President Barack Obama on Tuesday rejected the argument that extending unemployment insurance encourages the long-term unemployed to remain jobless in remarks encouraging Congress to pass an extension of those benefits.
“Now, I’ve heard the argument that says extending unemployment insurance will somehow hurt the unemployed because it zaps their motivation to get a new job,” Obama said at the White House. “I really want to go at this for a second. That really sells the American people short.”
“I meet a lot of people as President of the United States,” he added. “As a candidate for President of the United States, and as a U.S. senator and state senator. I meet a lot of people, and I can’t — I can’t name a time where I met an American who would rather have an unemployment check than the pride of having a job. The long-term unemployed are not lazy or lacking in motivation. They are coping with the aftermath of the worst economic crisis in generations.”
Last month, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) said in an appearance on “Fox News Sunday” that extending unemployment benefits was a “disservice” to workers.
“You’re causing them to become part of this perpetual unemployed group in our economy,” Paul said.
This post has been updated.
