Huffington Post 10/16/09
Texas Man Plans To Camp On GOP Rep's Lawn If Congress Fails To Extend Unemployment Benefits

If Congress fails to pass an extension of unemployment benefits, Ricky Macoy of Quinlan, Texas plans to take it out on the Republican Party by camping on his congressman's lawn.

"Ralph Hall is a good man," said Macoy of his Republican representative, whom he said he has always supported. It's the larger GOP Macoy has a problem with: "They're not willing to help. They're just playing political games."


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Macoy's benefits ran out at the beginning of October. On Tuesday, the 52-year-old electrician found an eviction notice on his front door. He lives in a three-bedroom trailer with his ex-wife, also unemployed, and their 11-year-old son. (He said the divorce happened in 2001, but tough times have forced them back together -- he calls the situation "complicated.") They scrounged up $386 for the landlord but still owe a few hundred for their October rent and utilities. Macoy describes his landlord as a good guy who's in as much trouble as everyone else.

Macoy said he started drawing unemployment benefits in October 2008 after work dried up in the wake of Hurricane Ike. He stopped the benefits when he found a gig doing electrical work in Louisiana, but resumed them when the contract was pulled after just one month of work.