Reps. Cannon, Bishop vote against extending jobless benefits

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Posted: 6:24 PM- WASHINGTON - The House overwhelmingly passed a bill Thursday that would extend unemployment benefits to out-of-work Americans during one of the worst economic times in decades.

Utah's two Republican representatives voted against the measure while Democratic Rep. Jim Matheson supported it.

Following the biggest spike in unemployment since 1986, the bill seeks to extend benefits for an additional 13 weeks. The move would help cushion the hardships for 12,750 Utah job-seekers and millions more nationwide.

Under the bill, an average benefit check in Utah of $311.83 would go to those who may have already used up their benefits or would be eligible in the following months.

But the bill still faces a difficult battle, as Senate Republicans are expected to oppose it and President Bush has promised a veto.

Bush says such overly broad measures would encourage unemployment. Besides, according to the president, the economy isn't bad enough to merit a full year of jobless benefits.

While many Republicans voted with Democrats in backing the bill, Utah Reps. Chris Cannon and Rob Bishop sided with Bush.

Bishop said the bill was overly generous, as taxpayers would have to pay "almost a year's worth of benefits to someone who worked only a couple of weeks."

In the past, only those with 20 weeks of full employment were eligible for benefits, but Democrats rejected an amendment to continue that restriction.

Cannon said the bill has a worthy goal but it goes too far.

Matheson called the measure an "emergency extension."

"Rising gas and food prices are making it even harder for unemployed Utahns to make ends meet," said Matheson. "This will provide a short-term safety net for them and for their families."

Utah ties for the third lowest rate of unemployment in the nation, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But that doesn't mean the Beehive State is immune to hardships.

"Utah's employment growth rate is declining, so naturally Utah's unemployment rate is increasing," said Mark Knold, senior economist for the Utah Department of Workforce Services. "That's the way the trend is progressing, and I expect it to hold."

The state will release its new higher unemployment rate on Tuesday.

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