Don’t play Grinch with the jobless

By The Gazette Editorial Board

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Extended unemployment benefits for nearly 2 million Americans began to run out Wednesday. By Christmas, all of them will be cut off unless Congress acts soon.

Congress should. Jobless benefits - which average about $302 a week - are a lifeline designed to get people through a genuine crisis. And with the national unemployment rate still stuck at 9.6 percent and predicted to stay at 9 percent through much of next year, the genuine need isn't going away anytime soon.

Jobless benefits typically run for six months. But given the depth of the recession that began in late 2007, Congress has extended them for up to 99 weeks, the last extension running June through November.

There's bipartisan support for another extension in the lame-duck Congress now in session. The hangup for most Republicans and some conservative Democrats is how to do it without adding to the $13.8 trillion national debt.

That concern is valid and important. Voters sent a strong message in November that federal spending is out of control and a long-term fix is a must. Adding to the deficit is not in the nation's best interest and jeopardizes our economic future. Fiscal responsibility is critical.

Another unemployment benefits extension would cost about $30 billion. No small amount.

But we believe Congress should be able to, and must find, savings elsewhere in the federal budget of $3.8 trillion without adding to the projected deficit of $1.4 trillion-plus. Most voters expect, as we do, that Congress must do a better job of managing spending, especially after the new members are seated in January.

That said, there's a compelling case for extending jobless benefits again.

The money provided is quickly spent into the economy for basic needs - food, shelter, clothing - and helps commerce, unlike some other spending where the economic impact is delayed or may never take hold or yield direct benefits.

Overall, there are about 15 million unemployed and 3 million jobs available. Even allowing that some jobless should be more willing to take a lower-paying job than the one they lost, the job deficit is huge. Many Americans are still in desperate financial straits.

And as winter's chill grips much of the nation, many people face more pressure from heating bills.

Bottom line, another extension is the right thing to do.

This is no time for Congress to play Grinch. Figure this out, and help people who can't find work pay for basic needs. And do it before Christmas.