Heller pushes jobless-benefits fix

Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., has joined with Rhode Island Democrat Jack Reed in pushing a plan to extend federal unemployment insurance for three more months while Congress seeks a comprehensive fix.

Extended unemployment benefits paid by the federal government are set to expire in 10 days, leaving an estimated 17,600 Nevadans without checks just as the year comes to an end.

“Providing a safety net for those in need is one of the most important functions of the federal government,” Heller stated.

The idea is to give Congress time to work out a solution, he said.

“I hope this sensible and bipartisan approach will provide a path forward to preserving the program through the entire 2014 calendar year, which will give families and our economy time to recover,” Reed stated.

They said letting the extended benefits expire would set back the nation’s recovery and cost the economy as many as 200,000 jobs in the coming year.

Nevada provides up to 26 weeks of benefits to the unemployed. But the average person is now out of work 36 weeks before getting another job. The extended federal benefits cover that added period.