Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01) offered the following statement following the House vote to extend unemployment benefits through the end of February, 2011.  DeGette voted for the bill, which required a two-thirds majority for passage, however the legislation failed by a vote of 258 to 154.

“I am extremely disappointed that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle stood in the way of extending a helping hand to Americans in need,” said DeGette.  “With so many Americans currently out of work, today Republicans denied two million of these citizens the insurance they have earned over years of hard work. These funds could now help sustain them until they find employment, but instead, Republicans took away the support these families needed to put food on the table, keep a roof over their heads, and pay for even minimal living expenses. 

“Time and again, studies have shown unemployment benefits help individuals in the short-term while stimulating our economy, with every dollar distributed injecting $2 into the national economy.  Today, Republicans in the House voted against spending $12.5 billion to help unemployed Americans in these difficult times, and yet they continue to advocate giving the ultra-rich a tax break that would add $700 billion to our national deficit.  The hypocrisy of voting against this bill while pursuing an extension of the Bush tax cuts for our country’s wealthiest individuals is astounding, and we hope it does not portend who the House Republicans will be fighting for in the 112th Congress.”