WASHINGTON – Randy Demmer, a Minnesota House Republican running for Congress, is taking heat these days for suggesting that some laid-off workers are spurning job offers in this down economy to collect long-term unemployment benefits.
The problem, he says, was brought to his attention by Charles Barry, CEO of Twin City Fan Cos. Ltd.
Demmer argues that jobless benefits can act as an impediment to private-sector hiring, a view that has made him a prime target for Democrats launching an election-year jobs offensive.
“Rep. Demmer is blaming unemployment on the very Minnesotans struggling to make house payments and feed their families,” Minnesota DFL Party spokeswoman Kristin Sosanie said. “It’s disgusting.”
The exchange, played out in Washington last week as the Democrat-controlled House and Senate extended long-term unemployment benefits through Nov. 30, underscores how jobs and the economy have become prime political fodder on both sides of the partisan divide.
Even in Minnesota, with a 6.8 percent unemployment rate — well below the national average of about 9.5 percent — Democrats and Republicans are readying their campaign messages for the fall election season.
“First, it’s going to be jobs. Then, after that, it’s going to be jobs,” said John Schadl, a longtime DFL strategist and spokesman for Congressman Jim Oberstar. “You’re going to hear it again and again.”
