Williams Joins Push for Extended Unemployment Benefits

Metro Council President Jos Williams joined Senate Democrats at a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on Monday to discuss Democrats' commitment to strengthening America's economy with a targeted and timely economic stimulus plan. "Increased unemployment benefits are one of the best ways -- if not the best way -- to pump more money into the economy," Williams said. "Jobless workers will spend this money on the necessities of life and generate robust investments in their local economies." Williams joined Mattie Carvon, a retired worker living in the District, Joe Violante, Legislative Director of Disabled Veterans of America, along with Senator Max Baucus [at left in photo], Chairman, Senate Finance Committee, Senator Debbie Stabenow [far right in photo], Chair, Senate Democratic Steering & Outreach Committee, and Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA).  Williams noted that close to 32,000 workers in Maryland and Virginia "are likely to exhaust their benefits before finding new work.  This is a regional crisis and one that demands a solution." Click here to tell your Senators to support including unemployment benefit extensions in the final stimulus package. –Reported by Chris Garlock