President Obama Spends $18 Billion on Jobless Benefits

Congress recently passed an $18 billion bill to extend jobless benefits for those who've been unemployed long term. Right after the bill passed, President Barack Obama signed it into law. The law is designed to help those who lost their state-paid benefits after they ran out. Americans can now reapply retroactively for long-term unemployment benefits under the legislation.

The bill also restores Medicare payments to doctors who were faced with a 21 percent cut and refloats the flood insurance program.

"Millions of Americans who lost their jobs in this economic crisis depend on unemployment and health insurance benefits to get by as they look for work and get themselves back on their feet," President Obama said in a statement. "But as I requested in my budget, I urge Congress to move quickly to extend these benefits through the end of this year."

The House passed the bill 289-112, right after it was released from the Senate. The Republicans didn't support the bill, because they opposed the fact that it adds to the deficit.

"It increases the deficit by $18 billion, a cost to be paid for by future generations," said Rep. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.). "This legislation is yet another unfortunate example of business as usual in our nation's capital."

The measure provides weekly unemployment checks, up to 99 of them, averaging $335. People are eligible if their 26 weeks of state-paid benefits have been used up. Less than one in three Republicans supported the measure.

Republican obstructionism has been very interesting to watch. I am not sure how the American people are going to feel about the desire of this party to stand in the way of people getting what they need. As much as Republicans are working to cite fiscal responsibility, it is oddly convenient that they forgot to chant for such restraint during the years that President Bush chose to spend billions on wars that many of us didn't want to fight.

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Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and the author of the new book, 'Black American Money.' To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your e-mail, please click here.