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Senator Portman, Meet Mark and Judy

Mark Stewart has worked his entire life, paid his taxes, and served proudly in the United States Navy. But if Congress doesn’t act to extend unemployment insurance by December 31st, he could lose the only lifeline he has.

Mark and his wife Judy are searching for new work full time, and are barely making ends meet. Judy is diabetic, and the couple cannot afford health insurance now that they are out of work. Along with Working America members, Ohio AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Petee Tally, Rev. Les Stansberry, and others, they paid a visit to the office of Senator Robert Portman (R-OH) in Columbus. Mark and Judy are two of the 77,000 unemployed Ohioans who could fall off the unemployment rolls as early as January if politicians like Senator Portman don’t act before their Christmas vacation. “I’ve worked for the system all my life,” Mark told us, “I think this once the system should work for me.”

The group also delivered the 9 Demands of the 99% Petition, a plan to get America’s economy back on track that includes the extension of unemployment insurance. They did not get to see Senator Portman, but spoke to several staffers. “We added a big red bow,” said Working America Ohio State Director Dan Stewart. “We said we hoped that they all had a nice holiday, and that we hoped the Senator wouldn’t forget those without jobs this season.”

Senator Portman, who previously served as Budget Director under President George W. Bush, told the Toledo Blade that he “assumes” Congress will pass the extension of unemployment benefits by the end of the year, but that he is concerned about how to pay for it without adding to the deficit. He did not express similar concerns about his plan to cut the top corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 25 percent. When members of our staff wanted to discuss this with their staff, they were told that they didn’t have time to talk.

Tags: Jobs, Ohio, Rob Portman, unemployment, unemployment extension