Unemployment bill was open to abuse

Congressman Mark Kirk recently published a letter to his constituents explaining his vote against a recent bill extending unemployment benefits.

It is clear to me that he voted the right way.

The proposed bill would have given nine months of unemployment benefits to people who worked for a little as two weeks.

Requiring such little work to qualify would open the system to abuse.

Even the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office said that "availability of such benefits may discourage recipients from seeking work."

Unemployment insurance is supposed to be a safety net, not an alternative to working.

I am glad Kirk stood up to keep it that way and took the time to tell the voters why. He is a model for how a congressman should act.

Larry Goldberg

Northbrook