House Dems Push Unemployment Benefits Extension

by Chris Good - 06/11/08 4:43 PM ET

House Democrats will push for an extension of unemployment benefits this afternoon in response to a lagging U.S. economy.

A bill authored by Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) will come up for a vote this afternoon; House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Democratic leaders will hold a press conference following the vote. The bill would extend unemployment benefits for workers whose current unemployment compensation has run out.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May jobs report showed unemployment having risen from 5 percent to 5.5 percent. Democrats have posed McDermott’s bill, called the Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2008, as a response.

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