Congressman Supportive of Unemployment Assistance but Favors Job Creation Over Adding to Deficit  

Washington, D.C.— In accordance with his longstanding principles of fiscal responsibility and controlling the federal deficit, Congressman Brian Baird (WA-03) voted against H.R. 5618, the Restoration of Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act of 2010

“I am fully supportive of extending emergency unemployment benefits, but this bill is not paid for,” Congressman Baird said.  “Throughout my career in Congress, I have consistently voted in support of reducing the national debt and against irresponsible spending.  There are ways to budget responsibly for extending unemployment benefits, but this bill failed this crucial test.  I understand how tough it is in this economy right now for people without jobs, but we’re doing a disservice to our children and grandchildren by saddling them with $34 billion more in deficit spending when we don’t have to do it that way.”