What Members Of Congress Say About Unemployment Benefits

What Members of Congress Who Support Unemployment Benefits Say

"When the economy turns down, there's a compact that we have, that there's unemployment insurance for people who, through no fault of their own, lose their jobs."
— House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Associated Press [1], July 1, 2010

“Economists say one of the most effective ways to put money into our economy is unemployment benefits,”
— Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), The Hill [2], July 2, 2010

“"It's a class warfare issue. ... Wall Street is saying to them, 'These deficits, they're making problems, we need to get this deficit down. So the very people who took the money and were stabilized because we created deficits are now turning around and biting the hand that feeds them, that is, the taxpayers. It's unconscionable."
— Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.),The Huffington Post [3], July 1, 2010

"It is past time for congressional Republicans to stop standing in the way of relief for our families and start standing up for our middle class."
— House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), The Hill [4], July 1, 2010

“Somehow the politically correct position on the deficit has become cut, cut, cut, irrespective of the economic consequences,”
— Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-N.Y.), The New York Times [5], July 4, 2010

What Conservatives Who Voted Against Unemployment Benefits Say

“[jobless insurance] doesn’t create new jobs. In fact, if anything, continuing to pay people unemployment compensation is a disincentive for them to seek new work.”
— Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Arizona), All Voices, [6] July 8, 2010

“[extended benefits] basically keep an economy that encourages people to, rather than go out and look for work, to stay on unemployment.”
— Sen. Judd Gregg (R-New Hampshire), All Voices, [6] July 8, 2010

“Even when businesses are willing to hire, nearly two years of unemployment benefits are too much of an allure for some ... the evidence is mounting that so-called stimulus policies rammed through Congress are doing more harm than good.”
— Rep. John Linder (R-Georgia), All Voices, [6] July 8, 2010

“A lot of people are saying ‘Hey, it’s about time. Why do we keep giving money to people who are going to go use it on drugs instead of their families?’”
— Sen Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), All Voices, [6] July 8, 2010