Congress Cuts Unemployment Benefits
Just in time for the holiday season, Congress left a little gift on the porch of all unemployed Americans by failing to extend unemployment benefits this week. A motion by Senator Jack Reed, D-R.I., to pass an extension fell short by one vote. Around 800,000 Americans can expect to be cut off by the end of next week and another 1.2 million by the end of the month.
Republicans argued that extending the benefits for a year would cost about $56 billion and creates a population of lazy Americans who rely on welfare from the government instead of looking for work. However, as mean and cynical as that argument is, it’s also not economically sound. Economist Mark Zandi says every dollar spent on jobless aid yields a $1.60 benefit to the economy and if benefits are not restored holiday sales growth will be shaved by nearly a percentage point and fourth quarter economic growth will be cut by 0.3 percentage points. As a result, we could be looking at a million more jobs lost.
The only hope now for an extension is for Democrats to demand that such action be included in the upcoming debate and passage of extending the expiring Bush tax cuts. Before yesterday, Congress went 40 years without allowing extended unemployment benefits to expire when the unemployment rate was above 7.2 percent. The unemployment rate today stands at 9.6 percent. Senator Scott Brown, R-MA, had the ability to let the extension move forward but decided to vote along party lines in protest to what he called ”unwarranted diversions” from the Democrats. “We spent seven days on food safety,” Brown yelled. “I have complete and total sympathy and understanding” and “more than anybody here, I want to help.”
Just in time for the holiday season, political posturing and games have cut much needed aid to the neediest of Americans at the most inopportune time. The unemployed of this country must now wait with bated breath to see what’s next to be delivered on their porch this holiday season, assuming they’re still living in the same house.
Photo: NewsObserver
A little one-sided isnt this? The Republican’s simply wish for unemployment to be paid for using funds that the Federal government already has lying around. In fact days ago, the Republican’s introduced a bill which would extend unemployment for another year, using these funds. Guess who voted against it?!? The Democrats!
Of course you won’t hear that in our media, unless you look very closely.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMoCGX9n_0k
LAZY AMERICANS????? I DIDN’T HEAR THEM SAY ANYTHING ABOUT CROOKED BANKS WHEN THEY SPENT TRILLIONS BAILING THEM OUT!!!!!!!
What is this we can spend TRILLIONS bailing out the banks that got us into this economical mess, but billions for the people who would like jobs but can’t get one due to the economy crash get jack????? Who’s tax dollars are these???????
Take back America people!!!!!!!!!!! They should NOT be able to take our taxes we pay in and give it away to failing businesses that put us into a recession and then deny us OUR OWN TAX MONEY WE PAYED IN!!!!!
Who is running this country anyway??? By the people for the people died, its by the few for the few………….WHY AREN’T WE DOING ANYTHING!!!!!!
What happen to the stimulis $$$$$$$ that were not used??? Those $$$ should be used for the unemployed not BIG BANKS?
I’m all for unemployment for people that really need them on a short term basis but I know people who refuse to get a job bc unemployment pays more. I dont think its fair that I have to go to work and pay taxes for people that just sit home that I know can get a job. It’s like,”Why should I work when the government is going to give me free money.” So maybe people will start to get up and fill out some of the many vacancies that are available. Or if its not a “high paying job” work and do what you have to do to get that high paying job you want.
And thanks unemployment for sending a letter 2 days before you cut us off to let us know!! And also thanks for cutting us off on a Saturday so we can’t claim a week on Sunday and have one more check to sustain our families!! Now I have to tell my kids there will be NO Christmas presents under the tree thanks to Congress and the one douche who decided to say NAY! And it is exactly right that I will not take a minimum wage job, pay for childcare, pay for gas, and get cut off insurance when I can claim unemployment every week and be a stay at home mom. My money is spent on this economy and I pay taxes on it.
well, i guess all those lazy americans can now go get in line for welfare and food stamps.(on your tax paying a@@ also…lol) i highly doubt that you are in this predicament…..where are all those vacancies that you are ranting about???? there are plenty of people on unemployment insurance that would love to have a job, ANY job. not everyone is as ignorant as you and has the mentality to ride on the government!
scrroged, apparently fox is not an intellect at math. mimimun wage job minus the gas, minus the daycare, minus the higher tax bracket equals paying the government to have a job. i know exactly where you are coming from. but just for the record, i live in metro atlanta, and there are no mimimun wage jobs either!
I wonder how many unemployed people
voted
Republican
in the last election.
You get represented by the people you vote for…
next election
vote
Democrat.
If you voted for a Republican send an email to him
reminding him
that he did not represent you on this issue.
fox…ur just like the one douche that voted nay..probably born with a silver spoon stuck up ur ass.There are NO jobs where im from and when one of those Minimum wage jobs actualy does become available it doesnt matter because i will be considered ”Overqualified” been there done that. The government will always take care of only the government, and indefinitely that goes for both sides of the party.The least they could do is extend it through the year. Then maybe we can live off of our tax income checks.. for those who are even receiving one. Eventually scoring that minimum wage job that wont put a dent in the bills that i have.
@ Mike Greene… thanks for the video… that was encouraging to hear, but your point is way off base…. this guy was simply making an announcement to his voter base to say “hey i’m trying to offer a bi-partisan solution” and stated that it was backed by many democrats…. nowhere in that message did it say anything remotely close to idea that the democrats are responsible for turning down this bill… where did you get that information?
You are broke it is not something that is apart of the American way dont cry because you lack the urgency to get into the work force. This is real life people are dying in other parts of the world you should be happy to be a American and work like the rest of the country. How does it feel to look into the eyes of your children and see nothing but hunger and shame because you dont want to take a job or jobs to support your family. I would rather have food over presents any day. What if unemployment was cut out completely then what would you do you would be forced to take anything you can get. And futhermore while you were sitting home getting unemployment what were you doing to alleviate the situation so you dont have to depend on unemployment. I would love to sit home and not work but I cant afford to do so because the government does support those that make too much. An no i was never born with a silver spoon in my mouth and no I have never gotten a income tax check neither. What Im trying to say people put themselves in most predicaments I was let go off my job once before but I got up and did what I had to. I downsized so I was able to pay my bills. If you cant support your lifestyle change it and if your living somewhere where you cant get a job save up and move for better oppurtunities.
Fox, You are saying that you are for unemployment for those who need it. Who are you to say that those of us who are receiving unemployment are not doing our best to find good paying jobs. I for one held a position as a teacher after I graduated from college, but I lost my job due to a budgeting shortfall. 1200 teachers and staff were cut, and i was one of them. It has been tough for quite some time. I always thought that if I did the right thing I would flourish. That has been far from what has happened. I had to take a job as a teacher and totally abandon my dreams of breaking into advertising. Since 9/11 it has been quite difficult to find a position in my chosen field, so I have had to seek different avenues for making ends meet. I am still on unemployment, but I do have a job. I work for World Market and it pays a whopping $9.25. This is an 80% pay cut. How am I to live on this. Not only have my dreams been shattered, but now my wife and I are needing to hold off from starting our own family. I want the American dream too, but the dream is just that in this day and age. I understand how you feel, but please do not pigeon hole people and place those of us wha are trying. It has been demoralizing to have to take a job in retail and deal with all those SOB’s who walk into our store and look down their noses at us. who the hell do they think they are?
Thank you Andrew. FOX: I live in a rural area 3 hours north or south from the “big” city. Nothing east or west for 6 hour. I have a business degree and when my company “eliminated” the human resource departments in each of their stores, I was quickly out of a job. I have been on unemployment and have downsized to the basic necessities – no car payment, now have a 1997 vehicle fully paid for, minimal insurance (because I can’t afford more), no eating out, cable – gone. Apply for a job or as many as are available daily. I went from a very well paid position and now my recent application – gift wrapper! I could care less if it pays less than my unemployment check was, it’s a matter of getting any work history back on my resume. What am I getting in the mail – I’m overqualified! Really. So don’t put what you “assume” as a low life hillbilly racking in the unearned income! I am 49 years old and have worked continuously since I was 15 years old and NEVER, NEVER claimed unemployment until now. I paid into the system after all these years and the system has failed me because of one person who voted no. He said he would love to help, well he should get copies of my bills so he can help! So Fox, I hope, for your narrow minded thinking, that you company is not thinking of downsizing and “making do” with minimal staff, and you can stay in your nice warm, comfy home, because many many many people who are on unemployment are not their because of lack of drive to work, but because of companies who want a thicker bottom line. So no unemployment – you do what you have to to survive- watch our food stamp and all those other government programs numbers grow!
I am so tired of people bad mouthing people on unemployment. I was laid off because of the economy almost two years ago.
I am in my 50′s and this is the first time being out of work. I have applied to more jobs than I can count. I had a full time salary job with bonus’s and I can not even get a Part time job as a cashier.
When I did not get a job that I thought was in the bag I decided to find out for myself just who the company hired. I went to the store and saw that they hired people, that were my childrens age. Time and time again I have proven this.
SO LAY OFF WITH THE “LAZY PEOPLE ON UNEMPLOYMENT”!
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