Republicans Play Political Games, Unemployed Delawareans Pay the Price
COBRA, Transportation Funding, Small Business Loans Also Held Up
Washington, DC – As Republicans continue to pursue their obstructionist tactics in the Senate, unemployed Delawareans are paying the price. According to the US Department of Labor, 2,100 Delawareans will lose their unemployment benefits if the Senate does not pass an extension. The bill, which was set to pass last week, is being held up by Senator Bunning, with the backing of his Republican colleagues. To date, Mike Castle has not publically called on Senator Bunning to drop his hold.
“Throughout the last year, Republicans have shown that they are more interested in seeing President Obama and Democrats fail than in doing what’s best for their constituents,” said DNC Regional Press Secretary Alec Gerlach. “Now, because of Republicans’ political games, 2,100 Delawareans stand to lose their unemployment benefits. COBRA benefits, transportation jobs, small business loans, and doctors’ payments are also being held up as a result.
“We’ve seen Republicans use these obstructionist tactics before, but this is simply unbelievable – Senate Republicans are making a political point at the expense of more than 2,100 Delawareans. It’s time for Mike Castle to say—does he support delaying these benefits further or will he ask Republicans to stop standing in the way of relief for struggling middle class families?
“The fact remains we cannot afford to play political games in this economic environment. Americans elected their representatives trusting they would go to Washington to fight for the best interests of Delaware and the country. But pursuing these kinds of obstructionist tactics, at the expense of hundreds of thousands of unemployed Americans, is nothing less than a breach of trust.”
