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Michigan unemployed wait for renewal of unemployment benefits

By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-913650.mp3

LANSING, MI – More than 100,000 people in Michigan will find out Tuesday if the U-S Congress will extend their unemployment benefits. More people lost their unemployment benefits over the weekend, leaving 104,000 people in Michigan in limbo.

Karen Holcomb-Merrill is with the Michigan League for Human Services. She says. "There's a real economic stimulus related to these unemployment benefits as well. It's not just an issue for families, but it's an issue for our state economy."

Holcomb-Merrill says every month that goes by without unemployment benefits means a loss of $200,000 in consumer spending.

Holcomb-Merrill expects the US Senate to approve the benefits extension with a new Democrat from West Virginia being sworn in to replace the seat left open by the death of Senator Robert Byrd.

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