[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 8, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H592-H593]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           REPUBLICANS PLAY POLITICS WHILE PEOPLE ARE HURTING

  (Mr. GRIJALVA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Chair, the clock is ticking, Republicans are 
playing games, and people are hurting. Republicans care more about 
their singular goal of defeating Obama in November than helping people 
that are hurting and helping the middle class. This latest chapter on 
the extension of unemployment benefit adds to an already sordid and sad 
story.
  Last December, Republicans threatened to lay off over 1 million 
Americans by refusing to extend unemployment benefits. House 
Republicans are now pushing a plan that would reduce

[[Page H593]]

unemployment benefits for 3 million Americans who lost their jobs 
through no fault of their own. This plan is wrong. It's wrong for the 
middle class, and it's wrong for people who are trying to find jobs.
  It is time that the Republican majority brought a real jobs plan to 
this floor that will create real jobs and put the American people to 
work. When they're working, our economy is fine. When they're working, 
our small businesses are fine. Rather than acknowledge these facts and 
these realities, Republicans in Congress seem intent on blaming the 
unemployed for unemployment.

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