Republicans Oppose Unemployment Benefits – But It’s Not So Bad If Representative’s Spouse is Collecting It

Living off the $174,000 Congressional Salary Must be Just Too Difficult for Nevada Republican Rep. Joe Heck

The Republican party and some, but certainly not all Republicans are severely skeptical of the benefits of unemployment compensation.  They think that paying people to be unemployed encourages unemployment, that people on unemployment insurance just sit around enjoying the benefits and turning down work. 

So it must certainly come as a surprise that the spouse of Nevada Republican Congressman Joe Heck is now collecting unemployment benefits.  Here is some of the background.

(Mrs.) Heck worked for Specialized Medical Operations, where Joe Heck was president, according to financial disclosure forms filed with the House. The company, according to the congressman’s biography, was “dedicated to providing quality medical training, consulting and operational support to law enforcement, [emergency medical services] and military special operations.”

On Dec. 22, 2010, shortly before Heck was sworn into the House, the corporation was dissolved, according to records filed with the Nevada secretary of state’s office.

And in 2011, Heck’s company closed. He began earning $174,000 as a member of Congress. Lisa Heck was out of a job and started receiving unemployment benefits.

Now Congressman Heck is not the hypocrite you might think he is, he generally support unemployment compensation and insurance.

Joe Heck has mostly voted for extending unemployment benefits. He opposed a two-month extension of unemployment benefits and the payroll tax holiday — as did many other Republicans.

But Mr. Heck is receiving a fantastic salary, great benefits and has a job that is far better than the average American.  One would think Ms. Heck could learn to live off of $174,000 a year.