White House argue for the extension of unemployment benefits

The White House sent its top economic adviser to argue for the extension of benefits for the unemployed on Sunday, with Congress looking poised to take up the issue as early as tomorrow.

Gene Sperling, the director of the White House National Economic Council, said on CNN’s State of the Union that the unemployment rate is still far too high to justify ending benefits, and that a lack of action would be “cruel.”

On Saturday, President Obama also once again focused his Weekly Address on the issue. Unemployment benefits expired for 1.3 million people at the end of December. “When Congress comes back to work this week, their first order of business should be making this right,” Obama said. “Right now, a bipartisan group in Congress is working on a three-month extension of unemployment insurance – and if they pass it, I will sign it.” read more