Californians Hopeful For Unemployment Benefits Extension
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)_ President Obama wants to extend unemployment benefits up to 99 weeks. Nearly half a million Californians will be paying close attention to the developments in Washington next Tuesday as it will be up to the House to approve the bill.
Abby Snay, executive director of Jewish Vocational Service, said her 6,000 clients, some of which are unemployed for the first time in their 30 and 40 year careers are among those that would like to see their benefits extended.
"For them unemployment benefits are a lifeline. Over a third of the people around the country who have been unemployed have been unemployed for a year or more," said Snay.
KCBS' Bob Butler Reports:
But some Republicans in the House oppose the bill, saying it's not that easy.
Democrat Barbara Lee, the congresswoman who represents the state's 9th District, said this has been a pattern that the GOP has employed since President Obama took office: do everything they can to make sure he fails.
Lee referred to Speaker Pelosi and the Democratic Caucus' efforts saying that by and large they have mostly been bi-partisan, but said the Republicans just won't go along.
"We've worked each and every day to try to help bring Republicans into the fold and they just wanted from day one to say no," said the frustrated Congresswoman.
Congressman Charles Boustany, the Republican representative from Louisiana, disagrees, calling the bill an unfunded mandate.
"We've seen nothing to help small businesses get going again to hire. We've seen nothing to promote competitiveness in the U.S. economy. Their [Democrats] answer is to continue unemployment benefits unpaid for," exclaimed Boustany.
But the politics has left Abbie Snay shaking her head. She said if there's no extension, many of her clients after years of hard work and dedication, may lose their homes and their retirement.
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