WP: Greenspan Endorses Extending Unemployment Benefits

[DeepModem Mom]

Greenspan Endorses Extending Unemployment Benefits

By Nell Henderson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, March 11, 2004; 5:29 PM


Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan today endorsed extending unemployment benefits for workers who have exhausted them, but also predicted that job growth should pick up "more quickly" as the economy keeps expanding.

Congress has acted three times since the 2001 recession to provide jobless workers with an extra 13 weeks of benefits beyond the 26 weeks provided by the states. But lawmakers let the last extension expire in December amid partisan rancor....

***

The average length of unemployment grew to 20.3 weeks in February -- the highest in more than 20 years -- from 19.8 weeks the month before, the Labor Department reported Friday. Nationally, job growth essentially stalled over the last three months.

Democrats have tried unsuccessfully to extend benefits further. But congressional Republicans have said another extension is unnecessary because the economy is gaining momentum and better job growth is imminent....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A49427-2004Mar11.html

[displacedtexan]

1. He also said last week...

that interest rates would probably have to rise at the end of this year or early next year.

Doesn't take much to translate that into: If a Dem is elected, I'll raise interest rates, by damn!

He raised interest rates 5 times in 2000, and he made sure they began to drop immediately after the freak monkey usurped the presidency!

[montanacowboy]

2. One of President Kerry's first

acts will be to throw this rotton old hide out to pasture - enough of this Buscho enabler - what a sorry sack of sh-t. And that goes for his media whore wife Andrea Mitchell too.

[54anickel]

3. Hmmm, guess he's not so sure on that "cusp of a job boom" he's

been touting after all.

He added that he has supported such extensions before, "in times like this."

Miller said later that he interpreted Greenspan's support of another benefits extension as "also telling you he doesn't expect many jobs to be created in the next six months."

The weak job market has emerged as a top concern among voters this election year.

So let's just toss the unemployed a bone for now. This is, after all, an election year.

[NeoConsSuck]

4. If this is a just world..

he'll be the first to need the extended benefits.

[Just Me]

5. Geez,...doesn't he have ENOUGH $$$$ to retire,...yet!!!

Please, Greenspan. Get a life and write a book,...or have one written about you, like your buddy, O'Neill. :bounce:

Geez, have a heart and stop being another O'Lielly "takin' care of me",...which we really need no more of those!!!!