WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Labor Department announced Friday that the national unemployment rate dropped two-tenths of a percentage point to 7.7 percent in November, setting the stage for lawmakers who must decide whether to preserve extended unemployment insurance or let the long-term jobless fend for themselves.The declining jobless rate could give ammunition to Republicans wary of the $30 billion it would cost to keep the benefits through next year. But Democrats have said repeatedly that Congress has never dropped federal benefits when the unemployment rate is above 7.2 percent.
DOH! they forgot when you tell so many it's hard to keep up with what, when and why oh and was it really true.
Federal unemployment compensation is scheduled to lapse on Dec. 29, abruptly cutting off 2 million people. The benefits are part of the so-called fiscal cliff, the nickname for when spending cuts are scheduled to take effect and the Bush-era tax cuts are set to expire at the end of the year. Congressional Democrats have demanded that long-term unemployment benefits be a part of any cliff deal.
Christine Owens, executive director of worker advocacy group the National Employment Law Project, said declining unemployment shouldn't diminish the government's commitment to helping the long-term jobless.
there is no profit in helping the poor the elderly the bucks are in the treatment and warehousing not in the cures. helping unemployed will bring those dollars back into the economy while helping those in need remember you are no longer -750,00 to one chance of getting a job.
