House GOP OKs Unemployment Extension

Associated Press ^ | 05-22-03

[Brian S]

By LEIGH STROPE

AP Labor Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Republican leaders say they will extend federal unemployment benefits Thursday, blunting Democratic accusations that the GOP-controlled Congress favors tax cuts for the rich over aid for jobless Americans.

The federal program, providing 13 weeks of emergency benefits to people who exhaust their state aid, is scheduled to expire May 31. Congress adjourns Friday for a holiday recess.

In announcing Wednesday's agreement by Republican House leaders, Rep. Jack Quinn, R-N.Y., said: ``I am certain that unemployed Americans will be able to get through the Memorial Day holiday without having to worry about their benefits expiring on May 31.''

Democrats, eyeing next year's presidential election, are determined to make the poor economy a politically damaging issue for Bush and the Republicans.

The nation's unemployment rate last month jumped to 6 percent, matching an eight-year high. The number of jobless workers surged to 8.8 million.

But the House agreement, and a promise by Senate Republicans to act, helped blunt those attacks.

``We made unemployment simply too hot for Republicans to handle,'' House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California said Thursday.

Pelosi criticized Republicans, who have been negotiating an economic stimulus package, saying money in the pockets of jobless Americans would stimulate the economy more than tax cuts that mostly help the rich.

``The job loss continues,'' she said. ``And the disdain for jobless Americans continues on Capitol Hill.''

The GOP House extension proposal would continue the current federal program that provides 13 weeks of benefits to jobless workers who exhaust their state benefits, generally 26 weeks.

Six states with high unemployment would get 26 weeks: Alaska, Oregon, Washington, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.

Democrats were hoping for a more generous bill to provide help for the jobless who have already exhausted their benefits.

``We have advocated from the very beginning an extension of unemployment benefits not only for those who are experiencing the loss of those benefits right now, but also for the long-term unemployed who are suffering and who simply don't have recourse if we don't extend these benefits,'' said Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D.

Without action by Congress, about 80,000 people each week who exhaust all their state benefits after May 31 would not get federal emergency benefits.

``We've got 20,000 people who could lose benefits in two weeks without an extension,'' said Jen Burita, spokeswoman for Rep. Jennifer Dunn, R-Wash., sponsor of the Republican plan.

Washington state released its latest state unemployment figures Wednesday, showing the rate had climbed to 7.3 percent in April - which is third behind Oregon at 8 percent and Alaska at 7.4 percent.

[VRWC_minion]

WAs there ever any doubt ? Why can't the GOP be given credit for this obvious extension ?

[Rodney King]

Yeah, that'll get people back to work.

[sickofthehandouts]

I have been lurking here for a long time wanting to post but mainly enjoying the posts of others but this one topic has drawn me in.
This might possibly be the dumbest thing I have ever heard of. Since you cant-wont go out and get a job in 13 weeks we will now give you 13 more to lounge around on someonelses dime.
I live in Hampton Roads area and can tell you that the only people here who arent working are people who dont want to work. The peopole who are manipulating this unemployment are people of education of which I am not but it stands to reason that a college grad who has become unemployed and cant find a job in the field they have been in that anything would be better than nothing.
If I were to become unemployed the first thing I would do is find a job. Any job, from shoveling shit to working in the drive thru at a fast food joint. Second, once anyone in this country becomes employed this immediatly stops the job hunt WRONG.
In a country where people are set up to suceed not fail why stop looking for a better job? The problem began long ago when people became " to good to do that " and the dems with the massive social programs have spurned a belief that if I need something and cant get it on my own that the govt will take care of me. This is bullshit.
I have been on the very bottom of the barrel in the job market and through hard work and constantly trying to better myself have become selfemployed and and am in a great financial position that is until it comes to this issue. Being taxed in one of the highest tax brackets and having to pay unemployment insurance on my employees I just see this country going deeper and deeper into my pocket to take care of people to lazy to work. This to me is a travesty.
One day hopefully in my liftime the working class of people in this country will take it back from those in washington who spend our hard earned money on people not willing to take responsibility for themselves.

[tru_degenerate]

'money in the pockets of jobless Americans would stimulate the economy'

I used to agree with these types of statements until realized something. The reason they want the jobless and the poor to have more money is so that they will go out and spend all of it in stores, thus causing companies to invest more. They look for the poor to feed the beast(the american economy). This doesn't help the poor or jobless. However, it does get them better clothes, cars, etc...

[Huck]

I am with on this one.

[waterstraat]

People over 50, who most companies wont hire, should be given unlimited unemployment benefits, at least until they qualify for social security. Or,,, another alternative, is to pass a law making it illegal(with stiff penalties) for companies to not hire people over 50.

[gcruse]

It might be like that in Hampton Roads, but in Dallas, where the want ads used to be six or eight pages, they are now half a page. Amarillo want ads are a quarter page.

And Texas isn't the worst in unemployment. That distinction belongs to Oregon and Washington. The jobs aren't out there, even if you are willing to relocate. And if you're over 50, forget it.

[waterstraat]

There was a time when it would have been sarcastic, but now that I see so many older men who are not being hired because they are too "old" even though they have lots of experience and knowledge, I am being serious. Why should companies be allowed to get rid of older workers, and not hire them just because they are older?

I find it inconsistent to not allow these men to get their pensions and social security until they are 67 years old, but yet we wont let them get jobs. Makes no sense.

We have other laws which prevent public companies from discriminating based on sex and race, why not prevent public companies from discriminating based solely on age?

I also see that many of these companines have upper management who are older, yet they dont like workers to be older. Why should a company who has/brings in a president or CEO over the age of 50, yet wont hire a programmer at age 50?

We cant leave these people out with no recourse. If you dont hire them, then let them get benefits. It is not their fault they get older, just as it is not their fault they are black, or male, or female, etc.

[TLBSHOW]

money for nothing and the chicks for free

dire straits........

[FITZ]

You're mostly right. In this area thousands of jobs were lost because of NAFTA, many older women are permanently unemployed but you won't see them cleaning houses or working out in the fields. They can live off welfare and NAFTA displaced worker money till the end of their days. None have any intention of ever returning to Mexico where their jobs ended up even though that's where most came from in the first place. It's just too easy to let someone else provide a living for you.

[mabelkitty]

This torgues me.

I know people who won't get a job because it paid less than what they were getting when they lost their job. I'm talking a couple of bucks an hour.

They would rather run out of benefits "they earned" than go back to work at something they either don't love or isn't up to snuff.

[waterstraat]

You obviously dont know any men over 50 who are looking for work.

Not only do most companied discriminate in not hiring those over 50, if you are already there, the companies try to get rid of you, thru early retirement, or any excuse.

It has been my experience that most men who have been working since they were teenagers, WANT to work. They dont want to retire, they dont want to sit at home and draw benefits. Your fears are unfounded that it will be abused. Yes, certain classes of people want to live on welfare for life, but the rest of us were brought up on the work ethic, and want to work as long as we can.

There should not be any age limit to drawing unemployment or social security benefits.

[mabelkitty]

Welcome to Free Republic! I agree with you, and my experience with the current unemployed is exactly the same! It is very frustrating.

I have also noticed that the younger generation who was used to inflated wages in the 90s are the biggest culprit of this. I have older folks dying to get in a do something - anything.

We are doomed if this (my) generation doesn't pull themselves up by the bootstraps.

[mabelkitty]

How long have you been a Communist?

[mabelkitty]

The people you speak of should farm out their skills on a 1099, or do temporary contract work. However, only if the skills are marketable.

Someone who worked in factory needs to return to school.
Someone who works in a field that is clearly moving off-shore needs to accept that do something else.

IT will no longer come back at the levels it was in the '90s, and that information is clear and cannot be disputed. It's over.

However, I predict manufacturing will go up as the SARS scare spreads in China. Not all of it, but I believe it will increase in due time.

[waterstraat]

How long have you been spending my tax dollars on OPIC? How long have you supported the H1-B and L-1 visas? How long have you been allowing in millions of immigrants each year? How long have you been giving tax breaks to american companies who move or outsource overseas? How long have you been forcing american factories to close and replace their products with chinese junk? How long have you been forcing older people out of work? How long have you supported the income tax instead of tarrifs? How long have you allowed open borders? How many american made products did you ever buy?

[waterstraat]

Someone who worked in factory needs to return to school. Someone who works in a field that is clearly moving off-shore needs to accept that do something else.

Go to school to learn what?

Who is going to hire a 55 year old trainee over a 21 year old graduate? How many current young college graduates cannot find work?

Please be specific in what major in school they should learn, and what specific jobs are out there for someone who went back to school and is now in their late 50's just entering the field. Just what jobs are you talking about that will not be outsourced?

Dont forget, we are not talking about a "few" people here, we are talking about millions of people.

I really hope you have an answer, a generality of just "returning to school", or "retraining" , spending tens of thousands of dollars on a new degree, must result in a job at the end of it.