Posted on 12/28/2013 5:51:29 AM PST by reaganaut1
WASHINGTON — An emergency federal program that acts as a lifeline for 1.3 million jobless workers will end on Saturday, drastically curtailing government support for the long-term unemployed and setting the stage for a major political fight in the new year.
The program, in place since the recession started in 2008, provides up to 47 weeks of supplemental unemployment insurance payments to jobless people looking for work. Its expiration is expected to have far-reaching ramifications for the economy, cutting job growth by about 300,000 positions next year and pushing hundreds of thousands of households below the poverty line.
An extension of the unemployment program did not make it into the two-year budget deal that was passed just before Congress left on its winter recess. When the federal program expires, just one in four unemployed Americans will receive jobless benefits — the smallest proportion in half a century.
...
Republican aides said they remained willing to negotiate. “Why didn’t they offer a plan that met the speaker’s requirements — fiscally responsible, with something to create jobs — or any plan, for that matter, before they left for the holidays?” asked Michael Steel, a spokesman for John A. Boehner of Ohio, the speaker of the House.
Some Democrats have suggested that continuing the program for three months, with the estimated $6 billion in spending offsets coming from agricultural subsidies in the farm bill.
But some conservatives have shown stauncher opposition.
“I do support unemployment benefits for the 26 weeks that they’re paid for,” said Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky on Fox News. “If you extend it beyond that, you do a disservice to these workers. When you allow people to be on unemployment insurance for 99 weeks, you’re causing them to become part of this perpetual unemployed group in our economy.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
In PA employee and employer pay. It’s called PA SUI/SDI Tax on your pay stub. It isn’t much so it is a myth that they’re just getting what they put in.
It seems that even conservatives tend to pick up a victim mentality when they start collecting benefits. I have a very conservative friend who lost her job in the construction field and for 99 weeks apparently there was not one job to be found. While 2 weeks after her UI was over she found a job in her exact field with great benefits. She is a very motivated and skilled worker(and over 55)but it is seductive to be able to stay home and still collect a check for almost 2 years.
It’s not exactly equal:
Employer Taxes
A 5.1 percent (.051) surcharge on employer contributions, reduced from 5.8 percent in 2012. The surcharge adjustment is computed by multiplying your basic rate by the 5.1 percent surcharge. The surcharge adjustment does not apply to reimbursable employers.
A 0.65 percent (.0065) additional employer contribution, unchanged from 2012. The additional contribution is added to your tax rate as adjusted by the surcharge. The additional contribution is not applicable to non-delinquent newly liable and reimbursable employers.
A 1.1 percent (.011) interest factor, increased from 0.2 percent in 2012. Due to the passage of Act 60 of 2012, the interest factor will be used to fund the payment of bond obligations beginning in 2013. It may also be used to fund payment of interest on federal loans, although Pennsylvania does not currently have a federal loan balance. The interest factor is not applicable to non-delinquent newly liable employers and reimbursable employers. Also, it is not credited to the employer’s reserve account nor considered for federal certifications.
Employee Contributions
A 0.07 percent (.0007) tax on employee wages, or 70 cents on each $1,000 paid, reduced from 0.08 percent in 2012. Employee withholding contributions are submitted with each UC-2/2A quarterly report. Employee withholding applies to the total wages paid in 2013. It is not limited to the $8,500 taxable wage base for employer contributions.
http://www.uc.pa.gov/portal/server.pt/community/employer_uc_services/10343
A few years ago, She had 9 w-2’s for the year!
Mostly working at beauty shops. Invariably, after a hard days work at the Salon, I would be on the receiving end of all the horror and trauma she endured trying to be-friend and “please” her female hairdresser co-workers.
In addition it seems that when a group of women work together, the one who is put in charge (the manager), devolves into a “Hitlerian Monster” obsessed with micro-managing the hairstyling Divas. Divas don't take to micro-managing very well.
In a month or two Mrs Awgie usually wears me out with all the imported drama from her new salon job, and I ask her to please stay home.
Well a few weeks ago, I asked her to apply for unemployment. Just to see what would happen. The first day at the UE office she called me to say it was “hard work” applying for UE. She was on the computer doing the application for 2 hours, she pushed the send button and all her data was lost...Boo-Hoo!
Finally she finished her application but Ah-Ha! A new revelation! She is required to be “actively” looking for work. Now Mrs. Awgie likes to follow the rules. Especially when it is someone other than me making the rules.
So now she felt compelled to be searching, applying and interviewing. Low and Behold! She found her “Dream Job!”
She is cutting hair at a “Great Clips” 5 minutes from the house here in Palm Harbor Florida. She made $50 in tips her first day! Wow. Now I don't have to give her spending money everyday!
“the girls are soooo nice,” She says. “I think I found a home!”
Let's see how long before she comes home with stories about how “Brenda used all my supplies and didn't even ask!” Nancy uses too much hairspray, I can't breathe!” I think Ellen is an Alcoholic!
Sorry Ladies, but a group of women working together in a beauty shop tells us everything we need to know about women in the workplace.
But the good news is I think were down to only 5 w-2’s this year! That's real progress.
Wow...just reading through the comments on the NYT website scares me. Apparently the evil 1%, greedy corporations, Tea party starving children,Bush’s wars, and the do nothing Congress are the root of all problems. It seems that once again Obama is the only compassionate politician who cares about the unemployed.
Um...I was always under the impression that Freepers were a fairly intelligent lot.
Why is no one SEEING that this is all by design? The more people DEPENDENT upon Mother Government, the more COMPLIANT they will be when push comes to shove.
Which it will.
*SHRUG*
Keynesian economics, which [incorrectly] teaches that consumer spending is the key to economic growth, is very convenient for liberals. It lets them claim that government hand-outs are an economic growth engine.
Gyrodata is seeking a Wireline Trainee who will be a member of the Wireline Operations division within Gyrodata and as such will be trained in operating wireline and steering tool instruments for basic survey operations.
(Oilfield job ...fracking drill control)
Qualifications: Education / Requirements
•Ability to communicate effectively in English
•Standard active driver's license
•Some Microsoft Windows experience (general computer awareness/experience)
•Basic hand tool use and knowledge
Physical Requirements
•Ability to lift 50 pounds
•Ability to stand for 16 hours
•Ability to sit for 16 hours
•Traversing a staircase multiple times for up to 16 hours
•Grasp and hold hand tools and other types of equipment
•Be able to function mentally and physically with lack of sleep
THAT “statement” is pure communist propaganda.
With all due respect Diana, why the snarky comment about our intelligence? The topic under discussion is the effect of removing the 99 weeks of UI, and not the intentions of Democrats in putting the 99 weeks in place in the first place.
I’d guess that most people here understand that President Obama has always had every intention of getting as many Americans dependent on government as he possibly can. We also understand that he’s been wildly successful in his efforts so far. But that’s not the topic under discussion here.
As for that topic at hand, the number of people employed will take a huge jump over the next two months as people make the choice between working and going on welfare.
While some of you posting have had trouble finding a job you’ll actually take, jobs are out there and the prospect of applying for welfare will focus a lot of minds. It’s human nature, unfortunately, to take it easy when someone is being paid to do so.
You get what you pay for, and if you pay people not to work, you’ll get exactly that. This doesn’t apply to everyone, of course, but it does apply to the majority of those drawing more than 20 or 30 weeks of unemployment, in my opinion. I guess we’ll see when they report Feb and Mar employment numbers. I think they’ll jump significantly.
Wasn’t being snarky.
NOW the CORE issue has been addressed, so THANK YOU! :)
maybe the small businesses will be able to fill some of their vacant jobs now....
For someone in graphic design and even programming, she’d do well taking short term assignments through freelancing sites like odesk.com to generate cash flow.
I’ll pass this along. Thanks.
Whatever FReepers have to say about Christie, he is a staunch conservatie compared to previous governors (from either party). He is trying to stem the flight of taxpayers (corporate and individual) from the state, with limited success; under a Dem, it would have dramatically increased.
Voters returned Christie to office with a large mandate.
Here in NJ I believe the amount the employer pays matches the amount withheld from the employee.
This isn’t Reagan’s economy, that’s for sure.
Plus, many mortgage holders keep the process slow so as not to flood the market with these houses.
Part of the reason that it is so bad out there is the government's insistence on being the grand provider for everyone. Not just unemployment compensation, but welfare in its many forms, Obamacare, and other regulations (think EPA, FDA, etc.).
Government... big government to be specific... IS the problem. The only way to get past it is to start breaking the cycle of dependence. It's going to hurt some people in the process, but if we're to hope for any sort of future for this country, we need to start reversing the trend of dependence on government.
No one's going to starve... there's no shortage of generous people out there.... and things will eventually turn around, but we have to start somewhere to get on that path.
I don’t get it. I could barely pay my mortgage with the UI benefits in my state, forget adding in utilities and food. Sitting home would be the last thing I would do! I have $$ on the side but I would be frantic. How do these people manage?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.