Rep. John Conyers: Why I Voted Against The Budget Deal

There are heroes in Congress and Rep. John Conyers has taken heroic stands against the Republican Extremists.

Neither party can be proud of their support.  It's time to clean house!

While some are celebrating the House finally agreeing on a budget deal, the nearly 5 million Americans who will lose unemployment benefits beginning Jan. 1 won’t have a happy New Year.

As members of Congress went home to celebrate the holidays, it was unconscionable that they ignored their responsibilities to help unemployed workers pay rent and put food on the table. That’s why I was proud to have been one of just 32 Democrats in the House to vote against the so-called budget "compromise."

When Congress returns to Washington in January, it is critical that lawmakers take up this unfinished business and restore unemployment benefits. Our economy has recovered in many ways from the calamity of 2008, but too many Americans remain left behind in the rush to re-embrace Wall Street and record corporate profits.

An estimated 4.9 million jobless workers will lose out on emergency unemployment benefits over the next 12 months. This heartless decision by Congress came on top of its recent slash to food stamps even though hunger is on the rise in our country according to a just-completed survey conducted by the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Our wondrous nation was founded in the belief that we are all created equal and that each of us should have the same chance to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Too many times, those without an army of lobbyists in Washington lose out as we distribute government’s benefits. Please chip in $5 or whatever you can to help me keep fighting in 2014 for those whose voices would otherwise not be heard.

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Thanks for your continued support and Happy Holidays,

John

Paid for by Conyers for Congress