_Extended Unemployment Compensation (EUC) still needed _

Washington DC – Statistics released by the federal government on Jan. 27 indicate that high unemployment rates persist in a good number of states. California, home to almost 40 million people and the most populous state in the U.S., has an unemployment rate of 7%. In December, Mississippi had the highest unemployment rate of all states, coming in at 7.2%. Topping the list is Washington D.C., with an unemployment rate of 7.3%. Rhode Island and Nevada are also plagued by high unemployment.

In late 2007 much of the capitalist world fell into crisis. While the U.S. economy has expanded in recent years, job growth has been slow and wages have stagnated.

Here in Washington D.C., politicians have been taking aim at programs that serve workers and low-income people. In Dec. 2013, Congress allowed Extended Unemployment Compensation (EUC) to lapse, cutting millions off extended benefits for the long-term unemployed. Massive Food Stamp cuts will kick into gear later this year.

Steff Yorek, a spokesperson for Freedom Road Socialist Organization states, “Capitalism is good at producing unemployment and hunger and is a failure when it comes to creating decent, good paying jobs that pay enough to feed a family.”

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