Tell Congress:Don’t Push Jobless Americans off the CliffNovember 16, 2012 It’s doubtful that the policy expert who coined the phrase “fiscal cliff” to describe the crisis facing the nation’s economy as Democrats and Republicans debate taxes and deficits ever was unemployed for a long stretch of time.
If Congress allows benefits to expire, according to a recent report by the Economic Policy Institute, the currently unemployed wouldn’t be the only losers. Further reducing the purchasing power of the unemployed—who immediately spend their benefits on essential goods and services—could put nearly 400,000 more Americans out of work in 2013. Nearly 1 million workers will run out of state unemployment benefits with no access to federal emergency unemployment compensation by the first quarter of 2013 if Congress does not act. In all, more than 5 million workers will be unable to collect federal benefits next year if Congress doesn’t agree to extend the program. The EPI report states:
A recent Congressional Research Service study found that in 2011, unemployment insurance benefited 26 million workers and their families, keeping 2.3 million people out of poverty, including more than 600,000 children. UnemployedWorkers.Org, a project initiated by the National Employment Law Project, is mobilizing to tell congressional leaders: “Don’t push jobless Americans off the cliff! Renew Unemployment Insurance for 2013 without delay!” The group says:
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