Tell Congress: Extend unemployment insurance now

Ross Wallen January 17, 2012 1

The GOP-led House is working against the 99% by proposing “reforms” to unemployment insurance that would:

  • Make it harder for ordinary Americans who lose their jobs to access benefits;
  • Subject workers to mandatory drug tests;
  • Disqualify workers who were not fortunate enough to finish high school; and
  • Place arbitrary hurdles between the unemployed and assistance that will disproportionately impact people of color and our low income neighbors.

This is not the time to make life harder for the unemployed, most of whom are jobless through no fault of their own. Sign here to fight back against these onerous provisions: http://j.mp/zMFdGe

Congress must fully renew the unemployment insurance program for the next year with no barriers to benefits. If Congress does not act, this emergency lifeline will be cut off for millions at the end of February.

Sign the petition now to ask Congress to extend unemployment benefits for at least a full year without any changes to the program.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ADZ6TZZKHWRLDNAOP6R2MBBP6A Bob S

    It seems that one obvious solution to unemployment would be to cut working hours significantly. If we went from 40 hours/week to 30 (or maybe even down to 24), would not that create millions of jobs overnight? The only thing that is being talked about is that we need to create more jobs. There are 7 billion people on the planet (5 billion working age). Can we or should we even try to create 5 billion 40-hour/week jobs paying a middle class (i.e. living) wage? Given the current productivity levels, would that require levels of consumption that would lead to an environmental catastrophe?