Orrin Hatch Latest Lawmaker To Flunk Unemployment Legislation 101

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/17/orrin-hatch-latest-to-flu_n_798383.html

First Posted: 12-17-10 03:37 PM | Updated: 12-17-10 03:59 PM

WASHINGTON -- Utah Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch said this week that extended unemployment insurance "is well over 100 weeks now," making him the latest millionaire member of Congress to publicly demonstrate that he does not understand the unemployment legislation he obstructs.

The jobless aid programs reauthorized late Thursday night provide up to 73 weeks of benefits for people who have exhausted 26 weeks of state benefits. The reauthorization lasts for 13 months, but that doesn't mean there are now 155 weeks of benefits. It means some unemployed will continue to be eligible for 99 weeks of benefits through next year.

Hatch joins Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), who in the past few weeks made the same mistake. HuffPost first reported that members of Congress don't understand unemployment benefits back in November. Most of them don't understand what it's like to struggle to find work, either.

[Historic NY]

1. lets see if we can make then collect unemployment.

[Ruby the Liberal]

2. 'The reauthorization lasts for 13 months'

13 weeks.

[Yo_Mama]

3. We can fix that

"Most of them don't understand what it's like to struggle to find work, either."

I'm so furious over this and the other "deal" that I am willing to fight hard to fix that for quite a few of them.