In Michigan, about 87,000 people would lose their checks Dec. 29 and leave new recipients -- such as Kevin (Dutch) Wittbrodt, a 56-year-old cement truck driver from Warren who was laid off last week -- looking at no more than 20 weeks of state support.

"That's outrageous," Wittbrodt said. Without benefits, he could last "about two months, that would be it," and then he'd have to move.