Obama Pushes for Jobless Benefits Extension

Summary: The Obama administration is now calling to the members of the US Senate to immediately pass the bill that would allow the extension of the unemployment claims as the number of jobless Americans continues to spike up despite the recession finally coming to halt.

White House officials said that the funding for the claims can be shouldered by the stimulus money.

 White House officials on Wednesday said that United States President Barack Obama is now pushing for an extension of unemployment claims that would benefit some two million jobless Americans.

According to officials, the Obama administration is now making calls for the US Senate to immediately pass the legislation that would provide additional weeks of benefits to some two million jobless people in the country.

The bill was already passed in the House of the Representatives but met some opposition in the Senate. Republicans are questioning the passage of the bill, saying that the government has no funds that would allow its implementation.

However, an official of White House who refused to be named, said that the government is planning to include the additional claims to the remaining stimulus package funds that were still in tact after several months since it was announced.

It will be recalled that the US government has made significant movement in various sectors of the economy following the strong implementation of the stimulus packages.

In the auto industry, car makers were able to post increases in their sales due to the “Cash for Clunker” program while in the housing sector, builders and developers are making progress due to the tax incentives given to first time home buyers.