Increasing unemployment insurance benefits to put people back to work?

Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis really seems to understand how economics works.

That's why I think the president's plan to come up with some alternatives like extending the payroll tax (?), extending U.I. (unemployment) benefits are all going to help put people back to work and also generate more activity at the local level so people will spend money. And that's what's the good thing in this report. People have confidence, they spent money this last month and I hope that we can continue on do that. . . .

Here is an alternative view.