U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Southgate), a frequent and vocal opponent of the recent ‘bailout' legislation making its way before Congress, announced his support for legislation that would extend unemployment benefits by seven weeks.
The Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2008 passed today by voice vote after the Senate voted easily to invoke cloture in the face of six opponents. U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) joined Bunning in the cloture vote.
"The current turmoil in the housing and financial markets along with the layoffs resulting from the troubled auto industry have unemployment on the rise and working families across Kentucky are feeling the pain," Bunning said in a statement.
Congress passed the legislation amid increasingly dire unemployment statistics and the fear that those already unemployed would see their unemployment checks dry up before the holiday season.
"It is my top priority to see that the working families across the Commonwealth get the help they need," Bunning also said. "I am glad that we were able to extend these benefits today in order to make sure that those folks who are out of work can continue to make ends meet until they are able to find a new job."
Post new comment