Unemployed Workers may be getting better Benefits

The House of Representatives passed a veto-proof bill to give unemployed workers extra benefits.

However, the bill is expected to fail in the Senate and President Bush would likely use his veto power.

The bill proposes to eliminate working 20 weeks before receiving compensation.

The bill would also give an additional 13 weeks of benefit to all unemployed workers.

And in states with an unemployment rate higher than six--like California-- would receive an additional 13 weeks of benefits.

California Congressman George Miller says unemployed workers are trying their hardest to find a job.

Miller says unemployed workers are looking for jobs, looking for work, some have tried to retrain and they still haven’t been able to secure their employment because of the market.

Miller also says the government needs to extend the unemployment benefits to unemployed families so they can hold themselves together.

Opponents of the bill say the proposal mainly benefits more populous states where unemployment is highest.

Many Republicans say the Democrat backed bill is a ploy for election votes in November.

Republicans say they have to choose between extending unemployment or supporting President Bush’s position.

Senator John McCain is in favor of supporting unemployment benefits.

The bill plans to run through March of 2009 and would pay out close to twelve Billion dollars.
The unemployment rate is five point five percent, its highest since 1986.