Republicans Show Just How Out of Touch They are to the Crisis Facing Families

Washington, DC - Service Employees International Union (SEIU) President Mary Kay Henry released the following statement after the Senate's 57-41 vote today that prevents the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act from receiving a fair up-or-down vote:

It's an absolute disgrace. Do Republicans not understand the nightmare that millions upon millions wake up to everyday across this country?

"Once again Republican Senators sent hard hit families to the back of the line in favor of hedge fund managers and Wall Street millionaires. Because of their party politics, a million people will lose their unemployment benefits tomorrow. And, states will have no choice but to cut even more jobs and more services, causing even more Americans to fall through the cracks.

"Republicans have chosen for Americans to lose.

"They can say this is about deficits. But this is about families who sit around the dinner table figuring out how to pay their electricity bill. It's about the recent high school graduate who can no longer attend college this fall. It's about our communities and the police officer who just got laid off because the state was left with no choice.

"And, Republicans have decided that none of these people matter.

"The heart of the America Jobs and Closing Job Loophole Act is jobs. And that Republicans are voting for America to lose even more jobs is quite simply, shameful.

"Come November Americans should remember this vote when casting their ballots."

With 2.2 million members in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in the Americas. Focused on uniting workers in healthcare, public services and property services, SEIU members are winning better wages, healthcare and more secure jobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers--not just corporations and CEOs--benefit from today's global economy.

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