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Unemployment benefits more help to economy

The Gazette Opinion Staff

Mar. 10, 2010 11:32 pm

Providing extended unemployment benefits to laid-off workers contributes more to our sluggish economy than bank bailouts. The unemployed spend their benefits right away because they have to in order to survive.

The banks who received $700 billion from President George W. Bush just before he left office are in no hurry to spend or lend. I think that temporarily extending unemployment is one of the reasons the recession didn't turn into a depression.

Most unemployed folks would rather work than take a government handout, but jobs simply aren't available right now.

Members of Congress shouldn't be playing politics with unemployment benefits for laid-off workers.

Gerald Pleasner

Swisher

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