Kennedy reacts to job loss numbers

U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Hyannis Port), the chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, reacted Thursday to significant job loss in June, calling on the president to take further action to help the unemployed.Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Hyannis Port)

The Labor Department reported that 62,000 jobs were lost in June, the sixth consecutive month employers have cut payrolls. Another 62,000 jobs were lost in May. The jobless rate remained steady at 5.5 percent, after jumping to that number in May.

"As today's report makes clear, the economic slowdown continues to take a heavy toll on more and more American workers," Anthony Coley, Kennedy's spokesman, said in a statement. "Congress took a vital first step to help by extending unemployment benefits. But with economists predicting that unemployment will continue to rise, more has to be done. "

The June report brings the total number of jobs lost in the first half of 2008 to 438,000.

The Senate passed legislation Kennedy authored this week that extends unemployment benefits for the long-term unemployed. But, Coley said, Kennedy believes more needs to be done and criticized President George W. Bush for a lack of leadership on the issue.

"Senator Kennedy believes the nation urgently needs better leadership in the White House, committed to creating new jobs, keeping families in their homes, and reining in runaway energy prices."