A few weeks ago we told you about Jim Toomey, one of the 2.1 million Americans who lost their last source of income and health insurance when your senators decided to take a vacation instead of voting to extend emergency benefits for the unemployed.1 Republicans have been filibustering those benefits ever since — even though they admit that people like Jim need them to get by and our economy needs them to recover.2 Apparently the “party of No” would rather block ANY bill supported by President Obama than get our economy get back on track.
Finally, we’re close to a vote that could break the filibuster and get our economy back on track.3 If you’re sick of politicians who put partisan point-scoring ahead of working class values, click here to tell your senators it’s time to break the filibuster and extend unemployment insurance. http://act.truemajorityaction.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=83
The House has already extended these benefits, but while the Senate dithered millions of people like Jim fell through the cracks. That’s not just bad for the millions of people who are out of work: most economists agree that without these benefits our economy can’t recover.4 And for some conservatives, that’s the point: delay these benefits, and make the recession longer and more painful, then more people will vote for Republicans in the next election.5
It’s a sleazy and cynical plan. But it’s been working, until now. You can break the filibuster.Click here to tell your senators to vote YES on extending emergency benefits so people like Jim can keep their insurance, keep paying their bills and get back to work ASAP.
Thanks,
– Cassandra
Cassandra McKee
Program Director
TrueMajority / USAction
