Posted on 07/01/2010 1:12:51 PM PDT by Kartographer
The House voted 270-153 to restore benefits for more than 1 million people whose payments ran out in early June. The measure would extend the federal long-term jobless aid program through November and retroactively restore benefits to eligible people.
But the Senate has rejected several attempts to extend jobless benefits amid worries about record budget deficits, and it is not scheduled to address the issue again until mid-July.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Where I live, there is a common view that unemployment is extended vacation time. People schedule it.
Easy... Summer 2012
Have to get Obama reelected
We have a small business as well - only open for five years but thank the good Lord still in operation. (Some weeks it feels touch and go.) We haven’t had a vacation since before it opened; we’ve used up all our retirement and savings, everything except the life insurance policies.
But I do not begrudge the unemployed one single dime of the benefits that they’ve paid into for years and years. That’s what it’s there for - to count on when times are tough! The guys I know collecting *are* “cracking,” as you put it. But if there aren’t jobs out there, what are they supposed to do? Beg? Shoot themselves? (Most of them don’t have parents alive anymore to move home to - or the parents are IN homes.)
You and I are lucky in that we DO have our own businesses. No one would hire my - 53, had a stroke, and been late on my mortgage and car payments when times are slow.
What I *really* want to do is get so prosperous that I can hire some of these former co-workers of mine. When times are tough, we should help each other out, even if it is with a friendly word or two. The hard times we’ve suffered in this household have only made us more sympathetic to others who face the same things, through no fault of their own.
It sounds like you need a vacation badly, my friend.
My gentleman friend (yes, a union carpenter) has been mostly out of work for over 18 months. A job comes up for a few weeks but then its back to unemployment. His health benefits have been suspended for a year because he doesn’t have enough hours for the previous 6 month periods. And I can tell you this - he is either on the phone, reviewing papers, driving to job sites all day long looking for and soliciting work. Anyone who thinks most people are just sitting in front of the tube eating bonbons while collecting a check is out of touch with reality. He never gives up but it is wearing him down. And I can empathize and offer support.
So, until another adminstration comes in and can offer some real progress on the job front, I am in agreement on extending benefits. I wish you well in your job search. I can empathize with what you are going through.
I like this. States an important truth like lowering taxes increases government revenue. Sure to piss off a liberal.
99 weeks isn’t long enough to find a job? this is a disgrace to the taxpayers. Any republican that supports an extension will lose my vote.
99 weeks isn’t long enough to find a job? this is a disgrace to the taxpayers. Any republican that supports an extension will lose my vote.
I new of at least one “layoff” from my company that was living high on the hog with her unemployment.
No, they don't. They're whetting our lips for full blown socialism.
As my severence package runs out 08 Aug 2010 I am happy to hear this news.
Those people are already cut off. It's people like my girlfriend who lost her job about 5 months ago that they would be extending. They have only had about 26 weeks.
I agree it's a bad issue politically, but the Republicans are only saying that it needs to be paid for with cuts elsewhere. Scott Brown suggested they use the remaining unspent stimulus money, which, of course the Senate Democrats oppose becasue they want to demagogue and score political points.
Again the people that got all of those extensions are already cut off. You had to have been laid off in 2008 to have gotten all of those extensions. If you have been laid off in the last 6 months your benefits are quickly running out.
BTW: The unemployment rate is a lot worse now then it was in 2008, and with Obama in power don’t look for things to get any better.
Exactly. If the Democrats were serious about passing this they would agree to offset the payments from the slush fund.
Before you flame me consider this: I got married while I was unemployed, I have purchased and refinanced houses while unemployed, I have had children born while unemployed, and other life changing events have occurred while I was unemployed. Throughout all of these things, I have managed to find work, and in most cases have made more money each year even when not working the full year.
I say this to give hope note chastise anyone. In fact I have a brother who is long term unemployed, and to be honest, losing benefits might actually get him serious about looking for a job. In is case, I know he won't look until he really needs to.
No flames from me. I agree with you
Why work?
Bush's fault to be sure.
“But I do not begrudge the unemployed one single dime of the benefits that they’ve paid into for years and years.”
Actually, its the employer that pays into the insurance... not the employee.
I too don’t want to see people suffer, but this hand out stuff has got to stop.
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