1,800 Mainers among jobless workers losing benefits Saturday-Just What We Need-Sad Alert

Bangor Daily News ^ | 28 December 2002

[SheLion]

WASHINGTON — AP — Federal unemployment benefits will get cut off Saturday for almost 800,000 jobless workers because Congress failed to pass an extension before adjourning for the year. There’s little holiday hope for those unemployed workers, and the 95,000 each week thereafter who start losing state benefits.

 Congress won’t reconvene until Jan. 7. “Regrettably, the House Republican leadership turned their backs on these families and refused to act, and the administration chose not to intervene before Congress adjourned,” Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle said Friday. “This inaction by Republicans was unconscionable then and it is even more so now.”

The Democratic-led Senate approved a comprehensive benefits extension costing anywhere from $2 billion to $5 billion that would have covered people affected by Saturday’s cutoff and another 1 million who already had exhausted all benefits. The House passed a more modest $900 million plan of five extra weeks for workers in a few states with high unemployment rates. But the two sides failed to resolve their differences.

President Bush, after weeks of criticism from Democrats, ended his silence on the issue in his radio address last week and said extending benefits for the unemployed should be the “first order of business” for the new Congress. But he failed to say how many people should be covered and for how long, or which plan he favors. In Maine, about 1,800 workers will lose their benefits when the money runs out on Saturday, said Edward Gorham, president of the Maine AFL-CIO.

 

[SheLion]

Tom Daschle has to blame SOMEBODY!

This is pathetic! Just what Maine needs........get a job you say? Where? Maine is jobless. Where will these people find jobs? Even McDonalds isn't hiring!

Maybe they can collect welfare........IF there is any welfare left after the SOMALI'S collect it! BARF ALERT!

[SheLion]

Maybe future Guvnor Baldacci can find jobs for these people...........yea, right...what does HE care!

[buccaneer81]

Yeah, but those Somalis wil be taken care of.

[Brimack34]

I hate the fact people think the Goverment give's these people benefits. First we are the Gov. 2nd I work 7 days a week in my Company every time we have this welfare payout my unemployment goes up too cover it.

[SheLion]

Yeah, but those Somalis wil be taken care of.

That's been my beef all along! Welfare keeps them in high style while our own suffer. See what I mean? Thanks to Rep Allen and Baldacci! ugh!

[SheLion]

I work 7 days a week in my Company every time we have this welfare payout my unemployment goes up too cover it.

Well, get ready. It's going up AGAIN! There are no JOBS in Maine for these people. The Somali's don't WANT to work, but our people do, and there just isn't any jobs.

[buccaneer81]

Change is slowly but surely coming to Maine. My Uncle Phil in Houlton finally is a Republican after voting Demonrat all his life. So there is hope. Northern Maine is going to resemble New Hampshire (at least politically) soon.

BTW, is Lupo's still in business in Caribou? (Their old TV commercials on WAGM used to crack me up..."Oooh, that Lupo's look"). LOL!

[Brimack34]

I am all for helping out our troops. It is the people that do not go too work when there is jobs. They do not want a pay cut so they hold out.

[JudyB1938]

I keep thinking of all the nasty, condescending remarks people in this forum have made about unemployed people and about the truly homeless people (not the bums). As I see each thread about more and more layoffs, I wonder if they will be among those who lose their jobs - and I wonder if they will call THEMSELVES lazy and say all of the hateful things to THEMSELVES that they said about others.

People are coming to Las Vegas by the thousands every month, because they hear there's so many job opportunities here. I checked the classifieds tonight. If they are any indication, good luck is all I can say. For example, there were just TWO secretarial positions available in a city of 1.5 million people! Although I don't know the salary opportunities, you can bet your bottom dollar that wages will be low - since there is such a large job pool to draw from, making jobs at a premium.

I can't stop thinking of the young mother with a little boy about ten years old. He reminded me of one of my own sons about that age, and I complimented her on how polite he was. All of a sudden, she burst out crying. I was astonished. After she gained her composure, she explained that they were homeless. She was out of work and couldn't find a job. Poor thing. She had no front teeth. Who would want to hire her?

It's cold outside. May God see to the poor homeless children and keep them warm.

[SheLion]

It is the people that do not go too work when there is jobs. They do not want a pay cut so they hold out.

WHAT JOBS! These people can get a job on the harvester during harvest, but harvest is over!

[SheLion]

Hmmmmmmm Lupo..........not sure. Guess not, since I don't hear about them anymore. I could be wrong, but I don't think we have a Lupo's up here.

What was Lupo's? A clothing store?

[SheLion]

It's cold outside. May God see to the poor homeless children and keep them warm.

Judy, it's pathethic. We have homeless living under the bridge in Caribou! It's 1 degree out there right now. Can you imagine? I shudder to think.

But for the grace of God go I.

[buccaneer81]

Yes, it was a men's clothing store.

I see you once worked at Loring. That's where my parents met in 1961. Dad was a USAF captain (B-52s) and Mom was from NB at a dance with her cousins from Fort Fairfield. BTW, did you know any civilian employees at the base by the name of Reynolds or Dexter? Relatives of mine.

[SheLion]

I see you once worked at Loring. That's where my parents met in 1961. Dad was a USAF captain (B-52s) and Mom was from NB at a dance with her cousins from Fort Fairfield. BTW, did you know any civilian employees at the base by the name of Reynolds or Dexter? Relatives of mine.

Hubby works at DFAS on Loring. The DOD Finance Center. Do they work there? Where do they work at?

[SheLion]

Dad was a USAF captain (B-52s)

Wow, small world. My son-in-law was stationed here and was a gunner on the Buf. Their Buf was the first one into Baghdad that night! I bet he knows your dad. Free mail me. I bet I know him too!

[buccaneer81]

Do they work there? Where do they work at?

Not sure what their positions were. But they would be retired by now.

Good people in Northern Maine. Too bad the weather and the economy weren't more hospitable.

[SheLion]

oh wait! If your Dad was on Loring from 1983 on, then I knew him. But you said 1961.......that was way before our time at Loring.

[chasio649]

codeword: service sector=$7.00/hour

[buccaneer81]

I bet he knows your dad. Free mail me. I bet I know him too!

Dad retired fom the Air Force in 1969 and died suddenly in 1972 at the age of 40. But I'm glad to hear your son in law carried on with SAC.

[Jhoffa_]

Willie will not be pleased at others cutting themselves in on his action like this..