Congressman Cohen Speaks Out Against Southern Governors' Refusal of Recovery Act Funds

“When President Obama’s economic advisor Larry Summers laid out the parameters for the recovery package, he explained that it should be ‘timely, targeted and temporary,’” said Congressman Cohen. “An extension of unemployment benefits manifests these core principals. These federal dollars are put back into the economy immediately, and in states like Tennessee where there is a 9 percent sales tax, they generate revenue for cash-strapped state and local governments. Furthermore, I fail to see the logic in refusing money to assist our most vulnerable citizens: the unemployed.”

“Tennessee's jobless rate was 7.9 percent in December, up from 5 percent a year earlier,” said the Commercial Appeal in an editorial. “These are real people whose suffering could be eased in substantial ways. Tennessee should be in hot pursuit of a way to help them.”

Congressman Cohen’s Floor speech is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pke8Borsd-4.

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