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Unemployment Benefits Extension Stalls in Senate
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Update Oct. 18: The Senate has come to the decision to modify the House bill to include all states, not just ones with unemployment rates greater than 8.5%. The change will come in the form of S. Amndt. 2668 to the House Bill, H.R. 3548 according to Open Congress blogger Donny Shaw.
In normal times, unemployment benefits last twenty-six weeks after someone loses their job. In normal times, it takes newly unemployed people less than 26 weeks to find a job… until today. But we aren’t in normal times. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this is the first time since 1948, when they started collecting this information, that the average time it takes to find a job is longer than the 26 weeks of state unemployment benefits.
The House of Representatives passed a bill last month (H.R. 3548) that would extend unemployment benefits in high-unemployment states by 13 weeks. The Senate is debating similar bills (S. 1699 was referred to committee) and the fight is over who gets benefits and how much.
S. 1699 would give an extra 13 weeks to states with unemployment rates higher than 8.5% funded by extending unemployment tax on employers.
These last few months emphasize how important it is to have an emergency fund. Standard unemployment benefits offer six months of income, if everyone had a six month emergency fund then it would matter less if the average time to find a job was longer than 26 weeks. People would still have money saved to pay for things.
Should we be taxing employers and giving the money to people without jobs? I’m not against helping people who are in trouble, we all should try to look out for each other, but this may be the wrong way to go about it. I think that companies they need to pay extra for the people they already hire, they probably will be hiring less. Fewer new jobs means longer employment periods and higher rates. Is this the right direction anyway?
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Sure, they all have a high-paying job, so what’s the rush!
Well, their constituents don’t… so the rush is if they fail to do something for their own voters, they won’t have a high paying job next election.
Please, people keep sending the same crooks back to Washington year after year. I’m guessing most of the people who could benefit from extended unemployment have a lot of other things to worry about right now than if their senator/representative voted for additional benefits.
Call Senator Durbin or Senator Burris’s office and ask them.
The aspect that would give extra time to states with higher unemployment rates seems a bit odd. I think there might be a misunderstanding of correlation and causation.
Let’s pick on Michigan, for example. Much of the reason for their high unemployment rate is due to the downturn in the auto industry. Folks employed in the auto industries in other states are also affected; the problem is simply magnified in Michigan due to the percentage of jobs tied to the industry.
Why, then, would we give an extra 17 weeks to the auto worker in Michigan, but not to the auto worker in Idaho (just throwing out a random state).
To take it a step further, why would we extend benefits to a Michigan resident in an industry with a relatively short average job seek time, while denying the same extension to the Idaho worker in an industry with a long average seek time.
This could be even more quirky for people who live near the borders of states. They might live 10 miles apart, get laid off from the same exact job, and get unemployment for differing time spans.
Should we extend benefits? I don’t know. Luckily, I’ve never been unemployed. However, doing it on a state by state basis seems odd.
(Yes, I’ll admit that there is a spillover effect – laid off auto workers in Michigan cause unemployment in other industries as a result)
You should donate some of your hard earned money to people who possibly have medical bills, live in poverty, adopted children, kids who have lost their parents and friends of the family take them in, people who oddly enough get into continious car accidents, oh foreclosures (Faulty Bank Lenders), people who took risk based completely all off of faith. I mean understandable if you’ve never been unemployed you wouldn’t know, yet even then be in favor for those of whom who are just like you guys (Humans). Go into the public and instead of sheltering yourselves from who you think deserves what you think is deserved go out and observe! Be apart of the change! Stay positive for others not for your own sake but for the sake of being concerned. No one Judges apropriatly not even the judicial courts.. ONLY the Almighty.. So take your foots out your mouths and be pro instead of anti.. If its bad its bad but when it helps then let it be no matter the industry people lay in. Who really knew this would happen unless someone was with holding something that shouldve been voiced years ago to prevent such a monstrousity..
Again as always, politicians completely disconnected from the struggles and hardships of the common/average US citizen. None of them will be laid off I’m sure. Nice.
I’m honestly wondering after going in a two day business, and seeing restaurants, planes, security lines absolutely PACKED…… is the government exagerrating the # of unemployed people out there?
Quick survey, do you know anybody who has recently been laid off over the past couple months?
Don’t think the stock market cares, b/c according to the market, things are just fine.
Underestimate? Are you serious?
They only count those on the unemployment benefits. They don’t track those that have come off benefits with or without a job.
“U-6″ is the closest to being accurate, and it says that we are over 16%.
Just because you, personally, don’t know someone who’s been laid off recently doesn’t mean it isn’t happening to a ton of people. You might not even know someone’s been laid off if they’re too ashamed to admit it.
This happens more than you would think, just the other day I read a story about a guy who was laid off, kept “going to work,” and would instead go to the library to hunt for jobs. On one hand, it’s good that he maintained a routine but it’s bad that he didn’t tell his wife.
Foolish pride gets in the way more often than, I think, any of us want to admit. If I were laid off I probably would do about the same thing. I would, of course, tell my fiancée, but unless asked directly, I doubt I would tell many friends or neighbors.
Fortunately for me, we’re hiring (and having trouble finding qualified people) so I’m not likely to be in that situation any time soon.
I agree, I’d probably keep it to myself unless there was a good reason to share it.
I have been laid off for over a year and my son still doesn’t know. I go clean houses for anyone who will let me work. This is all I can do to pay my utilities and rent. I have had to cancel cable and all the other things that are not essential but I kept the enternet because I have online classes. I am imbarrassed that I had to get food stamps to feed my son (which he doesn’t know either). I had a fat saving account that is gone now. I havn’t gone to movies or eaten out in over a year and I know that my son suspects something is up. I hope that when I finish my BS degree in the spring the economy has improved so I can find a job that has more security than my last.
No unemployment numbers are NOT exaggerated, numbers are pulled from unemployment benefits filed, unemployed numbers to workforce numbers, and the US BLS.
I’m thinking the numbers may be even higher since there are unemployed people who may for some reason not qualify for unemployment.
It’s more that they’re re-defined until we get them sufficiently low to not cause a (media) panic.
I’ll take your job..just tell when to start and the dress code. You can have my unemployment check,which is going to end soon. How about it?
Are you kidding me? Exaggerated? I live in Nevada..which has the second highest unemployment rate in the nation..right behind Michigan. I was laid off last November..my ex-husband..one niece..five friends..and a brother-in-law..are all also unemployed at the time that I leave this reply. Never in my 40 years have I personally known so many people without jobs..so if anything I think the numbers and percentages are conservative! Isn’t nice that the “recession” is OVER?? OVER MY A##.
If anything I believe the government underestimates the number of unemployed. Their estimates are based on the number of new unemployment claims every month. This does not include people who do not qualify for unemployment. Small business owners and part-time workers who have lost their income are not included in their estimates. I know a teacher who lost her job of 16 years and was told because she only worked nine months a year, she did not qualify for unemployment! I did a quick mental count and I know 28 people who have lost jobs in the last few months. most are still unemployed. The remainder have had to take jobs with considerably less income. I agree that the media,Wall Street and Washington are trying to paint a positive picture. I just see it a more lies and manipulation that led to this mess in the first place.
Please stop with this ridiculousness!!! The same people laughing and snickering without an ounce of empathy for unemploye WORKERS, will be the same people crying for help real soon. Karma is a b…………..
People are losing their homes, getting evicted, lights are going out and can’t feed their children or pets. This is a real crisis!! If they tax the employers maybe they will stop laying off people. These people have helped the nation grow with decades of work on their individual behalfs and as teams with organizations. They want jobs not hand outs, but until jobs are available they have to live. In addition, they have payed into the pot so to speak for many years theirselves so why not help them in their hour of need. Otherwise, step down and let them fill your positions. The nerve of some people…only confirms why we are in this crisis. Everyone, is looking out for themselves and no one else. Geesh, cash for clunkers??? If people can buy cars in this economy than they are not suffering. Try not eating for a few days or sending your kids to school without breakfast. Can you really laugh at a time like this? Will you really enjoy the holidays knowing that this many people are suffering right here in America?
Thank you, not all of us want hand outs! But such as you said there is simply no jobs!
And I spoke to two diffrent Walmart employees (which Walmart is spose to be doing fine.) and there not even working full time here in Michigan. Which humm the lowest rent I’ve found is 500 a month and thats in a trailer park (lot rent), and part time prolly wouldn’t cover rent…
My unemployment checks ran out 3 almost 4 months ago, and when I was working I never looked down on others that were in hardship, I did my best to help out if I could.
And yes I belive in carma it might not be today or tomarrow but it will happen.
And yes out of every 10 people 7-8 are out of work.
“If they tax the employers maybe they will stop laying off people.”
They already do. It’s called FUTA, and it’s based on a company’s payroll.
For the record, I’m not opposed to an extension per se, but to extending some states and not others. A person’s state is probably not THE most accurate predictor of how long a person will be without a job. It’s a solid predictor, but others are likely better.
I definitely have sympathy for people who are unable to find work.
Some states don’t want to extend benefits since their employers will have to pay for it. There isn’t that much correlation between states and unemployment though. The natural thing to do is to extend it to any state that wants it extended. The employers in that state pay for it, but only over the entire business cycle, so it is not much disincentive to hiring. People that get jobs quickly won’t use the extension anyway, unemployment is not that generous.
Many companies have closed their doors, therefore no longer in business so how would you tax them?
This is true they are only tracking those on unemployment but a lot of people don’t qualify like people who work for cash and people who own their own businesses there are a lot more people out here starving and without incomes there are not enough jobs to go around, and what are people going to do soup lines are full what kind of country do we live in when Katrina victims still can’t get the help they need our government is concerned only with the mighty dollar that’s going in their pockets.
If the point of your last paragraph was that employers will delay new hires if they are still being taxed for their former employees then I think that would be the argument from the companies and owners. However, I believe that if they have the work, then they will hire new employees once the existing can no longer handle the workload. I also believe that the behavior of many companies fully warrants a tax to pay for their former employees. The partners at both firms where I worked over the last 12 years have such an immense cushion from their business strategies that, after laying off 40% or more of their workers, they take off for extended stays at their vacation houses leaving skeleton crews to hold down the fort. Another situation saw massive layoffs in progress and partners still reaping bonuses in the millions as if nothing was happening. All owners deserve to reap the rewards from their business ventures but the toll I have witnesses on employees from extreme stress, eighty hour work weeks, vacation time vaporizing into thin air on 12/31, no comp or overtime pay and working every day for months without a day off makes me believe that they can more than afford those unemployment taxes for many months to come. Of course we can expect to see grand displays of righteous indignation from these individuals when the very idea of taxation arises but they’ve made their $50,000 Hästens beds (yes, it’s true) and in them they shall sleep.
To answer Financial Samurai, yes, there are actually quite a lot of people who are unemployed. My local library is buzzing everyday with people using their resources to job-hunt, and I’ve been actively searching, applying and interviewing for jobs since June 08, but no one is hiring. Or I should say: the industries that are hiring require specialized skills and not many of the unemployed fill those specific needs.
I suppose it should be easy to make up my mind on this issue as I’m in a high unemployment state, and have been unemployed since the end of this June, but I often wonder where that money is supposed to come from. Certainly it would help if I were to continue to receive benefits for several more weeks if I still haven’t found a job by the end of the year, but the long-term consequences do concern me.
Your kidding right Samurai? I mean, truly you havent based your opinion on what you saw and just the recent Dow rates? Sure the signs of recovery are slowly showing, and it starts with the stock market (this is economy 101). It doesnt happen overnite and your opinion actually frightens me. Im sure, after further investigating, you may have a completely different opinion. Employers pay approximately $15 per employee per year or 2x yr. (not confirmed). It is not an individual tax payer that pays for unemployed workers, its insurance, that is what INSURANCE is for. Are there people that take advantage of the system? Welfare etc.. YES. There are those that have made a career of it. HOWEVER… for those of us laid off and are unable to find a job, and have house payments, kids in college, bills to pay. To hear “your overqualified” “we cant take a risk at hiring you because you will leave when you find better” (even though I agreed to sign a contract!! “this just wont be enough for you” (even though I insisted) its not easy. There are at least 100 or more people that apply for the jobs, I’ve created several different resumes to niche markets and still, not much activity. I have been on recent interviews (good sign) and hope that one of these will prove successful, in the meantime.. may lose the house, and no, Im not announcing it to neighbors, I will, however, go into my 401K and pay the penalities and taxes… extending the unemployment is the right thing to do for all states. For the person who wrote they’re company is hiring, how about posting the job and describing what/who you are looking for… there may be qualified candidates here. People, should help people, thats a good start, rather than pointing fingers. This is the first time in my life iv’e been unemployed, and i’ve been unemployed for several months, i’ve always worked and i’ve always “gotten” the job.. its truly frightening and un nearving. I will also add, that I’ve become quite bitter against the far right “fatty’s” that are so arrogant and oblivious to what is happening in they’re own back yard they feel fat dumb and happy enough to put a hold on things.. because they can, without a care, what is happening. They’ll get a huge clue, when they’re up for re-election.. huge. Talk about showing true colors..
I was employed for 28 years with a company. New company came in and downsized. Yeah right they downsized they got rid of people and then hired new people for less money. Put me and other people on the unemployment line. Let them pay for the unemployment. If they can get rid of people and hire new ones then make them know they are not getting away with it any cheaper.
The state was on holiday yesterday, as was the Senate.. but the bill collectors, and auto deposits were delayed ie’ my final unemployment check… so? $30 in insufficient funds this AM,(which,today feels like 100) bank said sorry, they cant do a thing there are too many they are receiving from people, this… was my first. No difference, treated the same as everyone else… okay.. I understand they need to stick to the rules, I understand that a holiday may delay an auto deposit and I just have to deal with it. The Senate? it seems don’t understand this is what its like every day for those that are no longer receiving benefits or about to…life goes on for the rest of us and they put it on hold without a care for cause and effect. Cash for clunkers goes through without a hitch… hello? Who can afford to buy a new car? I just dont understand it but remain hopeful. Write letters, get involved and don’t be an armchair critic. Ive sent several and my heart and prayers go to all those who are worse off than me and my family. No word yet on a second interview this week,send good energy my way please!!!
H.R.3548
Title: To amend the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 to provide for the temporary availability of certain additional emergency unemployment compensation, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep McDermott, Jim [WA-7] (introduced 9/10/2009) Cosponsors (49)
Related Bills: H.R.3404, S.1647
Latest Major Action: 10/13/2009 Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 174.
So as of yesterday, this has been tabled once again.
Hundreds of thousands of unemployed have seen the last of their lifeline UI checks last month, and upwards of a million more by the end of the year. A local factory is shutting down indefinitely the first of November and another 1000 workers(in addition to the 12,000 locals out of work already) will be in competition for each and every job I’m applying to right now. I’ve been out of work for just over a year. I was in a field that is all but extinct. Trying to cross over into another industry or career field in my mid 40’s nearly impossible.
FYI, there are MANY people left out in the cold with the current unemployment system(s) and MANY Un/Under/Self Employed that are not taken into consideration. I also lost my job in June 08 ($75k) and attempted to sell time share instead of going to unemployment. (No wage, just commission) Not the definition of Suitable or within my field, according to statute. However after 3 months of almost zero income, I left. I was disqulaified for UE and treated like a criminal. Their disqulaification and appeals process took over 4 months. I tried a week at a time to get weeks of any work that would help alleviate this disqualification. I finally just got it lifted- JUST NOW!. Now I have a new claim and since I’ve made much less money this year my state only pays me 14 weeks. Well guess what, mine will run out right after the expiration date of the whole freaking program. Not many can imagine what the past 18 months has been like in these shoes. So yes I do understand. All I have to say is they better extend the expiration date or I’ll be F***** again by the whole system. Explain to me why people collect benefits for 2 years, and someone recently collecting is expected to find work in 14 weeks around the holdays in the second highest unemployment state (and yes, by the way, the rate of unemployment is the best indicator as to how quickly someone can find work) SO MUCH FOR THE EFFORTS TO “MODERNIZE” THE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM. They talk about a standard 26 weeks, but yet they can’t even give that in their extensions. It’s 13 weeks, or half of the original claim. Some people are a LOT more fortunate than they think they’ve been. Let’s spread it around to people who need it, there’s others of us too. Sorry time to take that $9.00/ hour job. Not too fair.
@ Revanche and Leslie – I didn’t mean to come across as callous, instead I’m incredulous at how the stats the government shows us is different from what I saw in Denver, San Diego, an LA on my recent business trip. It’s mind boggling how packed everything is, and how much people are spending again.
I live in California, one of the high unemployment tax states. The Bay Area has 12% unemployment. I guess I’m just blind, or everybody’s very good at hiding.
I truly believe that the employment picture will improve in 2010. The stock market is a leading indicator, and expectations for corporate profits are 30%+ for 2010. Corporates will be hiring again, so stay strong!
Best
And for the record, I am absolutely FOR extending the unemployment benefits. A ton of people lost their jobs through no fault of their own. It is just a numbers came for a lot of managers when they have to go through headcount reduction, and many times it’s nothing personal.
We pay into the unemployment tax system, we better get the rewards when we need it most!
Emma, S.1699 is dead in committee. The only bill to be considered at this time by the Senate is HR3548.
The tax the Democrats are suggesting as a means to pay for the extended benefits, equates to $14.00 per employee. It is the same tax that has been paid for 30 years and is due to expire at the end of this year. The Democrats have suggested extending it 2 1/2 years to cover the cost of extending benefits. Desperate times call for desperate measures. This is hardly a burden.
According to the US Census bureau, the average American company has fewer than 100 employees. Thats a tax that on average amounts to less than $1400 a YEAR for a company. A person who earns $8/hr or minimum wage in CA and works 40 hrs/week, takes home $16,640.00 a year or the equivalent of 1,188 of the $14.00 employee taxes. Do you honestly think that someone would be unwilling to hire based on a tax they have been paying for 30 years? Would you prefer that the companies loss money due to lack of customers, credit defaults or lawsuits challenging their termination? I think most employers understand this is not a tax increase. I further believe they understand that what they pay out comes back to them in the form of business. For every 1.00 of unemployment benefits, $2.15 goes back into the economy.
Emma please do some homework before you feed into the rhetoric.
First of all, S.1699 is not dead??? They are deciding where funding is coming from and voting this week.
Also, these extensuions have no impact whatsoever ont he states right now. They are 100% federally funded. Anyone who received The EB extension or this new once coming, is getting checks directly funded by the Feds. There isa no state involvement except to verify the eligability of the person collecting.
I live in Michigan, and in August we had the worst unemployment rate in the country at 15.2%. I was laid off like thousands others when DHL dropped domestic operations and went from 400 bases around the country to 100. I had worked for the company since high school, 14 years. I never thought I would have to think of finding another job. Now at 36, a year of community college under my belt and a family to boot, My family would be on the street if it wasn’t for the unemployment money I am receiving. It’s rough spending 14 years working 70+ hours a week to go to anxiety over not having skill sets or a viable resume for new employment.
The people without empathy will wake up at some point with their head on the concrete wondering what happened to their solid job they’ve had. My father in law spent 8 of the last 10 months criticizing me until HE got laid off of his job of 30 years 2 months ago, and now he is eating crow. We can give the banks hundreds of billions of dollars to make up for their bad business practices and it’s considered bad government to lend a hand to the working class who paved the roads and built the houses and moved the merchandise? I’m not asking for a bail out, I’m just asking not to lose everything, and a little more time and $$ to get through is a good thing for millions of us. I only hope you people who are looking down your noses don’t have to go through such a complete disruption and degradation of self worth I and countless others have gone through.
Screwed in Michigan – I feel for you. I can’t believe your father in law would criticize YOU for losing your job. That’s baloney. So many people lost jobs through no fault of their own, and for the government to extend the jobless benefits is THE LEAST they can do!
Stand strong brother!
i have been working full time since i was 18, part time since 14, this is the first time in my life ive been on unemployment. my benefits ran out 2 wks ago, just wks before my sons b-day. i went from $1100 a week as a retail manager to $340 a week. i lost my car, 2 apartments, im in debt, and cant really provide the needs and wants of my 2 kids. now the senate stalls on this? its the wrong season for this. its cold here in maine, i need oil, gas and warm cloths for my kids. the senators dont care, its not their family coming undone, their kids asking if there will be christmas, not their car being re-poed. its a joke, really. when will these people work for us? i’d like to see how quickly they would act if it was them and their families facing these problems.
People collecting unemployment when they can for as long as they can is beneficial to all. meanwhile those working might hold their jobs longer,..then when they have enough time established to collect,.businesses can rollover employees. Laying off those who whould be able to start a new claim so those who have or will be exhusting theirs might be then employed while those who have been working can collect. Until job availabilty increases,.it would be a smart and beneficial manuvering of people.
More than 7,000 people across the country are losing their unemployment benefits every single day because Republicans are playing politics. Hardworking, middle class families, who are already cutting coupons and squeezing pennies to make ends meet, are now going to have the last strand of the safety net pulled right out from under them, simply because Republicans are obstructing progress.
the repubs have no problems handing 700 million bucks to banks without ever seeing or asking what they did with it but when it comes to people that simply need to keep the lights on screw em or healthcare…screwem…or simply a deicent livable wage….screw em this all started under republican watch i dont care what anyone says its almost apears to be done on purpose in some cases so when it comes time for a new prez,senator,republican governer,city councel member,even on down to the mayor if he is a republican…….screw em they wont get my vote
god bless my brothers and countrymen and women we are all in this together screw the united corporation of america an lets get back to some family values and stop with the greed and be a happy healthy nation of one again creatitvity,education,family,community,love,compassion,integrity,ethics are the things that matter in life not money basically everything that all of our leaders lack
Congress had taxpayers bail the financial system out. The crooked (too big to fail). The unemployed at this time will have to be bailed out for some time. When Congressmen think thir political lives are in jeopardy they do things fast.Hold them accountable. Vote them out of office.Unemployment is a right.The funds come from us.Its not begging. Why should the big 3 auto makers get help? let them go bankrupt. That is why the bankruptcy system is there. Same with the banks and so forth. Bail out banks with our money just to see them turn around and repossess our houses because of fraudulent activity on their part. What dream world does everyonelive in. Also,is the USA the world police? Well, charge a protection fee. For all that common people give there is no reward. People like Bernie should be forced to work for charity and stripped of all possessions, made to do humiliating things … to suffer like those he stole from. Every problem can be traced right back to our government’s screw ups and poor policies. Our government trained the Taliban and then dumped fighters to die at Russia’s hands. We are getting the what goes around comes around. Republicans are mainly to blame.
exactly,what they would pay in ui benefits is peanuts compared to what theyve paid to bail out big businesses and execs salaries,for what they have spent they could have cut every taxpayer in america a 50000 dollar check
I don’t see how it makes any sense to extend benefits in states over X% unenployment. Either extend it for all or have some sort of optional opt-in system for states. Just because certain states have not done a good job diversifying their economies does not mean they should be treated differently.
i dont want to hear anything from texas youall are the ones that cultivated that braindead president bush nwo a%^#wipe so dont say anything we are still waiting for texas to suseed and return to mexico i hate even going through texas what a bunch of brokeback mountain state troopers hell i think all texans are traitors sumpin wierd goin on down in texas must be in the water
Carl, do some research, S.1699 is dead in committee. It is identical to HR3548 which the House has already passed. It is HR3548 the Senate is considering, hopefully this week. Do not fret Carl, Emma just has not done her homework and some other bloggers appear confused as well. To continue the error, will perpetuate more confusion. If you would like to see the matter look here:
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=senate_calendar&docid=sc007
It is on the Senate Calendar, General Orders, item #174.
It’s a curious recovery indeed. Market is up huge again today, and as I wrote in my post on the 10 things i learned from this recession, the market doesn’t care about unemployment. The market just cares about making money as it is representative of corporations profits.
Every person who is collecting unemployment needs to send a letter to their senator encouraging a vote to pass this bill.
Everyone is concerned right now about their representatives and how they are voting because this issue is hitting close to home. Just remember not to get too complacent after you have found a job and get back in the routine of your life and pay attention to what else is being decided “for our benefit.” Imagine the pressure on Congress if just the unemployed voters kept track of bills being presented and voted on…that’s more attention then they’ve probably ever gotten and maybe they will start working for us full time.
You can get an email telling you what is up for vote and how your rep voted. Didn’t your boss keep track of what you were doing (when you had a job!!!).
I called senators of Pennsylvania and written emails. No response. I am now emailing the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News. This is complete BS. What is the hold-up? Nothing in the news about this either, isn’t that strange???
I lost my job as a professional chemist in April as the company who bought the lab ran off the sales department in mass and other managers due to their extreme micro-managing. I lost my job as the idiots lost the main client for the work I did through clear mismanagement and greed. I have been trying to find a job since before last Thanksgiving and have not found but one job I could apply for–working for $8 per hour at a scrap yard–a hard job for someone 61 years old. I have sold essentially all my possessions and have little left other than this computer to show for a life of 7 day weeks and working most holidays. I have to file bankruptcy to get rid of my car as I can’t afford the payments any longer. I suggest that anyone who has not had to look for a job for a long time to do so just as an experiment. The largest hospital here had 50 openings in the IT department and received 55,000 applications. Even the most menial minimum wage job requires specific work experience, usually at least 6 months of doing the exact same job. I have benefited from the Stimulus Program as have many others–an extra $100 per month through next June and a $5300 grant for re-training in the IT industry. So far nothing. I will receive several more months of extended State benefits but after that I will have to work at McDonald’s or somewhere similar if they will even hire me. 99% of all jobs require an on-line application. So much for cover letters and interviews. I have applied for over a hundred jobs and not received so much as a screw you email. I hope the 15 million unemployed act as a group and get these fat-cat swine Republicans out of office–the “profit before people” party. We may not have jobs but we can vote.
No one in Washington has any idea what the unemployed are up against and have no interest in finding out. For those of you who think the unemployed are lazy and just sit around and watch TV and deserve no help at all and think the recovery is doing well because of the stock market, why don’t you ask a few unemployed people just how great things are for them. What are millions of people supposed to do–be homeless or commit suicide when their money runs out? In summary if you are fortunate enough to have a job and haven’t had to look for a new one recently, you have absolutely no idea what the unemployed are up against and should keep your comments to yourselves until you do some research. Simply try to find a job like the one you have as an experiment. I have lost my home, wife, and don’t even have a chair that belongs to me. Luckily if I can survive one more year, I can retire at 62 next Oct. and live like a peasant after so many years of hard work. It is very hard to have any hope for the future and very hard to look at the rest of my life as anything but more punishment, for what I don’t know–all because of continuous and never-ending greed and pathetic management at the companies I have worked for. So much for the American Dream; the American Disaster would better describe our situation. America is going down due to our pathetic government who serves not the public, but only themselves. What do you think is going to happen when China shows up and wants all their money for the loans we have foolishly taken out just so greed can continue on? Good luck to the employed and unemployed. Some day if humans survive, someone is going to look back at history and wonder “how could they have been so greedy and stupid when the truth was so clear.” See you in Kansas after all the ice in the world melts.
The taxes used to fund additional and EMERGENCY federal unemployment insurance benefits extensions are long-existent employment taxes formulated as the result of the Great Depression in the 1930s when the unemployed had no lifeline. The current TEMPORARY increase in this tax will amount to $14 per year per employee. The bill S-1699 currently stalled in the U.S. Senate does nothing more than extend this $14 per employee per year increase/provision by one year into 2010. The original provision enacted under the Bush administration was legislated in the summer and fall of 2008 for only one year (who knew it would get so bad?). Then along came the winter of 2009 when unemployment reached historic and horrific proportions, so the subsequent/current Congress passed another amendment providing for a third federal unemployment insurance benefits extension (we are now on, count ‘em, #4). It is important to remember that federal and state unemployment insurance is an employment tax that is really an insurance policy premium. Think government-mandated workers compensation insurance coverage that ALL employers must pay on all employees, yet those private insurance companies don’t have to ask anybody when they feel they need to raise their rates to provide for worker compensation benefits for employees hurt on the job. To provide EMERGENCY funds for the long-term unemployed through a MINOR and TEMPORARY increase in a common employment tax is prudent and precedented. It’s been done before in other recessions, but none of those recessions have approached this current ‘Great Recession’ in scope and magnitude. Balking at the extension of a temporary and minor increase in a tax like this to fund a literal lifeline to millions of Americans is inappropriate and inhumane. Find another tax to bitch about, why don’t ya?
I just sent emails to Senator Durbin and Senator Burris’
You dumb*ss. Detroit has been hit the longest and the hardest in the whole country. We deserve to get it longer, fast and receive a higher pay-out. You don’t know your head from your *ss
the Republicans can kiss my ass!
I am a 50 year old female and have worked hard all my adult life. I worked my way from the bottom up and became a main team member in a manufacturing environment. I never went to college or earned a degree, I got there by my own hard work and merrit. Now, trying to find a job in my line of work is just about impossible. If there are any openings at all they are gobbled up by young students with degrees. I have taken some classes and am trying to change my career path, but even that is proving difficult to do. I finally found a part time position that will at least give me some experience. We as a country spend billions on helping foreign countries and in funding a war we should not even be fighting. We need to focus on our people and our country and get in top shape before we start spending our money on other nations. Please extend the unemployment benefits to help people make a new start.
The two clueless Republicans holding up the unemployment extension bill H.R.3548 are Jon Kyle from Arizona (202) 224-4521 and Orrin Hatch from Utah (202) 224-5251.
Everyone give them a wakeup call for the unemployed who are now without benefits, and each week more join the list. Six million unemployed = Depression! Nationally, employers have dumped over 260,000 jobs, meaning that these are jobs that no longer exist.
Sign the petition to Stop the Senate from denying extended unemployment at: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/pass-the-unemployment-bill
The Senate Republicans are out of touch, delusional and not serving the people. Truly failure of government at a time of its citizens’ highest need.
Im not quite getting it? How about the Emergency extended Benefits are they extending that too? the Tier 2? I hope they will
What’s happening, where’s the unemployment extension or is it called the Federal Emergency extension, whatever it’s called, where is it???? I worked for the same company for 15 yrs, my company moved when the economy went south, I was at the top of my game, really good at what I did….. I have a professional license, college degree and I can’t find work in my field.
The Petition to the Senate to Pass S.1699 (H.R. 3548) has now reached 1200+ signatures. Please continue to notify friends and relatives of the Petition and please continue to post the Petition link on other websites. The Petition contains the powerful stories of many of the unemployed. Hopefully, we can get the national media interested in the Petition and the stories of the unemployed. Thank You!
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/pass-the-unemployment-bill
If the government can give Citibank $45 billion in bailout money, and then stand aside and allow them to raise base pay by 50%, then the government should CERTAINLY increase unemployment benefits by 6 more months!!!
FS
Im single with 4 kids and my benefits stopped at the end of august. i now lay awake at night and wonder if i can even keep a roof over my kids head.. let alone feed them. ive worked since i was 15 im 38 now.. and havent been able to find a job for over a year. are they passing the bill or not… this hold up is burden on all of us hard working americans… i dont get it.. but one thing is for certain… i know who im voting for come next election.
maybe you should try to get foodstamps until things get better at least then you know that your kids will be able to eat ! I am in the same boat as you I have 4 kids also and thats what I HAD TO DO !
If and when bill HR3548 is passed, who will it include? I hope it will include those of us who already exhausted their benefits. I exhausted mine in late September.
Yes. I want to know if t will include those of us who already exhausted their benefits.
Did you send email…? You have a job!
yes it does include us people who have exhausted all of our benefits. I know this because my case worker contacted me to let me know that when or if the bill is passed I will recieve the checks if I have not found work yet
I would bet my last dollar ( if I had one ) that those of us who are unemployed are not reason for this Country being in the mess that it is in . I would ask the member’s of the U.S. Senate can they make a such a statement ? The answer is simple no they cannot because if they had of been doing there job ( correctly ) than we would not be in the mess that we are in .
I have been unemployed since June of last year. I went and received a diploma from an LPN school, am taking my state test in two weeks and quess what? There is no hiring being done in my area for LPN’s. So much for education! My unemployment will cease in 6 weeks and no prospects in my area with rates Of 11% unemployment. Get off your duffs, Senators, and pass this bill!!!!
It is possible that a decision will be made tomorrow to “consider” the bill. How many of you are interested in the homebuyers tax credit? That is one of the amendments that is being attached to the bill. What is it going to take for these people to understand the definition of “emergency”? Are there any groups who have contacted the news media to put pressure on the Senate to vote ASAP and get rid of the amendments that are bogging down this bill? I have written to my senator several times, but I really believe we need a loud voice putting the pressure on…do the senators really care about all the emails they get…do they even see them?
Rick – I think you’re probably right. I just think it’s always good to challenge the government’s statistics. I don’t plan to ever be brainwashed by big brother.
Jim – I sent a shout out to you today in my latest post entitled “6 Figures & Unemployment – Challenging Reality By Engaging The Community”
Best
republicans are retarded they will hold this up trying to include something about acorn that has nothing to do with unemployment while thousands more that are paying there mortgage with it will get behind and add to the mess and shitty housing numbers thats true blu republican style screw the people they are so out of touch they still live in the days of slavery thats why they like the borders open free cheap labor
i agree with every 1 who has run out of money and needs help now not somewhere down the line.the only ones holding up this bill is the rich republicans. who will never run out of money.i worked at my job for 23yrs before plant shut down , due to bad economy, 2 yrs ago. my savings are dangerously low. they need to get up off their tales and at least vote. tired of wating with no apparent end in sight.
and another thing we cant even buy the gov health insurance if we have no money. of which they find so important. to waste three weeks on.
This is lunacy! Pass this extension. I was laid off from a very large bank in Nov. 2008. I am still unemployed. I have had 3 interviews in this time…that is horrible. I have now had an interview at TGIF (waitressing)…they said lots of people have applied to serve. I’ll know soon. In the meantime, unemployment benefits helps Americans. What the hell is wrong with the senate???
the same thing thats wrong with congress they cant agree on anything the repubs just vote anything that the dems propose its called stonewalling they absolutly will not vote on anyhthing the dems have brought to the table they all get together in there good ol boy club network and whisper to eachother not to vote for this or that mean while our brothers and sisters suffer not because its not a good bill but because there buddy repub said not to vote for it …total conspiracxy fuck em ill never vote for another republican as long as i live ,ill vote for some whacko on the green party before i vote for them
my e.b runs out on december 30 2009 will i be egilible for this extension.
How long we have to wait!!!!!?????????
The dragging of the feet to passing the unemployment extension is ridiculous.if you don’t have a job,how can you pay for healthcare but this is the only concern that is priority now.So. Ow are bills being paid,how do you eat,where are jobs and still seeing huge layoffs.Does the unemployed go to Social Services for temp help and how do you work for that little check when there’s no jobs in the first place.Come on Obama and staff either take care of more than one problem or make room for some guests to come sleep,eat,play,be happy and you foot the bill.
government dosen’t care they have a pay check i can’t find work and its getting tired of trying to find anything because of so many not working
Well it’s Halloween and Economic outlook just came out yesterday and the stock market dropped 2.5 %.Wich is the effect of a PRESIDENT and GOVERNMENT who lies to the people and the pres or makes them lie for them.I live in Elkhart In ground zero it’s so bad here the president said on the newas and the news paper every displaced R>V> worker would get a $1000.00 check wich was another lie.
Easy for you who has never been laid off to play GOD while my home Ive had for 13 years is in forecloser no why would i or anybody else need an extension of unemployment.
BEWARE IT COME TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. sO GET OFF YOUR HIGH HORSE AND OPEN YOUR EYES. 7000 people are losing there benefits daily if something isn’t done soon this country will be ruined.
Everyone, please call Senator Durbin or Senator Burris’s office and ask them.
Cool Terri. Let us know what they write back with
I would love to know, anything I am so tired of being in the dark . My case workers answer is always “oh, any day now please just be patient” . Easy for you to say you have a darn job and money coming in ! Christmas is coming I pray to god to pass this so my babies will have presents “and a home” for the holidays !