NEW YORKERS BEING 'HELD HOSTAGE' BY REPUBLICANS

Republicans are holding hostage thousands of Americans' unemployment benefits and endangering access to health care. In New York State alone, 85,647 people will lose their unemployment benefits by the end of March if Republican Senator Jim Bunning of Kentucky is allowed to continue his efforts to prevent a vote on emergency legislation. This important legislation provides a 30-day extension of unemployment insurance, help for unemployed workers in paying for health care(COBRA), small business loan guarantees, the highway bill, and flood insurance. Roll Call quotes Republican Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah telling reporters, “This is not as big of a deal as some of you are trying to make it.” The Republican Party doesn't get it. Maybe this isn't a big deal to them, but it is to the thousands of families whose homes and health care are at risk.

Congressman Paul Tonko made the following statement today after Republican Kentucky Senator Jim Bunning again blocked the passage of emergency legislation to extend a number of programs:

“It’s sad that the nation’s unemployed, transportation workers, uninsured and seniors are being held hostage by one member of the United States Senate,” said Congressman Paul Tonko. “If this is the level of respect Senate Republicans are displaying towards their public obligations as elected officials it’s a shame.

“In the greater Capital Region and Mohawk Valley 600 people have lost their unemployment benefits and we can add another 500 people to that list if nothing is done by the end of this week. These unemployment benefits are a lifeline to people who have been stung hard by this very deep and long recession. This is not the time to play political games. It is time for Republicans in the Senate to focus on the needs of the American People, who want nothing more than to pay their bills and put food on the table.”