Moron McDermott Highlights Failed Obamanomics Policies
Thursday, June 10th, 2010In arguing that unemployment benefits can’t be cut, Jim McDermott admitted that Obamanomics is a failure.
LAST week, the Times editorial board called for a reduction of unemployment benefits, from their current level, in many states, including Washington, now 99 weeks, to 46 weeks ["It's time to reduce unemployment benefit," June 4]. This certainly isn’t the first time I’ve heard this proposal, but I am disappointed to hear it from my hometown newspaper.
In a normal economy, with unemployment in the 4-to-5-percent range, most people qualify for 26 weeks of unemployment benefits. When the present deep recession hit in 2008 and millions of people lost their jobs, Congress responded to the heightened need for emergency assistance to jobless workers by increasing the level and duration of benefits available to them. I’m proud that as the chairman of the congressional subcommittee that oversees the unemployment insurance system, I authored and championed several pieces of legislation to extend unemployment benefits to 99 weeks.
Let’s be blunt about this. The Democrats’ policies haven’t inspired sustainable job creation or economic growth because they weren’t designed to inspire job growth. Since President Obama’s inauguration, his administration and the Democratic Congress have painted bullseyes on small businesses’ and large corporations’ backs. (more…)