Labor Secretary, Congressional Democrats Demand Action On Unemployment Insurance

By Kyle LaFleur

Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis joined Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and other Democratic leaders Wednesday to show their support for extending unemployment insurance.

“In no recession have we ended federal extensions with an unemployment rate as high as ours is today,” said Solis during a press conference on Capitol Hill.

Unemployment insurance expired Tuesday and if left on its own would run out, leaving two million American’s and their families without benefits.

“The word is insurance,” said Pelosi, “This is something that is not only good for these families, it’s the right thing to do in a downturn in our economy.”

House Republicans have vowed to vote against extending the bill, leaving many Democrats upset. 

“Where, I ask, is the moral outrage at policies that are going to allow million dollar bonuses to the Wall Street money manipulators and then give them a tax break so they do not have to pay their taxes but deny unemployment benefits to two million unemployed Americans?” asked Iowa Senator Tom Harkin (D). “Where is the sense of moral outrage?”