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?
1.3 million is a very small number if you use the logic of the Obamacarebots. When 5 million lose their health insurance, we are supposed to put it in the context of the more than 90% who will not be affected.
“ALL” our manufacturing. I smell extreme hyperbole.
Well yeah, maybe a little. :)
But we import far, far, far too much. China now exports more than America does. And is rapidly growing.
Bring back American manufacturing. Support jobs in America.
We have sent American jobs everywhere now for over an entire generation.
Bring them home now.
OK, maybe not all by virtue of the math but when our economy has only about 6% of it as income from manufacturing it is practically “all”. We have about 22% in energy production, 6% in manufacturing, 55% in government services, and the rest is corporate and service related.
Even the 6% for manufacturing is debatable as companies are allowed to claim ‘Made in the USA’ even if 95% of the parts a product is comprised from are made foreign.
Where do I send my campaign contribution...???
You forgot term limits so we wouldn’t get into this situation in the future.
Maybe the “3” should be an exponent?
Most manufacturing jobs in the US have been lost to automation, not to other countries. Even the Chinese are starting to automate processes adversely affecting jobs there.
I saw an article in the WSJ last week where textile making is starting to move BACK from China to the SE USA because the cost equation has swung the other way. Primarily based on high electricity costs in China.
Unemployment runs out for people every day and it would have run out for these people too.
The American people have been sold the “free trade” mantra and fully endorse it; they can’t figure out the real effects.
Yeah transportation and energy costs are a big driver. There’s a Minnesota based electronics company making wide screen TVs in the Detroit area now. Transportation costs from China was a primary reason.
The components are still mostly made in China but its cheaper to ship lots of parts than whole televisions. They’re also transitioning to American made components where they can find them at a cost effective rate.
“The consequence will be retaliatory tariffs on US exports. This would hurt US companies.”
The US became an industrial power in the second half of the 19th Century. During that era, the US employed high tariffs to fund the federal government and protect development of the manufacturing sector.
Today the effective US tariff rate on imports of manufactured goods is 2.9% (http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/TM.TAX.MANF.SM.AR.ZS). For China it is 7.9%. China also applies a VAT (value added tax) of 17% to most imported goods. In addition specified products (automobiles, luxury items, motorcycles, non-renewable petroleum products) are subject to a special consumption tax.
Add to the above Chinese government subsidies of exporting factories (essentially 0% interest rates to fund capital investment), rebates paid to factories of as much as 15% of the value of exports, and non tariff barriers.
Consider also the outright theft of intellectual property by Chinese companies and the ongoing cyberwarfare by the Chinese government against US companies and the US government. Not to mention the $1.00 per day wages and 10 hour working days.
The 25 year experiment with free trade has a been a huge win for China and a disaster for the American economy and the American middle class. Given the experience of the past 25 years I have no fear of retaliatory tariffs. Unless we return to the tariff policies of the past, we will continue to see our economy decline and the evaporation of the middle class.
This 10-point plan is good but not even supported by the Republican “leadership”.
A lot of registered Republicans endorse and vote for these programs too.
To my way of thinking Pelosi is the “de facto” Speaker now.
America needs jobs.
Jobs.
Both parties, are selling out America. Do not wait for Democrats, GOP, or it will be too late and America will be lost.
We need American jobs. A lot of American jobs.
Bring. Them. Back.
GOP wake the heck up.
Fight for America, for a change!
Good! Debt reduction and welfare reform without legislation!
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