Politics & Government
VIDEO: Group Urges Congresswoman to Extend Unemployment Benefits
Protesters gathered at Congresswoman Candice Miller's Shelby Township office Thursday to urge her to vote in favor of passing unemployment benefits.
A small group of protesters marched in front of U.S. Rep. Candice Miller’s Shelby Township office Thursday, demanding Congress extend unemployment benefits.
Similar demonstrations were held across the state Thursday at representatives' offices from Marquette to Jackson.
We Are the People leaders, along with clergy members, unemployed and retired workers met with Miller's aide for nearly half an hour and then held a short prayer vigil. The group also collected canned goods for the Macomb Food Program.
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The group is asking Congress to vote to reauthorize unemployment insurance, which is set to expire Dec. 31 for nearly 160,000 Michigan residents.
An end to the extended benefits would immediately impact 61,000 state residents who are getting this federal aid after exhausting their 26 weeks of state-funded assistance, according to the Lansing State Journal.
Find out what's happening in Shelby-Uticawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Another 98,743 people who are receiving state benefits would no longer get additional help if they are still jobless after 26 weeks, the paper reported.
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