Posted on 12/29/2013 6:58:08 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Extended jobless benefits ran out on Saturday for 1.3 million of the long-term unemployed, and Democrats are looking to make political hay out of the issue.
Democrats and some Republicans are working on a three-month extension of benefits that would be the first order of business when Congress returns in January. The bill would add $6 billion to the deficit unless offset by spending cuts elsewhere.
The fate of the bill is uncertain in the House. Speaker Boehner hasn’t said he would oppose an extension, but it’s probable that a majority of Republicans would not vote for one unless there were offsets included in the bill.
Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) ratcheted up pressure on Republicans wary of another extension. In a statement issued Friday, she called the pending expiration “immoral,” and blamed GOP lawmakers for allowing it to happen.
“Starting tomorrow, too many American families will face the New Year with uncertainty, insecurity, and instability as a result of congressional Republicans’ refusal to extend critical unemployment insurance,” she said. “The first item on Congress’ agenda in the New Year must be an extension of unemployment insurance. That must be our priority on day one.”
House Democrats cried foul when the two-year budget deal was unveiled without an extension included, but many ultimately supported the package. Senate Democrats and the White House also backed the budget, vowing to address the unemployment issue soon but separately.
Democrats have buttressed their arguments with polling that shows steady public support for another extension and that Republicans could pay at the polls for opposing it. A poll from left-leaning Public Policy Polling (PPP) released earlier this week found that in four key swing districts, as well as the home district of Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), voters support an extension by 63 to 38 percent.
Democrats are also working to play up the impact back home on local media, highlighting how many people in their hometowns could be losing assistance.
“When the American people get involved and speak out, we are going to win this fight, and I believe that that is what’s going to happen,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a liberal who caucuses with Democrats, on MSNBC this week.
Some Republicans, including Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), have said they would oppose another extension. They argue that policymakers should be focused on creating more jobs rather than providing more assistance, especially as the economy continues to recover.
And other GOP lawmakers have remained noncommittal on the idea of an extension, but are clearly concerned about the cost. Boehner and other Republicans have not said explicitly that they would oppose renewing the benefits, but, at the same time, they want to see the costs offset by spending cuts elsewhere.
Democrats rebut that demand by arguing the extension of benefits is actually an economic boon. Pelosi and others point to analysis that shows an extension would allow the unemployed to continue pumping money into the economy, driving economic growth and job creation.
The problem for Republicans is that they are probably right on policy but wrong on the politics. Of course it’s better to encourage actual job creation. But what about the claim — one trotted out every time extended unemployment benefits are being debated — that benefits to the unemployed grow the economy?
Rand Paul actually has a pretty good economic plan for the most economically devastated areas. 5% corporate and personal tax rates. Untaxed repatriation. 2.5% payroll and income tax rates. Duty free border zones.
Obviously it needs to go nationwide but conservative theory needs to be proven in the worst areas first.
Good ideas, all of which would create a business friendly environment, however until the American people stop buying cheap junk made in countries nothing will change.
Spend a couple of dollar more for something that is made in America.
For example, I just purchased tile for a floor in my bedroom. There are many choices out there. I could have went to a big box store, but instead I went to a local guy.
I bought tile made in the US. I paid about a dollar more per square foot, however the store owner and the installers were not only Americans, but technically my neighbors.
I know we can’t always find products made here, but it doesn’t hurt to at least look for a domestically made alternative. What if everyone did this? What if we looked after each other first?
As long as these tactics continue to work, the Dems will use them. I believe we have reached a tipping point where issues no longer matter as much as political affiliation. We have entered the era of tribal politics. And the Dems have the biggest tribe and it is increasing every day.
And what exactly do you think is going to happen to the price of those goods when a tax is imposed? WE will be paying it and many in this country right now who live within their means are barely making it as it is. I agree, American manufacturing needs to come home but it won’t so long as we have a runaway government that has serious spending and entitlement problems. That needs to be fixed first so a climate that promotes American business has even a chance of surviving.
America needs more jobs.
Period.
Now.
Yeah - the next offset will be to reduce the SS payments of the military/vets because they "already have so much to be thankful for"...
You don’t bring back jobs by focusing on jobs. That’s what Democrats do, and all that results in make-work nonsense along the lines of the three guys who installed posts. First guy digs, second guy inserts post, third guy fills around it. Next day, second guy is sick. First guy digs, third guy fills...on to the next hole. Lots of jobs, no results.
You bring back jobs by focusing on what stops jobs from occurring. To take two easy examples: Regulations have killed much of the NW logging industry. Refine those regulations and the industry will recover. Ex #2: Regulations prohibit both off-shore drilling and drilling in national parks. Refine those regs and drilling will commence.
A contrary example: Environmentalist want to stop fracking. Pass enough regulations against fracking and the tremendous job surge in North Dakota will reverse itself.
Don’t focus on the jobs themselves, but on the regulatory and legal structure that stymies jobs. Unfortunately, the typical GOP response is to focus on incentives, like TIF districts and subsidies, instead of just addressing the onerous regulations and laws that make the incentives seem reasonable.
Another example: Refine licensing across the board in all professions. Why should a grade school teacher have to endure 5 years of college to teach 2nd grade? Why should a barber have to be licensed? Reduce licensing requirements in hundreds of fields and jobs will blossom.
Another: Taxes, not the amount, but the reporting requirements. Why should hiring one employee (the first one) by an independent contractor triple or quadruple the reporting requirements? Refine the reporting requirements so that it’s easy to hire a helper and helpers will be hired. Right now, the paperwork burden that comes with the first employee is so onerous that they aren’t hired at all, or they’re paid under the table. People can afford the tax burden; it’s the paperwork burden that creates the hiring hurdle.
You’re a bit late.
Government Pension Offset for SocSec was enacted in 1983.
You are a broken record with this stuff. No one disputes the need for jobs but you completely overlook the hostile environment that is America today. The GOP isn’t going to fix anything in their current state as they like the “power” all the varying federal agencies provide them just the same as the democrats. Business will not come back to America until numerous problems are fixed (such as tax burdens, too many regulations to list, too many federal agencies to list, the ACA, unions, etc..). Stomp your feet and copy/pasta the same tripe over and over but nothing will change until we get the socialists and commies out of our government.
It is time we get out of the era of tribal politics..people should wake up and fast..Most are so lazy they seem to think it will all work out on its own..That is how the scum has been able to take over..
Will they move to North Dakota and get a job?
Nice post.
Comparing the number of immigrants working (ages 16 to 65) in the first quarter of 2000 to the number working in the first quarter of 2013 shows an increase of 5.3 million. In contrast, the number of working-age (16 to 65) natives holding a job was 1.3 million fewer in the first quarter 2013 than in 2000, even though the number of working-age natives overall increased by 16.8 million in this time period.
When Unemployment was 5% back in 2005, I remember Nancy Pelosi screeching into the MSM Provided Microphone “Mr. President, where are the Jobs”?
Why haven’t the Republicans been doing this for years?
Just extend the Benefits before the Democrats gain a foothold with the blame the Evil Republicans meme. The cost is negligible in the scheme of things and this being an issue only helps to reinforce the idea that Democrats are for the little people crap.
We need the Public to “focus like a laser beam” on the failures of Obamacare. The Phil Robertson thing is winding down after all.
Drat! I was only in for 9 years at the time and had not started to monitor politics. Now I'm steamed...
America doesn't need jobs. They have millions of jobs Americans won't do. That's why we need immigration reform. Ask any Democrat or GOP-E.
America needs jobs.
We have been exporting American jobs now for over a full generation.
Go in any store, and everything is made in China.
No jobs, anywhere. Bring back US jobs. Now.
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