Don't forget what GOP is doing now in Congress

It is important for all voters to remember what is happening in Congress now, when they enter the voting booth in November. The election is less than four months away, but Americans have notoriously bad memories.

Republicans in Congress are stalling extension of unemployment benefits. This is unprecedented. Administrations dating back to Eisenhower have approved jobless benefits beyond six months. More than 2 million people have been cut off since debate began six weeks ago, and that number grows weekly.

The reasons the Party of No give for their "nay" votes vary, but they are all lame. For example, they don't want to increase the deficit, yet they voted to extend war funding, which certainly increased the deficit. The real reason they vote "nay" on almost all legislation is so the economy gets even worse, and the Democrats are blamed in November, due to the voter's short term memory span.

Extending unemployment benefits is not only the morally correct thing to do; those benefits go directly into the economy. If unemployed Americans cannot buy groceries because they have no benefits, how long do you think it will be before grocery stores start laying off their employees, adding to the unemployment rolls?

If you are currently unemployed, or know someone who is unemployed; whether you have a job or get a job between now and November, please remember who voted for extension of unemployment benefits and who voted against them. If you aren't registered to vote, take time to get registered. If you have time on your hands, look for a Democratic organization to join. Make phone calls, knock on doors. Show Republicans what you think of all their "nay" votes with "no votes" in November.

Diane Niesman

Wheaton