WASHINGTON – Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul this week explained his opposition to extending emergency unemployment benefits by claiming that the existence of unemployment benefits are the main reason so many Americans remained unemployed.
“When you allow people to be on unemployment insurance for 99 weeks, you’re causing them to become part of this perpetual unemployed group in our economy,” said Paul. “And it really – while it seems good, it actually does a disservice to the people you’re trying to help.”
The Senator went on to say that the only reason people remain unemployed at all is because they know that the government will give them unemployment benefits as long as they choose not to work. “It’s not rocket science,” he said. “Right now, in Obama’s America, you can work and get money, or not work and get money. What we need to do is change the system so that if you don’t work, you don’t get money. Then everybody will get a job.”
Paul referenced a study which showed that employers were less likely to hire the long-term unemployed, such as individuals who have been on the emergency 99 weeks of unemployment benefits. “Employers know that people who have been unemployed for that long… it’s a choice. A lifestyle. Employers are wising up and not hiring these people,” he said. “The only way to help the unemployed is to stop helping them!”
Senator Paul said he planned on introducing legislation that would eliminate unemployment benefits for all Americans who are currently or will in the future be out of work. The legislation is named the “Stop Giving Unemployed People Any Money” Act of 2014, and already has 21 GOP co-sponsors.
