Media
Latest News
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Even with more than 1.3 million Americans experiencing the loss of their vital unemployment benefits, Congress appears no closer to resolving this damaging stalemate. In order to put a face on the grave impact inaction is having on millions of Americans, and to keep up the pressure for Congress to come to a solution, U.S. Reps. Mark Pocan (D-WI) and Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) today encouraged their colleagues to join with them and invite a constituent who has lost unemployment benefits to the State of the Union on January 28, 2014.
By Arthur Delaney
A pair of House Democrats hope to put a face on the problem of expired unemployment insurance by encouraging their colleagues to invite jobless constituents to the president's State of the Union address later this month.
More than a million Americans abruptly lost their long-term unemployment insurance in December because Congress failed to reauthorize federal compensation. Republicans and Democrats in the Senate have been working on a deal to revive the benefits, but it's not clear if the GOP-controlled House would go along with the Senate.
By Tiffany Yapp
Wisconsin Congressman Mark Pocan is among the Democrats calling on Congress to immediately extend unemployment benefits.
The possible extension is back on the table in the U.S. Senate this week.
On December 28th, 1.3 million Americans lost their unemployment benefits.
In Madison Monday, Rep. Pocan said it's time for Congress to make a deal.
By Rep. Mark Pocan
Supporting those who are unemployed is part of the fundamental contract we enter as citizens of this great country.
It's why every time we receive a pay check, we give a small portion of it to pay for unemployment insurance, knowing that if we ever find ourselves without a job — as many of us will do at some point in our lives — it will be there to help us get back on our feet.
WNA-Wisconsin News Tracker
This is the promise we make as Americans to help those who temporarily need assistance.
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) today released a statement opposing new legislation that would reinstitute Trade Promotion Authority, better known as “fast track” negotiation authority. If passed, fast track would speed up the trade agreement approval process on major trade deals, such as the Trans Pacific Partnership currently being negotiated in secret by the United States and 11 other nations, by delegating wide swaths of Congress’s Constitutional power to oversee international trade to the executive branch.
WASHINGTON, D.C.—With the House of Representatives due to return to Washington tomorrow and more than 25,000 Wisconsinites already without unemployment insurance benefits because of Congressional inaction, U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) today called on Speaker Boehner to make extending these vital benefits the first priority of 2014.
By John Nichols
Congressman Mark Pocan rang bells for charity outside the Jenifer Street Market on Madison's east side a few days before Christmas. The Democratic congressman was just back from Washington, having finished his first year in Congress by breaking with the White House and Democratic and Republican leaders in the House to oppose the budget agreement arranged by House Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan, R-Janesville, and Senate Budget Committee Chair Patty Murray, D-Wash.
By Dee J. Hall
U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, Tuesday defended his 'no' vote on the budget deal crafted by U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Janesville.
And he warned that an even more important vote will be early next year on whether to raise the federal debt ceiling.
The Madison Democrat also told the State Journal that the House could take up immigration reform this spring. A bipartisan immigration bill, which has already passed the Senate, would allow a path to legal residency or citizenship for millions of undocumented residents.
By John Nichols
Most members of Congress were pleased with themselves Thursday.
They agreed to agree — crossing lines of partisanship and ideology — on an austerity budget that, as Oregon Congressman Peter DeFazio has noted, "won't create jobs, get the economy back on track, or meaningfully cut the deficit."
That's not the worst of it.