Jobs and the Economy

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 »

“Small Business Saturday,” the holiday shopping antidote to Black Friday, has won enthusiastic backing from two members of Washington’s congressional delegation. “Small businesses are the foundation of America’s economy across the country (and) small businesses on Main Street are the key drivers of job creation,” said Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.,… Read more »

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene announced that the Northwest Agriculture Business Center in Mount Vernon will receive $200,000 from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support local farmers and agriculture related businesses. Awarded through the USDA’s Rural Cooperative Development Grant program, the funds will go to help the Northwest Agriculture Business Center’s work in… Read more »

Today the House Judiciary Committee approved the Innovation Act (H.R. 3309), bipartisan legislation to address the growing problem of abusive patent litigation. The Innovation Act includes a number of measures designed to deter abusive patent litigation while protecting our patent system for innovators, educators and entrepreneurs. The final version reported out by the committee reflects… Read more »

Ninety-five percent of the world’s mouths to feed live outside the United States, and 160,000 people in Washington are gainfully employed in feeding them, yet the state’s $40 billion agricultural export trade is threatened by Congress’ prolonged failure to write a new farm bill. The farm bill stalemate is another Tea Party-caused breakdown of business in Washington,… Read more »