Unemployment Extension: Partisan Politics Make Deadlines Hype
By Susan Thompson on July 1, 2010, 5:58 amPartisan politics seems to be playing a major role in the failure to pass the unemployment extension that so many desperately need to survive. With a separate bill in both the House and Senate you would think that at least one of them would get passed, but last night the Senate version was shot down in a 58-38 vote. Senator Reid says though that if the late Senator Byrds’ seat had been filled the vote would have went a little differently.
Democrats Are Scrambling For Votes
In order to preserve a future vote Senator Reid had to say “no” this time, but living up to her promise, Olympia Snowe, a Republican, voted yes, also joining in the yes votes was Senator Susan Collins, also a Republican. The single Democratic no vote was from Senator Nelson, who says that any bill that isn’t paid for is a no. Democrats are taking a lot of heat about the deficit spending from Senator McConnell, who says that the democrats are only wanting to drive up the deficit.
Republicans Have Presented A Paid For Bill
Over the last few weeks the downfall of the extension has been a major problem for many incumbents. Republicans had introduced a bill that was off-set, presumably to preserve their reputations, that also got shot down by a vote. Senator Mitch McConnell said “We offered ways of paying for these programs, and we’ve been eager to approve them. But we can’t support job-killing taxes and adding tens of billions to the already unsustainable national debt.” He went on to say “So the only reason the unemployment extension hasn’t passed is because Democrats simply refuse to pass a bill that doesn’t add to the debt. That’s it. That’s the only difference between what they’ve offered and what we’ve offered.”
It appears, friends, that the lines have been drawn in the sand. With the July 4th holiday coming up the leaders have said that they would like to have this work finished before going on the week long vacation. Where have we heard that one before?
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- Unemployment Extension: Republicans Would Support A Stand Alone Bill
- Unemployment Extension:Reid Fed Up-Unions-How To Pay-Year Fix
- Unemployment Extension:Shot Down–But Hope Exists…With Another
Well I am unemployed….lost my job last Sept so I decided to go back to school because that is what they were encouraging everyone to do….guess what I have 6 months left of nursing school and I have no income coming in to get there!! They need to atleast help those of us who are trying to better ourselves. In OHIO there are NO jobs unless you have a nursing degree or some type of medical background!! We need help!! This is only going to hurt the economy atleast those of us who were receiving benefits were going out and buy what they need now we can’t even do that. This is not good and those who are working don’t understand it…..I didn’t ask to lose my job but I did….now I need help until I get out of school so I can get a job.
I’ve been unemployed for over a year, ran out of unemployment 2 weeks ago, doing odd jobs to get by. Was just told I’m ineligible for food stamps because I’m a college student. I don’t understand that at all, seems they want to make it even harder for those trying to better themselves. I have applied for over 50 jobs just this week alone, I have an awesome resume, customized cover letters and open on wage requirements, and yet not one phonecall. If you want to drug test me so I can have an income please go ahead, test my hair, my blood, whatever you want. It seems like those in charge making a ton of money look at the unmployed as a bunch of lazy strung out losers. Well I’m a hard working college student with a 4.0 gpa, I’ve volunteered for habitat for humanity, nursing homes, and helped out my neighbors since I’ve been unemployed. I wouldn’t dare do drugs, especially considering I’m getting a degree in healthcare, and frantically looking for work.(Not to mention it would be pretty hard to pay for them considering I can’t even afford food). Please stop excusing the Senate’s bad behavior by making the unemployed feel and look bad, were victims of your bad behavior, your policies put us here so please make it right already, or do even better and give me a job.
Hi Lysa! I can completely understand what you wrote-I have been unemployed since May 2009. No jobs-31 years of work experience. The problem in Washington is “politics as usual” and no true compassion for the unemployed-just lip service. Actions always speak louder than words. In November, I will vote out all incumbents. I am likely to become an independent, but definitely not for any incumbent-playing with people’s lives for political points and gain doesn’t get the job done in my opinion!
Congress should not go on vacation while we, who have paid their outrageous salaries do without!!!! Voting them out will do no good, they still get paid and enjoy wonderful benefits. Both sides are playing games and we are pawns. Apparently they have forgotten what happened the last time the masses were told to eat cake. Forgetting history dooms one to repeating it.
Please create JOBS for this tough time ASAP.
I really need a job !
thank you
Senate makes me sick to my hungry stomach, I am discusted by the lack of compassion for the american people. Fourth of July can kiss my ass, America is not what it used to be makes me wish I was french.
Please show me JOBS or accept unemployment extension ! Where are JOBS? Do you have JOBS for me ? Please let me know ASAP
thank you very much
It seems we all share the same story, I start nursing school in the fall trying to better myself as my job/position was eliminated in the hospital for automation and money saving. Nursing was the way to go, now after 100′s of application with a degree and exceptional experience I don’t seem to warrant a job a Walmart. I have two young children to boot and can not even get food stamps as I am in “Limbo” to receive possible extension on unemployment. All I can say is please take a moment to write your senators/congressman and local representatives remind them who we are….if our country is so quick to help other countries in times of disaster then they should be helping our country during our time of disaster……it’s been stated 1.7mil people lost unemployment benefits due to this…that’s 1.7mil people fighting over few jobs….you would think they’d get the picture that the problem is bigger then they’re letting on to believing
All i got to say is “Go blow yourself Mitch Mcconnell”! When are these Senators going to realize that if theres any time to do some deficit spending its now!!! 2 million lives they are screwing with and when you add an average of 3 kids and a spouse do the math. I will pray that someday these senators feel the pain and strain that americans are feeling. They are a disgrace to this country!!!!
Jim Bunning….Yea you dipshxt…. I take shits that smell better than you!!! You are the largest piece of crap of them all. I hope you read this, and feel the shame of being a coward. I feel sorry for your kids! I bet there ashamed of you too! I truley wish the worst for you and will hope you go to hell!!!!!! By the way your fastball is weak…just like you, and this bill will pass and when it does you will realize what a real piece of shxt you are!!!!!
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What do I have to celebrate? I will be evicted this weekend. This is not a recession this is a depression, there are actually 30 million people without a job, they just do not count them, because most have lost their benefits, some are working part time so they do not count them. Oh and to who cold hearted Americans who say the unemployed is lazy, well we are living under the poverty line and I do not think 30 million people want this. The Senate has hurt the American people with their high school politics, they disgust me. They are not for us. They will be enjoying their holiday while children will have no home or food to eat. I am disgusted with America!!!! I will not be celebrating but will be praying to the man upstairs and by the way cold hearted Americans, you will have to answer on judgement day.
And Mitch McConnell and Ben Nelson, who will have to answer on judgement day also, why dont’t you take a lesson from the great Senator Byrd, he was for his people. I also think since he has dies, President Obama should be able to step and and sign the bill. I do not think of it as a dictatorship, I think it says screw you Senate, I am helping my American People. I am on the edge of a nervous breakdown as I type. I cannot barely see through the tears
I have had enough of these games. I served our country in the US Army, I am proud to be an American. My husband and I have worked since we were 16, never unemployed until now. My husband has been out of work for over a year and so has my 26 yr old single mom daughter. Thanks to all the fighting going on we are going to lose our home, my daughter is going to have to go on welfare. I will not support this government anymore, I will not wast my time voting for any of you, you have ruined our country, our lives and the spirit of being an American. Even in the worse of times I donate money to help other countries in trouble, I am done with that, were is our help, who is going to help me feed my kids and keep our home. Why work, I am going to lose everything anyway, just lose it, quit my job and the whole family can go on welfare, thats what it is going to come too. People are going to give up, throw in the towel. I am tired of struggling on the little bit of unemployment check, but it kept up afloat, but now you sunk my ship. I pray that you never have to experience what we are having to go thru. How dare you turn your back on the American people. I am a true American, I only buy American, I support all local businesses, I support my country and others. Now I can’t even support my family. You can have it, take it all, maybe everyone should turn to welfare, lets see our country survive off that. God Bless America, only God can help us because the people who make the decisions for us will not. Thank you for doing this too us, how can you even live with your self. Shame on you.
They are heartless SOB’s who care only for their egos; playing power games. They have long lost touch of what they are supposed to be up there for. I never asked for anything from our government before, but I thought it would be there after paying taxes for 44 years. They are supposedly worrying about the future generation, and don’t seem to care about the present generation. The only future they are concerned about is the elections.
Here in Tallahassee, FL. I have 2 children and have exhausted my emergency benefits:
*When I call to follow up on my job applications, I’m told by the hiring agency that they are overwhelmed with applications. There are on average 200 people applying for the same job.
*I have called the 211 number and applied for rent and utility assistance, BUT this assistance is only permitted to be given once or twice per year. The workers on the phones aggressively rebuff callers about not being broke enough, while facing utility outage; and they claim they don’t like assisting the “jobless” –just people with minor financial setbacks, like car repairs—not outright unemployment!!!
*Even when I cut off certain utility expenditures, the City of Tallahassee charges a base rate whether I use the service or not. I’m told I would have to get it literally disconnected. Throwing the circuit switch isn’t enough, I would still have a bill, because of this base default. The City of Tallahassee utilities only allows you a few extensions and bill percentage deferments.
*When faced with the possibility of becoming homeless, I called the Tallahassee Housing Authority. They said that Section 8 applications are closed and backed up for 5 years. They also explained that Public Housing for families of 3 or less is also closed and backed up for 5 years; and that only families of 4 and 5 can still submit applications to even get on a waiting list. When I asked if my 2 children and I could apply for 4 bedroom public housing, they said we don’t qualify because there aren’t enough people in my household. So, without the extension help there aren’t any options available to me. I can’t even go to the “projects,” because the “projects” are booked.
I have a Bachelors degree, and the minimum wage job agencies don’t like me– I’m over qualified and the non college degree employees protest my stepping into their “turf” for employment. With a family of 3, a minimum wage job would qualify me as “working poor.”
*Government vs. Private Sector: no matter what, someone is going to absorb this mass jobless. The Private Sector would rather it be the Government through unemployment extensions because if not:
1. There will be a new wave of home foreclosures and the Banks will come knocking on Congress’s door –AGAIN and we’ll revisit the “to big to fail” concept.
2. The AUTOMOTIVE industry will incur a new wave of repossession stock and will more than likely barely be able to move new inventory.
3. Consumer spending will decrease. There would be a Family Network domino effect, when a family member faces loosing everything. What would be spending income for family members who haven’t lost their jobs, will be squeezed and diverted to keep the jobless relative “afloat.”
4. Keeping the massive jobless sustained, also benefits job seekers by keeping unqualified PANIC job applications down so that hiring agencies aren’t overwhelmed by incoming job applications. When the hiring process becomes too overwhelming, the job vacancy gets cancelled. There isn’t enough staff support and time to wade through the applications, while maintaining regular work service.
The QUESTION the Senate needs to ask itself if it doesn’t extend help to the unemployed is this: Do we want the Government or the Private Sector to take the hit? Can the Private Sector afford another wave of mass consumer defaulting?
This money is going to come out of our economy’s hide one way or the other. Either way, the Government will take the hit, when industries come knocking again. Why not keep it calmed and controlled by extending unemployment benefits and directly helping consumers. Rather than, waiting until consumers force the hand of industry to lobby for Government assistance again.
I understand that by passing the bill it would leave our united states in deeper dept, and congress replys by stating they would like to get it passed by this friday, before the 4th of july weekend…let’s resolve this soon, cause their shouldn’t be a problem, we as americans deserve it, so just pass the bill and deal with it cause that’s waht we are doing dealing with our own problems from not being able to receive unemployment, like no food, no gas, can’t pay bills and etc…god bless us all
All these poor people that are living on nothing. People talk about going to work at any job, I live in CA and most of those jobs are being filled with the Mexicans that are here in CA. The Republicans do not mind passing bills that give the banks more money and tx breaks for the people in the higher tax brackets. Why don;t they give up a couple months of salary to help offset the cost. Or go to all the banks and company’s they are protecting and ask them to put money up to help all these people that have lost their jobs, homes and ect because of their greed. I hope at the next election, all these people in each state that has a Senator that has voted not to protect the people get out and protest and remind the people of the state what this Senator has done to them and their families. I will even if I have a job by then!!!
CONGRESS DOES NOT CARE ABOUT ANYONE BUT THEMSELVES- THEY ARE SELFISH, CHILDISH, CORRUPT CRIMINALS WITH HIDDEN AGENDAS OF CONTROL OVER OUR LIVES- THEY WANT A NEW WORLD ORDER AND THE PEOPLE TO BE DEPENDANT ON GOVERNMENT – THEIR PLAN’ THE RICH AND POWERFULL WILL PREVAIL AND THE POOR AND UNEMPLOYEED WILL FAIL-
THINK ABOUT IT- WITH US HAVING NOWHERE TO TURN THEY HAVE CONTROL- WE HAVE TO TAKE WHICH ONCE WAS OURS BACK BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE( OUR LIVES, OUR JOBS, OUR ECONOMY, OUR FUTURE PLANS — KNOW WHO IS RUNNING FOR OFFICE -DO YOUR RESEARCH AND EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE “WISELY”
Hi my name is Kendra Iam a single mother of 3 children I have been unemployed since May 5th 2009, I have applied for several jobs and even took a Medical Office course and still I have not been called back for a interview I worked for a Hospital and was doing medical billing for 3 years but when I apply for the billing position that are open they want you now to have a degree or be certified and that is something I do not have,iam 42 years old and I cant afford to go back to school right now,my unemployment ended on June 17th congress needs to vote yes for a extention we need the money to survive I dont want to go on welfare my children get child support but if I have to take welfare they will take the child support money my children get and only give me $50 dollors a month and welfare will give me $635 a month my rent is $850 that will not even cover my rent and I will still have to pay my electric,gas bills and then buy food and clothes for my children….something has to give I want a job so that I can provide for my family but theses employers are so picky I applied at Walmarts and Target even the grocery stores and they ask me why am I lowering my standards or say Iam over qualified…so iam screwed…money is being sent to all these countries to help them and thats fine but you also have to take care of your own,Iam going to lose my home I applied for Section 8 but there is a 10 year wait and I cant apply for federal housing because the 3 bedrooms are closed they have 2 and 5 bedroom open but I cant apply for the 5 bedroom because I have 3 girls and they say that they put 2 children to one bedroom,if iam on the verge of being homeless then why cant I have the 5 bedroom at leats I wont be on the street these rules are backwards,we need a change and soon
Kendra
I, also was a Single Mother beginning the 80′s.
Then could one see the Deteriation and Deception Of Government as Jobs slipped through Political BS in the Name of Bureacracy.
With every passing year the Gravity of Situation became so Astoundingly Prevelant as the Populous continued and remained Emotionless of the Events. De-Facto, this does not Concern Me. Now, the events have effected the entire world and depleated the Nation and the People of the US in the name of Greed and Power.
Kendra, I wish you the Best and you are in My Prayers. Stay Strong for your Children, they are the Future.