WASHINGTON D.C. June 11, 2008 - More families than last year are without jobs in Eastern Washington, and the unemployment rate for many Northeastern Washington State Counties are very high, yet Cathy McMorris-Rogers chooses her friends in Washington over her constituents here at home.

Yesterday in the U.S. House of Representatives, by a vote of 279-144 and 11 not voting, H.R. 5749, the Emergency Extended Unemployment Act of 2008 was defeated by only three votes.  The measure was considered under suspension of the rules, and would have needed 2/3 of the members present and voting to pass. 

The Act would have allowed states to contract with the U.S. Department of Labor to extend thirteen weeks of benefits to eligible applicants. 

"In some counties within Eastern Washington, 8-10 of every 100 people are relying on Unemployment Insurance to make ends meet," Said Mark Mays, Democratic Nominee for Congress in the 5th District.  "The economies of these areas are trending lower each year, and that is a concern to me.  Shame on Cathy for her blatant disregard for her constituents' well being."

The Emergency Extended Unemployment Act would have funneled more revenue to the areas hardest hit by this economic downturn.  In effect, combined with the Economic Stimulus package passed by the Democratic Congress, this would have given people the means to keep up on their bills, and make new purchases, if needed.

"Nearly 64% of the Representatives in the US House voted in favor of this bill.  It just goes to show how out of touch Cathy is with the average people of Eastern Washington, and the nation," stated Mays.

The official unemployment numbers for the month of May will be released next Tuesday.  "If Eastern Washington trends with the rest of the nation, it looks like unemployment numbers will increase incrementally for that month," explained Mays.  "That makes her vote even more detrimental to the people she is supposed to be representing."