(AP) -- Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm is asking Congress to extend jobless benefits before they expire. She sent a letter Thursday to the House and Senate's Republican and Democratic leaders calling for action. Granholm says she wants "swift passage" of legislation that would renew jobless benefits averaging $310 per week nationwide that are being claimed by almost 5 million people who have been out of work for more than six months.
She says if the benefits aren't extended, 181,500 Michigan residents will stop getting unemployment checks in the next five months. Around 336,000 state residents now draw state or federal jobless benefits.
Jobless benefits were extended this summer, but that measure expires Dec. 1. A bill to extend them for three more months failed to pass the House on Thursday.
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