GOP Incumbents in Key Districts Are Vulnerable for Wanting to Slash Unemployment Benefits

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/economy/swing-district-gop-voters-want-unemployment-benefits-extended



House Republicans are going to find voters—including from their party—will remember and punish them if they allow long-term unemployment benefits for 1.3 million Americans to end three days after Christmas, a new survey by Public Policy Polling has found.

The survey, conducted Dec. 19 and 20, looked at four swing-districts with incumbent GOP Congressmen and at House Speaker John Boehner’s district. It found clear majorities of voters back continued benefits for people unemployed more than six months. Majorities of Republicans in those districts disagreed with House GOP leadership, who want to let the funds expire.

“Representatives who vote to cut off extended unemployment benefits could pay a high price at the polls next year,” the survey said. “In all four of the swing districts we looked at voters who say they will be less likely to vote for the Republican incumbent by at least a nine-point margin next year if they cast such a vote. Additionally, the independent voters who are so key to these Congressmen’s survival say in each district that they would consider a vote to cut off unemployment a reason to vote for someone else.”

Between 63 percent and 68 percent of voters supported the benefit extension in the districts held by Mike Coffman, CO-6; Dan Benishek, MI-1; Rodney Davis, IL-13; and Gary Miller, CA-31, PPP found. In Boehner’s district, 63 percent back an extension, including 52 percent of Republicans.

[Enthusiast]

1. Good. Now let's go out and defeat those assholes!