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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Jobless benefits extension gets final approval

New statistics expected to show continued losses

Jim Abrams Associated Press

WASHINGTON – Congress on Thursday decisively approved an extension of unemployment benefits for almost two million people out of work nearly a year or more as the U.S. continues to lose jobs.

The White House quickly announced that President Barack Obama this morning would sign the bill that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi characterized as a lifeline “to the men and women hardest hit by the recession,” the people who still can’t find work even as the economy shows signs of coming back to life.

The measure, cleared the House 403-12 Thursday, a day after it won unanimous support in the Senate. It extends benefits for 14 weeks for all those who have exhausted their federal aid or will do so by the end of the year. Those living in states where the unemployment rate is at 8.5 percent or above – including Washington and Idaho – get an additional six weeks. The national jobless rate is now 9.8 percent.

The fourth extension passed by Congress in the past 18 months would stretch federal aid to a maximum of 99 weeks, well beyond the extent of government intervention during past economic downturns. During the 1970s, the out-of-work were entitled to up to 65 weeks of assistance.

The latest congressional action comes as the prospects for the out-of-work remains bleak despite signs of economic recovery. New job market figures are coming out today, and economists are expecting tens of thousands of new job losses.

The legislation also included several tax credits designed to get the economy back on track: It extends for seven months the $8,000 credit for first-time homebuyers that is set to expire this month and expands that program with a $6,500 credit for purchases by homeowners who have lived in their current residences at least five years.

It also expands a law providing refunds for money-losing businesses that paid taxes on profits during the past five years.

Supporters cite sobering figures in stressing the need for the unemployment legislation: more than a third of the 15 million jobless have been looking for work for six months or more, a record level; 7,000 people are exhausting their benefits every day and there are some six job seekers for every job opening.

The National Employment Law Project says 600,000 lost their unemployment checks, which average about $300 a week, in September and October.

While all 12 no votes were Republicans, GOP lawmakers overwhelmingly supported the bill, Several, however, used the debate to criticize the Obama administration’s job creation policies.

“We are not simply in the jobless recovery. we are in the job loss recovery,” said Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas.

The cost for benefits extension is $2.4 billion, to be paid for by extending an unemployment insurance payroll tax that employers must pay.