Extended unemployment blocked by Republicans again

Extended unemployment benefits — providing for up to 99 weeks of benefits — have expired again because of Republican obstruction. Up to 2 million long-term job-seekers could lose their benefits by the end of the year. Coverage can be found here. Once again, Republicans oppose helping the unemployed in the name of the budget deficit, even as they stop all other business to protect tax cuts for the very wealthy.

Hopefully, their obstruction can be overcome sometime this month so that benefits do not lapse for long. For the latest on benefits in North Carolina, look for information at the North Carolina Employment Security Commission.