O'Malley Urges Extending Unemployment Benefits
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley has written a letter signed by 13 other Democratic governors urging Congress to extend unemployment insurance benefits.
O'Malley, a Democrat, told reporters Wednesday in Annapolis that the nation's economy will be hurt if unemployment benefits are not extended.
The legislation would restore benefits averaging $256 weekly to the estimated 1.3 million long-term jobless Americans who were cut off on Dec. 28. The three-month cost to the Treasury is estimated at $6.4 billion.
If Congress doesn't act, hundreds of thousands more will feel the impact in the months ahead as their state-funded benefits expire, generally after 26 weeks.
Legislation to renew the benefits headed toward gridlock Wednesday as Democrats objected to Republican demands to offset the cost so deficits don't rise.
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