Dems Prepare Unemployment Benefits Plan

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.

Trust me, all of us are screeching to get work. There just isn't any.

And my proposal wouldn't affect that one way or the other. It would just make sure that there's a clear incentive for everybody, not just the group you describe, to want to get off unemployment as soon as possible.

By the way, I'm in the exact same group (over 45, technical professional), and self-employed. I've yet to have a problem finding work. Maybe I work in the right field, live in the right city, or am just plain lucky, but nothing is slowing down for me.

"Maybe I work in the right field, live in the right city, or am just plain lucky, but nothing is slowing down for me."

Probably all of the above.
I am in Texas and the tech/telecom has been hammered, no major work for me in over 18 months, doing service tickets for MCI local, as they come in. 1-2 a week. Oh well, beats a swift kick in the groin. ;^)

"There's a lot of over forty guys who are plain screwed"

I guess, looking back in hindsight, you could see this happening, but we were so busy working our asses off that we couldn't see the forest for the trees.
I too, am semi-retired at way too early an age, luckily we ignored conventional wisdom and bought a little hobby farm when things were good. If anybody is interested in Longhorns, drop me a line. Am hoping to have limited beef production in the next 18 months or so.

I was pretty sure tech would stumble a bit after the y2k rush was over. Figured that the demand would be down for a bit since they replaced just about everything.

I didn't see it biting this hard though.
Again I am lucky since my main income has been Real Estate.
We're going to get a bit chewed up in RE next but I'll be all right.

Used to have one of those scotch highlander bulls on my little farm. He became one of my pets. Followed me everywhere and liked to play, almost like a dog. Never would have succeeded in the beef business.

Good luck to you.

Being half Scotsman, I have always been interested in the Highland cattle, in doing research they are very similar to the Longhorn in their hardiness, brainpower and other traits.
My neighbors ridicule my Longhorns already, they would surely have a conniption fit, if I rolled in a few Highlanders.
Maybe later. ;^)

I'm no expert, but I understand they are primarily for breeding. It's said their meat is awesome but they are way too expensive to eat. Might want to get one for the pleasure of the ladies.

They look pretty cool, too.
My old pet, Bob, is still living happily in Woodstock, CT, doing his best to take care of a few hundred pretties.

Pretty good work, if you can get it.

"I'm no expert, but I understand they are primarily for breeding. It's said their meat is awesome but they are way too expensive to eat. Might want to get one for the pleasure of the ladies."

Don't sell yourself short, this is the way I understand it also. The Longhorn and Highland have a beef that is naturally lower in harmful fats and has very little cholesterol. Perfect for the aging population of this country.
The beef industry frowns on anything with horns and anything that doesn't look like a Hereford, Angus, Brangus, et al. There are specialty markets popping up for organic, grass-fed, beef and I think either of the horned cattle can do well here, they have a built-in advantage.
Check out this site: Organic Beef

If you want to get anal about it, there are elements of socialism embedded and entrenched in our society. Its a matter of degree. This is why it's impossible to discuss complex issues like this with people like you. By your rigid definitions I guess Reagan was a socialist too. Sheesh.

"seizing on words of support from President Bush"

More limited government from George. Bi-partisanship too.

We would have jobs if we would just agree to work for the going (India) rate of 500 USD per month.

It is unlikely that Indians will give those jobs to the foreigners.

Rush is very entertaining but is superficial and has a feather up his behind.

A few days ago, I heard him saying that there are hundreds of jobs advertised every day. Rush is clueless.

Rush is very entertaining but is superficial and has a feather up his behind. A few days ago, I heard him saying that there are hundreds of jobs advertised every day. Rush is clueless.

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That's a superficial bandaid statement. The question is, how many applicants are there for each job. When I look at the employment classified sections in many newspapers, they are less than 1/4 the size of some years back.

That's a superficial bandaid statement. The question is, how many applicants are there for each job.

Also many ads are just for show (that company is doing fine, or to fullfil some legal requirment, or some more arcane reason). Often they even do not look at the resume or cover letter. Those who are serious might be swamped with hundreds of qualified responses for one position.

You are CORRECT. I'm in this situation, and although I have no problem doing any type of work to get by, it will KILL me resume to have "assistant manager- CVS" on resume (no disrespect on CVS intended.) It'll be worse than having an extended unemployment stint.

Having people working jobs that they are WAY overqualified for is NOT GOOD.

Don't get me wrong; I'm working the system, like anyone else would...I don't agree with it, but have to deal with reality.

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