Unemployment Benefits Extension

By Christian Labuen

Good news! For the people who have been jobless for six months or more, President Obama has signed a law restoring unemployment benefits. From June 2 up until this Thursday, benefits were cut off from an estimated 2.5 million people. These people are now eligible for lump-sum retroactive payments, which could be delivered directly into bank accounts or state issued debit cards within a few days. The 272-152 House of Representatives vote sent the measure to the White House for Obamaʻs signature. Less than 24 hours after the Senate vote on Wednesday, the House vote, which was part of a bigger Democratic jobs agenda, was reached.

"Americans who are working day and night to get back on their feet and support their families in these tough economic times deserve more than obstruction and partisan game-playing," Obama said Wednesday night. This measure is all that remains of February’s attempt to renew elements of last year’s stimulus bill. The previous attempts were vetoed when Democrats were forced by GOP opposition to drop $24 billion to help state governments avoid layoffs, higher taxes, expired tax cuts for the middle class, and a health insurance subsidy for unemployed persons.

Opposed by most Republicans, this measure adds an additional $34 billion to a national debt already at $13 trillion. It was argued that this debt should have been paid for with unspent money from last year’s stimulus bill. "The other side says that these unemployment benefits stretching to almost two years are needed. . . even as they claim their trillion-dollar stimulus plan has been a success at creating millions of jobs," said Rep. Charles Boustany, R-La. "It makes you wonder if they're looking at the same jobs data as the rest of us."

U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka applauded the passage of the unemployment benefits extension. "This legislation provides long overdue relief to millions of people who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own," he said. "I am saddened that many out-of-work Americans were left with no unemployment support for several weeks. I am pleased we passed the extension tonight and I will continue to work to meet the needs of families struggling in this difficult economy."

Akaka, along with U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye and Representative Mazie Hirono all voted for the extension, while Representative Charles Djou voted against it.

There are 596,000 employed people in Hawaii. The unemployment rate is currently at 6.3 percent at approximately 40,350 persons, placing it as sixth lowest in the country. The national unemployment rate, on the other hand, is at 9.5 percent. About 2,100 people run out of unemployment benefits each month.

Benefits are expected to extend to November 30 of this year.