PRESIDENT BUSH AND REPUBLICANS CONCENTRATE ON HELPING MILLIONAIRES INSTEAD OF UNEMPLOYED WORKERS GOP REFUSING TO EXTEND FEDERAL EMERGENCY UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS SET TO EXPIRE MAY 31ST, 2003

GOP REFUSING TO EXTEND FEDERAL EMERGENCY UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS SET TO EXPIRE MAY 31ST, 2003

WASINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today said President Bush and Republican Congressional leaders are refusing to pass legislation that would help 187,000 unemployed workers in Illinois and 3.4 million individuals nationwide.

Schakowsky pointed to a New York Times editorial published today: "While the Republican-led Congress pours its energy into creating another windfall tax cut for the affluent, the toll of unemployed keeps growing, with temporary federal benefits about to expire for some of the most hard pressed. Unless Congress acts this week, the suffering will deepen for close to four million Americans."

The editorial continued, "If "growth" be the mantra, then Congress will not find a stronger and more immediate stimulus for the economy than an extension of benefits to job-hungry Americans, eager to spend on basic needs. Each new dollar in the program quickly boosts the economy by $1.73, according to a study done by Economy.com, a research firm. In comparison, the study found the Bush cut in dividend taxes enriching the economy by only 9 cents per dollar. The better deal for Congress is obvious and urgent."

Republicans are denying a vote on a Democratic proposal to extend federal emergency unemployment benefits set to expire on May 31, 2003. The Democratic bill would provide 26 additional weeks of temporary benefits.

The unemployment rate is now 6.0% and there are now 8.8 million unemployed Americans. And according to a report released today by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, "There are fewer jobs in the economy than there have been at any time in the past 41 months. Long-term unemployment is as high as it has been in 10 years."