WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Democrats are trying to extend unemployment insurance benefits before Congress adjourns next week.
Pelosi's remarks came as the U.S. Department of Labor released jobless figures that showed unemployment dipping to 5.9 percent in November. That is down from 6 percent in October.
"Today's economic news underscores the urgency of extending long-term unemployment benefits. The job numbers are finally showing signs of life, but the economy still has a long way to go to recover from the hemorrhaging of private sector jobs during the last three years," Pelosi said.
Democrats blame President George W. Bush's economic policies for the loss of jobs and economic downturn plaguing the nation over the past two years. The Labor Department figures showed 57,000 jobs created in November, dashing optimism that an economic recovery was underway.
