Jobs and the Economy

Today a majority of the members on the joint House-Senate Conference Committee to negotiate the Farm Bill approved a conference report on a final five-year Farm Bill. The compromise agreement includes a number of reforms that will reduce the deficit by over $20 billion, with the majority of savings coming from reforms to agricultural subsidies, such as the elimination of direct… Read more »

The House of Representatives today passed an omnibus appropriations bill for fiscal year 2014 by a vote of 359-67. The bill meets the terms set by the Murray-Ryan budget agreement, providing $1.012 trillion for the operation of the federal government and avoiding a government shutdown. After her vote in support of the omnibus appropriations bill, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene issued the… Read more »

49 Freshman House Democrats today, including Congresswoman Suzan DelBene, urged Speaker John Boehner to schedule an immediate vote to extend emergency unemployment insurance for 1.3 million Americans who lost their benefits due to congressional inaction at the end of last year. “As members of the freshman class, we are writing to request an immediate, up-or-down vote to extend… Read more »

After working for 14 years as a billing specialist, Uzorigwe Alintah has not earned a paycheck for a year. He is among many in the Seattle area and one of 4.1 million nationwide — nearly 40 percent of the 10.9 million jobless — who have been unemployed for more than six months. This week, Alintah joined another unenviable group: He is among the millions who are out of work but… Read more »

SEATTLE — Over the past week unemployment benefits ended for 25,000 Washingtonians who have been out of work longer than six months.  And thousands more will lose them over the next several months if Congress doesn’t extend the program. “I have about a month or two worth of savings,” said Brett Ivey, who has been receiving benefits since summer.  “I… Read more »

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene joins the show to discuss the need for an unemployment insurance extension and what is being done to address the root cause of unemployment. To hear the full interview, click HERE. Read more »

Steve Scher checks in with Representative Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., about her plans to push for the extension of long-term unemployment benefits once Congress is back in session. To hear the whole interview, click HERE. Read more »

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene gave the following remarks today on the floor of the House of Representatives to voice her support of H.R. 3309, the Innovation Act, legislation to curb abusive patent litigation, support innovators and strengthen the nation’s patent system. The Innovation Act passed the House today by a vote of 329-91. The full text of DelBene’s speech, as… Read more »

At 50 years old, Chris Doty of Bothell faced homelessness. Once a successful plumber of 30 years, Doty, like many others during the recession, found himself laid off with the fear of losing his house, car and “everything that normal people have.” “I found myself not being able to support myself and for the first time in my life and I was scared,” Doty said.… Read more »

SEATTLE — Small businesses across the Seattle area pushed back against the door busters and deep discounts of big stores with Small Business Saturday. The retail holiday is designed to drive sales to mom and pop shops between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. To read the whole article and view the video clip, click HERE. Read more »