Why republicans are stalling to extend your unemployment benefits

Is this why people are so hung up about this government support thing?

In today’s editorial, the Times argues that extending unemployment benefits without delay “is the single most effective way to boost consumption — which, in turn, preserves jobs — because it creates spending that would otherwise not occur.”

But according to Senate Democrats, Republicans have sought to slow down an extension of unemployment benefits for political purposes.

Sens. Debbie Stabenow (Mich.), Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.) and Amy Klobuchar (Minn.) blasted their GOP colleagues for trying to attach amendments on pet issues to a bill to extend unemployment benefits.

The senators expressed anger that amendments on issues such as making E-Verify permanent or on depriving funds to the community organizing group ACORN had held up a vote on the package, which is expected to make its way to the Senate floor this week.

“This goes to a broader question, which is the continual objection and slow-walking of critical legislation through the Senate,” Stabenow said. “This has been a tactic to stop the Senate from getting the people’s business done.”

Clearly, the Dems need to chill. Both of those random amendments sound totally relevant given the economic crisis. I mean, it’s not like 7,000 people run out of unemployment benefits every day or that nearly 1.5 million Americans are expected to exhaust their benefits by the end of the year.

Keep on stalling, Republicans. America’s morality is at stake!

Though at this rate, many of us will have to turn to prostitution anyway.

UPDATE: Perhaps we need to keep those garters packed up (at least for now). The senate passed a bill, 68 to 0, on November 4th providing unemployment benefits of at least 14 weeks for people out of work, while those in the more than two dozen states with unemployment rates above 8.5 percent would receive up to 20 weeks of benefits. The measure would also extend through April 30 a $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit and create a new $6,500 credit for homebuyers who have been in their current residence for the last five years or more.