Durbin Statement Regarding Unemployment Insurance

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin made the following statement today in support of Senator Bingaman's introduction of an unemployment insurance amendment to the tax bill:

"Since the inauguration of President Bush, our nation has lost a staggering 2.7 million private sector jobs. We have 8.8 million unemployed workers - including almost 2 million workers who have been unemployed for more than six months - in an economy that is creating only one job for every three unemployed workers. The unemployment rate jumped to 6 percent in April, and the Administration's own budget predicts high unemployment for the rest of this year. "In these bleak economic times, our first priority must be to get Americans back to work. Those who are out of work because of the Bush recession need help, and they need it now.

"While the Administration continues to tout a plan of enormous tax cuts for elite investors as the weapon of choice to combat our sagging economy, Democrats are lining up behind a plan that works. Our proposal extends and expands unemployment benefits for those looking for work now - including the one million people who have already exhausted their federal benefits - and also provides benefits to part-time and low-wage workers. In addition, the Democratic plan puts over one million people back to work by the end of 2004.

"We have heard it before and we will hear it again, but we should not be fooled twice by the notion that tax cuts are the answer for a nation hungry for jobs. The President's last tax cut - sold with the promise of boosting the economy and creating new jobs - was enacted in June of 2001. Yet, the American people have witnessed the disappearance of some 2.24 million private-sector jobs since that date. Our current unemployment crisis speaks for itself: the President's approach has not and will not get the job done.

"It is time we got serious about fighting for jobs and fortifying our economy here at home. We must start with the extension and expansion of our unemployment insurance program - a step central to achieving our goal."