Delegate Donna Christensen joined President Barack Obama and Democrats in Congress Tuesday in calling Congress to extend unemployment benefits for Americans who have been without work as the United States remains mired in slow growth since the crash of 2008.
“It was important for me to be at the White House because the extension of benefits for the long term unemployed is especially important to Virgin Islands residents, 1,700 of whom lost benefits when they expired in December. This is particularly important to those on St. Croix, who have been out of work as our economy continues to reel from the loss of Hovensa and other businesses and high energy costs,” Christensen said in a statement.
“Unemployment benefits have provided a needed $20 million injection into our economy and the proposed extension, and hopefully others, will be needed for the families and our territory as we work our way through tough economic times,” Christensen said.
Benefits expired at the end of the year due to Republican Party opposition and delays on votes. Legislation to extend the benefits moved forward Tuesday when the U.S. Senate voted 60-37, on nearly party lines, to allow a vote on the bill. Six Republicans crossed the aisle to vote with Democrats.
"For many American families, these benefits were the difference between making ends meet and going hungry or becoming homeless," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said in a statement Tuesday, adding that in 2012 alone, unemployment insurance helped 2.5 million people, including 600,000 children.
"In the past, Republicans and Democrats have worked together on this issue … I hope Republicans remember that during hard times – during times of high unemployment – regardless of who was in the White House or who led this chamber, Congress has always been willing to put politics aside and put American families first," Reid said.
Prospects are dimmer in the House, where Boehner has said he opposes extending unemployment unless there are equal, unspecified, offsetting cuts.
“One month ago I personally told the White House that another extension of temporary emergency unemployment benefits should not only be paid for but include something to help put people back to work," Boehner said in a statement from his office Tuesday. He went on to castigate the president for not proposing a plan that included additional budget cuts.
For context, the U.S. government deficit hit an all time peak of $1.5 trillion in 2009, the second year of the worldwide recession and the last federal budget enacted under President George W. Bush. It has declined in each subsequent year, to an estimated $1 trillion in 2013 and a projected $768 million in 2014. As a percentage of gross domestic product, the deficit has shrunk from 11.1 percent during Bush’s last budget year to 6.2 percent in 2013 and a projected 4.5 percent in 2014. (Data from the White House Office of Management and Budget)
