SEIU's Burger Says Senate Passage of Unemployment Benefits Extension and Medicaid Relief Is Great First Step," Calls for Bold Action

Washington, DC--Today, Service Employees International Union Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger praised passage of a bill extending unemployment benefits and Medicaid relief, noting that the needs of the 27 million out-of-work Americans should be a top priority for all Members of Congress.

Said Burger:

"As the Senate today voted on legislation to extend the unemployment benefits of millions of Americans and protect Medicaid in our states, the only question left to ask is, 'What took so long?' That is, what in the world is so controversial about legislation to provide a little extra relief to the millions of people who lost their jobs through no fault of their own, and now scrimp their pennies just to put food on the table? Whoever could be opposed to that?

"As it turns out, the Senate Republican Leadership and the majority of the Republican caucus is opposed to that. The majority of Senate Republicans, in fact, are opposed to even opening a debate on the matter. Apparently they are not interested in helping our country's unemployed and their own states who are struggling to provide basics services to their constituents

"For people like George Boyd, a 62-year-old man from Louisville, Kentucky who lost his job nearly a year ago, it must be incomprehensible as to why big banks were bailed out, yet average Americans who need relief the most continue to suffer.

"Extending unemployment benefits and Medicaid relief is a great first step for people like George, and the Democratic leadership must be applauded for passing it despite the continued antics of Republicans to obstruct and delay. Of course, we must do more, and we need the help of every Member of Congress to do so. The 27 million out-of-work Americans--including the more than 6 million long-term unemployed-- deserve so much better than buck-passing and political gamesmanship."

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