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Press Releases
Despite Worst Economic Indicators in Decades, Kirk Votes With Bush Administration Against Relief for Working Americans
Kirk Shows, Yet Again, How Out-of-Touch He is With 10th District
June 12, 2008
DEERFIELD—Days after the largest one-month increase in our nation's unemployment rate since 1986 and the largest quarterly increase in home foreclosures in history, Rep. Mark Kirk showed yet again why he is unfit to represent the 10th district in Congress. On Wednesday, Kirk sided with the Bush administration in opposing the Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act, which would provide up to 13 weeks of extended unemployment benefits to workers exhausting the 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits.
"Mark Kirk has shown his true colors. When the Bush administration has needed an ally—whether it's supporting the misguided war in Iraq or voting for the most profligate deficits in history—Mark Kirk has been there," Seals spokeswoman Elisabeth Smith said. "But when the 10th district has needed an ally—against record-high property taxes or the largest unemployment rate increase in decades—Mark Kirk has taken a walk. The 10th district deserves better."
On Wednesday, Kirk joined with his fellow Republicans in blocking the passage of the Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act. The act would extend unemployment Insurance for 13 weeks nationwide and for 26 weeks in high unemployment states - those with 6% unemployment or higher, offering relief to nearly 4 million Americans.
“What kind of person votes for over a half trillion dollars in funding for the war in Iraq, then turns around and denies relief to the hard-working people he is supposed to represent?” Smith said. “We call on Mark Kirk to switch his vote on denying unemployment insurance. It's time the 10th district had a representative who cared less about politics and more about people.”
In May 2008, Kirk voted against the Housing Assistance Tax Act, which would provide a refundable $7,500 to first time homebuyers and offer tax relief to non-itemizers by increasing the standard deduction for property taxes. He also played politics with the war by refusing to take a stand on war funding, instead leading an effort by Republicans to vote “present.” [The Politico, 5/20/08]
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