Delaware Democratic Party

Rollins blames benefits, out of work Delawareans for unemployment

Katie Ellis

– July 29, 2010Posted in: Press Releases

Millionaire Republican shows how out of touch she is with the concerns of real Delawareans

Rehoboth, DE – At a campaign meet-and-greet at the Hampton Inn on Monday, Michelle Rollins demonstrated how out of touch she is with working families by suggesting that continued benefits for out of work Delawareans are the cause for ongoing unemployment. She also indicated that she would have voted against extending unemployment benefits for families in need.

When asked if she would support proposed extensions to unemployment benefits, Rollins answered:

“Truthfully I probably, lets see 99 weeks is almost two years. A few weeks shy of two years, 52, 52, 104. Probably at week 80 I would have made sure that everybody got a notice that week 99 was coming and the benefits were going to be done. Um… someone who hasn’t worked in two years, pretty hard to get energized to go back to look for a job. I know that this is a bad market and this is a bad time but you just cannot keep paying people, cannot keep taxing us to pay people to do nothing because they will continue to do nothing for a very long time and I feel we are entitled to a little more than that. Against it.”

“Multi-millionaire Michelle Rollins is hopelessly out of touch with the struggle of working-class Delawareans. For her to suggest that unemployment benefits are the reason why people remain out of work proves that she just doesn’t get it when it comes to the struggles of hardworking Delaware families,” said Katie Ellis, Deputy Executive Director for the Delaware Democratic Party. “Rollins fails to understand that folks aren’t unemployed by choice; they are forced to go on it because they have no alternative. Delaware has been hit hard with job losses at G.M., Chrysler, and Valero, and while the administration has had great success in re-opening those facilities, the jobs will take time to come back. The last thing we should do is turn our backs on those who are struggling, like Rollins suggests.”

“It’s obvious that, if elected to Congress, Rollins would ignore the day to day struggles of working-class Delawareans, and as a result she can’t be trusted with that responsibility.”

Tags: 2010 Elections, Jobs, Michelle Rollins

WaPo on Rollins: The “Let Them Eat Want Ads” Caucus

Katie Ellis

– July 29, 2010Posted in: Blog

Let’s call it the “Let Them Eat Want Ads” Caucus — those candidates and public officials who argue that unemployment benefits are problematic because they discourage people from seeking jobs.

And let’s add another Republican to that caucus: Candidate Michele Rollins, who’s running for Mike Castle’s open House seat in Delaware.

Rollins, who’s running in a contested race against green technology exec John Carney, was asked by a constituent if she would have voted to extend unemployment benefits. She suggested she wouldn’t, claiming that “for someone who hasn’t worked in two years” it’s “pretty hard to get energized to go back and look for a job.”

She added:

“I know this is a bad market and a very bad time. But you just cannot keep paying people, cannot keep taxing us to pay people to do nothing, because they will continue to do nothing for a very long time.”

The exchange was captured on

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recorded by a tracker for the DCCC.

In an interview with me, Rollins clarified that she was not by any means suggesting the unemployed were “lazy.”

“I didn’t mean that unemployment benefits discourage people from working,” Rollins said. She added that she does support “continuation” of benefits, though she said it was also crucial to “find the money” to pay for it. She claimed that all she meant to say was that “jobs aren’t out there.”

But Rollins did tell her constituent that giving people benefits risks ensuring that people “will continue to do nothing.” And she’s only the latest to make this claim. Sharron Angle suggested that the unemployed were getting “spoiled” by benefits, though she later backtracked. Senators Richard Burr and GOP Senate candidate Ron Johnson, who’s challenging Russ Feingold, have also argued that unemployment benefits discourage job-seeking. If I’ve missed others, let me know.

To be clear, this is not the official position of the GOP leadership, which says it favors extending unemployment benefits if the cost of them is offset elsewhere and doesn’t add to the deficit.

And that’s why we need a special caucus for those who do see benefits as problematic: The “Let Them Eat Want Ads” Caucus. Any takers?

By Greg Sargent | July 29, 2010; 10:53 AM ET | The Washington Post

Tags: 2010 Elections, Jobs, Michelle Rollins

New Video from Chris Coons: Jobs

Katie Ellis

– July 26, 2010Posted in: Blog

Delaware deserves a Senator who will focus on the issues that matter to families across the State – and none is more urgent than fixing our economy and putting Delawareans back to work.

The truth is, the government doesn’t create jobs, but it can make it easier for entrepreneurs to start new ventures and for businesses large and small to expand operations. Yet, contrary to the opinion of Republican leaders, it is not enough to just talk about cutting taxes – we need a real plan to invest in Americans by tackling job creation on every front.

Learn more about how I’d fight for job growth as your Senator by watching our new video:

http://www.chriscoons.com/jobs

Democrats have long taken a more aggressive approach toward jobs creation than their Republican counterparts.

My opponent, Congressman Mike Castle, has spent 18 years in Congress and he still has no plan for helping businesses put people back to work. He spent nearly half that time supporting the disastrous agenda that got us into this mess, and when he had the chance to give tax credits to businesses that create new jobs for the unemployed, he voted “no.” He is part of what we need to change in Washington.

We need a Senator who will work day and night to put Delawareans back to work. You can learn more about my plans for job growth by clicking here:

http://www.chriscoons.com/jobs

I hope you’ll watch our new video and share it with your friends.