Another Great Petition to sign

http://action.momsrising.org/letter/RenewUINoCuts3/?fs=fb

MomsRising.org!

Everybody let's sign and get our benefits back!

"To say that the job market is 'bad' in Tampa, FL, would be an understatement. The city has an unemployment rate of almost 11%.

Without unemployment insurance, .... it would mean the difference between us scraping by and not making it at all. Without it, we would have to choose which bills to pay,.." - Teresa [1]

Families and moms like Teresa are once again at risk as their critical lifeline is now set to expire on February 29th!

Now is the time to make sure unemployment benefits are extended through the end of 2012! It is expected that at least one million UI recipients would be cut off of federal benefits in March alone if the program is allowed to expire. Millions more would lose these benefits during the remainder of the year. [2]

*Send a message to Congressional Conference Committee members, and to your members of Congress. Tell them to fully renew federal unemployment insurance through 2012 – no cuts, no barriers to benefits! Click here - http://action.momsrising.org/letter/RenewUINoCuts3/?page=1478

Extending unemployment insurance is critically important for families who are struggling and for helping our economy. One study found that every $1 spent on employment insurance stimulated $2 in growth in the U.S. economy. [3]

To make matters worse, even if unemployment insurance is extended, there are provision being proposed that would create harmful new barriers to benefits, making it harder for working families to access their unemployment insurance once they are laid off.

These proposed provisions would:

Slash federal UI by more than half in the highest unemployment states
Allow mandatory drug testing of unemployment insurance claimants, further stigmatizing workers who have lost their jobs.
Make jobless workers pay for their reemployment services
Deny benefits to those not fortunate enough to finish high school or have a GED
Let states reduce benefits and divert unemployment benefit funds to other uses [4]
*Send a message now to Congressional Conference Committee members and your members of Congress. Tell them to fully renew federal unemployment insurance through 2012 – no cuts, and no barriers to benefits! Click here - http://action.momsrising.org/letter/RenewUINoCuts3/?page=1478

Unemployment insurance is earned! And according to the US Department of Labor, unemployment benefits are available to eligible workers who become unemployed through no fault of their own, providing at least partial income replacement in the event of involuntary job loss. [5]

Please lend your voice and share this message with neighbors, family and friends. When our families are stronger, our economy benefits!

Together, we are a force for women and families.

- Monifa and the whole MomsRising team

P.S. – Visit our friends at NELP for additional facts and information - http://www.nelp.org/page/speakout/renew-unemployment-insurance-2012

[1] – MLK Day Blog Carnival http://www.momsrising.org/blog/without-unemployment-insurance-my-family-would-have-to-choose-which-bills-to-pay/

[2] – NELP http://www.nelp.org/page/speakout/renew-unemployment-insurance-2012

[3] – Center for American Progress http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/12/unemployment_insurance_benefits_clear.html

[4] – NELP http://www.nelp.org/page/speakout/renew-unemployment-insurance-2012

[5] – Department of Labor http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/unemployment-insurance/