Dear Senate Democratic members of Congress you say you are on our side…

“…a vexing question that we’ve got to address.”
Of the more than 15 million Americans out of work, 1.5 million have exhausted all four
tiers of state and Federal unemployment insurance benefits. These men and women are
called the 99ers, and the President’s Council of Economic Advisers estimates that their
ranks will grow by an additional four million by the end of next year.
The job creation engines that power America’s economy are running idle. This chart shows
the unprecedented gap between the number of people looking for work, and the number
of job openings across the country.
In a recent interview, Austan Goolsbee, chairman of the CEA, referred to the problem of
the 99ers as “a vexing question that we’ve got to address.”
Unfortunately, the recent framework deal struck between President Obama and Senate
Republicans does not address the question. While it does fund a temporary extension of
unemployment insurance, it limits recipients to 99 weeks of benefits.
We’re asking you, our members of Congress, to address this vexing question.
We’re asking you to extend a lifeline to the men and women of this country who have been
left destitute in the wake of this recession.
We’re asking you to prevent four million workers and their families from joining the ranks
of the 99ers.
Please eliminate the 99 week restriction
on unemployment benefits.
Our nation’s job crisis didn’t just disappear after 99 weeks. The lifeline that could keep
millions of people out of poverty can’t just disappear after 99 weeks, either