago, but its passage is currently
being blocked.
As a result of this impasse, unemployed Ohioans receiving regular and extended benefits began losing their unemployment compensation benefits last
week.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid filed cloture March 25, and the vote to end debate is scheduled for today.
“Because of failure to act on the part of a few, more than 27,000 Ohioans are estimated to have lost their unemployment compensation benefits since
extensions ended on April 3. If this is not addressed immediately, an additional 73,000 Ohioans could unnecessarily lose benefits by the end of
April at a time when there are still six unemployed persons for each available job," Strickland said. "Each dollar of unemployment compensation leverages $2.10 of
additional financial benefits to struggling communities in Ohio, as well as provides support to unemployed Ohioans struggling to retain their homes and provide for their families.
“There is no justification for refusing to pass an emergency, short-term extension to prevent unneeded hardship for Ohio families when both the
Senate and House have already separately agreed to finalize measures extending benefits through the end of 2010," Strickland said.
“Many Ohioans and people across the country are suffering financially because of the recession by no fault of their own. It is important that we
continue to support them as they search for jobs. The decision to extend benefits should not be political or partisan – it is simply the right thing
to do to help Americans weather the recession.
“These temporary, short-term extensions are helping Ohioans make ends meet, but they do not provide the stability that Ohio families need right now. It
is my hope that Congress will work quickly toward a bipartisan, long-term resolution to this issue.”
Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today urged the U.S. Senate to vote to end debate and pass HR 4851, the Continuing Extension Act of 2010. HR 4851 temporarily extends unemployment compensation benefits through May.
The 30-day extension has been passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. The Senate took up the measure two weeks ago, but its passage is currently being blocked.
As a result of this impasse, unemployed Ohioans receiving regular and extended benefits began losing their unemployment compensation benefits last week.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid filed cloture March 25, and the vote to end debate is scheduled for today.
“Because of failure to act on the part of a few, more than 27,000 Ohioans are estimated to have lost their unemployment compensation benefits since
extensions ended on April 3. If this is not addressed immediately, an additional 73,000 Ohioans could unnecessarily lose benefits by the end of April at a time when there are still six unemployed persons for each available job," Strickland said. "Each dollar of unemployment compensation leverages $2.10 of additional financial benefits to struggling communities in Ohio, as well as provides support to unemployed Ohioans struggling to retain their homes and provide for their families.
“There is no justification for refusing to pass an emergency, short-term extension to prevent unneeded hardship for Ohio families when both the
Senate and House have already separately agreed to finalize measures extending benefits through the end of 2010," Strickland said.
“Many Ohioans and people across the country are suffering financially because of the recession by no fault of their own. It is important that we continue to support them as they search for jobs. The decision to extend benefits should not be political or partisan – it is simply the right thing to do to help Americans weather the recession.
“These temporary, short-term extensions are helping Ohioans make ends meet, but they do not provide the stability that Ohio families need right now. It
is my hope that Congress will work quickly toward a bipartisan, long-term resolution to this issue.”