The findings of a new federal report affirm what conservatives have long argued on the detrimental effects of long-term unemployment benefits. According to The Washington Times, “Employers were more willing to create jobs and workers were more willing to take them after the expiration in January of a program entitling unemployed workers to collect nearly two years of benefits. That’s the conclusion of a study this week by the New York Federal Reserve Bank. It found that the number of new jobs that came open each month exploded by 20 percent to 4.7 million by June, six months after the extended jobless benefits ended.” Democrats cried foul when Republicans argued against extending unemployment benefits, but this report proves which party’s policies are hurting the economy. “The study found that employers put off hiring when generous unemployment benefits were available because they felt that workers were unwilling to take low-paying jobs as long as they had checks coming in the mail under the benefits program,” adds the Times. The difference between a hand up and a handout is that one of these serves as a disincentive to work. Why find a job when you can receive effort-free paychecks courtesy of taxpayers? More…