To the Point
Federal Unemployment Benefits to be Extended, Yet Again
As the Senate prepared to vote on history's longest extension of unemployment benefits, Jim Bunning (R-KY) wasn't the only one raising questions. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) asked why anyone thinks the program is helpful to the economy or the job market. The benefits are a holdover from the Great Depression.
By Warren Olney • • 1 min readAs the Senate prepared to vote on history's longest extension of unemployment benefits, Jim Bunning (R-KY) wasn't the only one raising questions. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) asked why anyone thinks the program is helpful to the economy or the job market. The benefits are a holdover from the Great Depression. Now, workers where unemployment is worst can collect payment for up to 99 weeks. A Washington Post article, co-authored by Dana Hedgpeth, asks whether the "temporary bridge" for laid-off workers has become an expensive entitlement.
