WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall issued the following statement after Republicans filibustered a measure to extend emergency unemployment insurance that would help 6,000 New Mexicans:
"I'm extremely disappointed that once again, partisanship kept families in New Mexico looking for work from getting help they need. Nearly 6,000 New Mexicans have already lost this lifeline because of partisan obstruction. And today, Republicans again blocked emergency unemployment insurance for them and for hundreds of thousands of families all across America who are still struggling to recover from the recession.
"The job market is still soft in New Mexico; unemployment is still at 6.6 percent - and it's over 12 percent in Mora County. Nationwide, there are still three people applying for every one job opening. Unemployment insurance is vital if you're looking for a job. It puts food on the table, helps pay the rent, the phone bill and to make car payments. Especially in a small town, that modest extra help to get by can make a big difference for an entire community. It's time for the Senate to start working together on solutions, and I'm going to keep pushing for us to do the right thing for our economy and for families still looking for work."
