Posted on 12/19/2002 5:17:26 PM PST by RCW2001
WASHINGTON, Dec 19, 2002 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- House Democrats, seizing on words of support from President Bush, readied a plan to extend payments to laid-off workers through the middle of next year. Republicans drew up their own proposal and the issue of unemployment benefits is likely to be one of the first the next Congress takes up.
Under current law, benefits will run out for more than 800,000 people three days after Christmas, and the last session of Congress ended with the parties blaming each other for failing the needy in a faltering economy.
Incoming House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and other top Democrats are to outline their benefits plan on Friday and press the GOP-controlled House to move swiftly to assist those who will lose their financial support over the holidays.
They picked up an important ally on Saturday when Bush, after declining to get involved in the issue for months, said in his weekly radio address that extending benefits should be "a first order of business" for the new Congress.
Bush's statement came with unemployment hovering around 6 percent, an eight-year high, and Democrats blaming the administration for the sluggish economy.
Congress, in an economic stimulus package passed last March, approved a 13-week extension in federal unemployment aid for people who have exhausted the 26 weeks of payments they typically can receive through states. That program expires on Dec. 28.
In the waning days of the last Congress, the Democratic-controlled Senate approved a $5 billion plan to extend benefits an additional 13 weeks, through the end of March 2003, for people currently receiving them. The House passed a more modest $900 million plan of five extra weeks for workers in a few states with high unemployment rates. They failed to reach a compromise.
The House Ways and Means Committee, chaired by Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Calif., presented data Thursday showing that the Democratic approach was too expensive and poorly targeted. Republicans said the unemployment rate is significantly lower than in past economic downturns, that there are fewer long-term unemployed and that sending federal money to states with strong economies was not fiscally responsible.
The committee also put the cost of the Democratic plan at $17 billion, saying that would eat up more than half of the $29 billion currently in the federal unemployment insurance trust fund, which is financed through payroll taxes.
Democrats said their proposal would cost $17 billion over five years, but only $10 billion over 10 years as the trust fund is replenished.
The Democratic proposal, sponsored by Reps. Charles Rangel of New York and Ben Cardin of Maryland, would extend the federal compensation program until June 30 for workers running out of benefits in 2003, and guarantee that workers in every state would be eligible for 26 weeks of benefits. It was estimated that some 2.5 million workers would receive these extended benefits in the first half of 2003.
Those whose initial 13 weeks of compensation ran out in 2002 would receive an additional 13 weeks under the plan.
On the Republican side, Rep. Phil English, R-Penn., said he would introduce a bill that would also extend the compensation program until June. He said his plan would provide 26 weeks of federal assistance to people in "high unemployment" states and give an additional six weeks of benefits to anyone who has exhausted their assistance without finding work.
By JIM ABRAMS Associated Press Writer
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This is becaoming a real task in bipartison cooperation. The Republicans are preparing the unemployment with their kook immigration and trade policies whilde the Democrats are subsidizing the consequences. What a country!
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Rush is very entertaining but is supficial and has a feather up his behind.
I'd like to see him find work in this age where our jobs are either going south to Mexico, or far east to Taiwan or Indo-China.
Limited government George never stops.
Vote socialist, vote Bush
Simplistic slogans for simplistic minds.
Simplistic socialism from a simplistic socialist president with simplistic followers.
HOW CONSERVATIVE IS PRESIDENT BUSH?
George W. Bush's LIMITED GOVERNMENT
President George W. Bush - Biography
SOURCE: http://www.whitehouse.gov/president/gwbbio.html
"George W. Bush is the 43rd President of the United States. Formerly the 46th Governor of the State of Texas, President Bush has earned a reputation as a compassionate conservative who shapes policy based on the principles of limited government,..."
Vote Socialism, Vote Bush
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