Unemployed workers are GOP’s pawns

Robert Plumlee, Las Vegas

Monday, June 28, 2010 | 2:03 a.m.

The regrettably successful effort last week by Senate Republicans to block H.R. 4213, which would extend unemployment benefits among other things, is a disgusting reminder of how low some people in our political process have chosen to sink. What is being done here is appalling, unethical and blatantly irresponsible.

The Republicans have succeeded in cutting off unemployment benefits at a rate of 100,000 Americans a week, adding with each passing week another 100,000 people to those faced with homelessness. Is the intent to send us back to the times depicted by John Steinbeck in his powerful novel “The Grapes of Wrath?”

The bill also contains the release of stimulus money that will keep state, county and city employees on the job. The Republicans are willing to have public services cut through the layoffs of these employees, meaning more Americans forced onto unemployment and possibly into homelessness.

As well, existing stimulus projects that employ tens of thousands of people across the country will be brought to an abrupt halt. Hence, more unemployment.

The bill would also end the Catch-22 facing our brave veterans who retire with disabilities. They currently have to choose between their military retirement and their veterans disability benefit. However, if a veteran works for the state, Clark County, Ford Motor Co., IBM or any other entity, that veteran can collect his earned retirement and his earned (the really hard way) disability benefits. The Republicans claim they are the great advocates of our veterans. I challenge them to prove it.

I am pleased to see that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is leading the fight to bring this bill onto the Senate floor for debate. What are the Republicans so afraid of in this bill that they will not allow representative voices to be heard concerning the content?