Senator could have acted in April, instead engineered budget denying benefits
to newly unemployed
MILWAUKEE – While we’re elated that the Legislature is finally moving to extend unemployment benefits, the truth is that they could have acted since April and chose not to. As co-chair of the Joint Finance Committee, Sen. Alberta Darling ignored extending these benefits while simultaneously engineering and passing a budget that takes away a week of benefits from the newly unemployed.
Silent on the issue until two weeks ago when public protests exposed her neglect, Darling now voices support. Her inaction speaks much louder than those words.
Darling’s “fast track” looks lethargic to people like Rose Wright. Rose, who addressed members of the Senate and Assembly at Monday’s hearing, lost her benefits months ago and is now homeless, can’t buy critical medications or put food on the table. What did Darling think was going to happen to people like Rose as the weeks ticked by with no benefits?
Darling’s “as soon as possible” means little in light of the fact that she turned her back on this issue for three months while over 10,000 Wisconsinites suffered, many her own constituents. We will continue tracking her actions and urge her to get these life-sustaining benefits to her constituents immediately by actively pushing the bill through quickly, not simply stating that it has her support.
