By Dave Lucas
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-938949.mp3
Albany, NY – With the economy trying to find its way out of recession, the federal government is stepping in to help millions of Americans sidestep financial disaster. Capital District Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports.
Late Monday afternoon, President Barack Obama announced that the White House and a group of Republicans hammered out a "framework" to extend the Bush-era tax cuts for all Americans for two years. That framework extends unemployment insurance benefits for 13 months.
During a Tuesday Afternoon press conference, President Obama addressed unemployment. Obama expects the unemployment rate will go down as the economy grows. Dan Moran with NextAct of Colonie says that for Capital Region residents, jobs are available.
Economists project that U-S unemployment will remain above 9 per cent through the end of 2011. The average jobless spell currently lasts 33.8 weeks, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Department data released last Friday.