Posted on 11/18/2010 5:44:37 PM PST by USALiberty
WASHINGTON – Republicans in the House have blocked a bill that would have extended jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed beyond the holiday season.
The most recent extension of jobless benefits expires Dec. 1. Two million people will lose benefits averaging $310 a week nationwide by the end of the year.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
I bash Republicans all the time. They usually deserve it. I’m on this thread. Why would I be bashing them for this?
Sorry if you don’t like the animosity toward the party but that’s what happens when you betray your constituents one too many times. Now they have to earn faith step by step and that will take years not a few nice measures like this.
Still, the House Republicans are doing okay so far but they were never the main problem. the Senate has always been the primary enemy. Thats where most of the bashing is centered these days.
You are correct. A large number of our unemployed are over fifty. They can't afford to retire and for many of them, it's unlikely they'll ever be in demand by employers. They're simply unemployable. Nobody wants them.
Many of the problems facing our country are demographics, --too many old people, and I'm not sure politicians from either side will be able to come up with solutions to the impending demographic disaster that awaits.
I've seen what this looks like from my travels to Ukraine and it isn't pretty. Elderly babushkas, once proud women who survived communism and a bloody world war, reduced to begging for spare change outside of grocery stores just to survive. It was a sad sight to see and it's coming here.
Clever trick for them to stop it in December. Then they can do all the news stories about how people are dying in the streets on Christmas & it’s all the republicans fault
Shameful thread! The US spends trillions to pay for benefits of dictators in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Holy Land of Africa, but that’s all right to the still employed “compassionate conservatives” of Free Republic. Outta sight outta mind.
A friend of mine, who once employed about 100 people, is now buffing floors. Hope and change is the job killer from Kenya.
Hang in there. I understand the challenge you face in this economy. I could be behind you if things don’t change.
Just yesterday, a close relatives’ company, laid off 1% of their force. Word is, they are not done yet.
I completely understand your pain in not finding work. Same is happening to a close family member of mine - lost his job of 24 years and has not done too much better than you. I think the comments on this thread are over the top, as so very many people who ARE NOT leeches FINALLY need these benefits and will not be afforded the help they PAID for over these many years.
Your spelling is incorrect here but your thinking is correct. Some do take advantage of the system but there are not jobs & the scum bankers & Wall Street need a rope around their necks.
just a ping from someone who’s been without fulltime employment for almost three years.
I've only been out for 6 months. I'm lucky enough to have been responsible. I have no debt, a good amount of my own savings, and had the fortune to have foresight that my job loss was coming. I could not imagine if I had a family, a mortgage, medical bills, etc. It's tough to keep positive, but I do. I work hard every day to get back to work - any work. I'll take a pay cut. I'll do whatever job there is. But you know what I'll never do? I will never judge another man who's had misfortune that I know nothing about. Not here, not to his face, nowhere.
Well then the Republicans need to get out in the media and set the record straight
The GOP and the remaining “Blue Dogs” want to extend benefits, but do so from Stimulus money.
Boehner should hold a press conference tomorrow. Instead, he’ll probably cry about how tough he had it years ago.
There are quite a few here who really don’t have a clue just how bad the job market (and economy) is in many areas. It seems it’s a good thing to support GM (keeping the union happy) and a bad thing to support those who’ve seen their industries wiped out by this administration.
What’s sad is that some of those who like to attack the victims here are destined to become victims themselves, either directly or indirectly (when this stimulus ends).
Guess 100% is not good enough for you bashers of Republican all while the democrats/marxists are systematically destroying every area of the U.S. economy and all our rights and freedoms.
Even though Republicans were vastly outnumbered Republicans stopped a lot of democrat socialist bills like net neutrality, cap and trade, Dream act etc. , some from even coming to the floor because democrats knew they didn't have the votes.
Even in the past Republicans stopped Amnesty and bill Clinton’s socialist government healthcare.
What state and city are you in, that the economy is so bad there?
So are you for government being involved in charity?
I’m not.
I think the government should only do the military, border control, courts, international issues, police and that’s it.
Show me how I’m wrong.
I don't know you or what you do, but I'm in engineering and was able to put together enough side-job type work to get me through. Nothing big, just small jobs putting permit drawings together for residential projects. Found the jobs by putting up little fliers up at hardware stores and in local papers, then word of mouth took it from there. I hope you can find something like that to help you out.
Good luck, don't ever give up!
I live in Reality, USA where “the economy is so bad” from the mountains to the prairies to the oceans white with foam.
Thank you very much. I don't intend to give up and I'm trying to come up with side projects or temp work myself. Unfortunately, I'm in financial services. Or WAS in it and so are 500 other people in this area. I've actually noticed more cold calls from recruiters since the election. Maybe it's just wishful thinking but I have to imagine that businesses now have an idea that some sort of checks will exist against the reign of terror of the past 2 years.
There are companies starting to remodel or are hiring out to do studies in preparation of construction. Almost all work in the building industry here stopped in Jan/Feb 2008. In the last 2 weeks our small office has picked up 8 med/large sized contracts that will pull us through next summer. That is more work than the last 18 months put together, and all but 1 is private, non-gov contracts.
I like to think that the Architect/Engineer side of the building industry is somewhat of an indicator of where things are going. We are busy when companies are preparing to make changes to their properties.
Starting in 2006 we were busy down-sizing facilities and trying to make more use out of smaller areas. Our current projects all involve expansion or looking into completely new and larger locations.
Well I just wanted to know so I avoid that area if I need to move.
I know democrats have ruined the economy in most places in the U.S.A.
I know it’s not feasible to move for a lot of people but If I get into a bad situation, if I could or would move I would find areas with low unemployment and apply over the internet or try another field.
You say you are in financial services, have you considered trying to teach night community ed classes? Basic financial strategies, "how to get through tough times", even "checkbook 101" type classes.
Depending on where you live, I bet you could put together a few classes a month at a community center for some extra $$.
Just an idea that popped in my head.
And I wish you luck too. Hope you find a job and all your dreams come true.
I'm in the exact same boat. Sometimes I want to break down like a scared child.
The Nightly Business Report is usually very fair, and simply tells it like it is. It’s one of the few news programs I’ll watch.
Good rule to live by. I'm sorry you're going through this. What I hope is that businesses and investors in the US will feel some sense of stability now that the Obama ‘redefine America’ agenda can't be rammed through Congress, and that this will lead to some job creation. Hang in there. People like you are part of the solution. Things will get better.
I don’t understand why they don’t give them community service. Make them work for those benefits. Why give something for nothing?
Unemployment Insurance (UI) taxes are paid by employers, not employees, so you haven’t “contributed” to it at all, much less your “entire life” as you stated. Having said that, I feel for you and if you need any assistance, I’m a former career counselor and will answer any question you might have if you FReepmail me.
According to my husband’s previous paycheck stubs (out of work for a year and a half now, except for the whopping 70 hours he worked in July! He is/was a union tile setter.) unemployment insurance tax is deducted. The employee pays in and so does the employer. There is a limit on how much is deducted for the employee per year (NJ), no idea how much the employer has to pay in.
I think that depends on the state. In some states, (Ohio, e.g.) the employer pays for unemployment insurance while in others, the employee buys his own insurance (as it should be IMHO).
In most states UI taxes are borne by the employer only.
Also in NJ a disability insurance tax is deducted from the employee.
Can’t find a list of which states do or do not impose taxes for unemployment and/or disability on the employee, curious how many do or don’t. My own ignorance thought it was the same in all states to some degree, only have knowledge of NJ having lived there my whole life until moving to PA 3 yrs. ago :)
Reno, NV. No work in three years. Every job posted in my field gets 100+ applicants, and there is maybe 1 posting every 6-8 weeks.
Out of field, like retail or food service minimum wage is about 4x worse.
If there aren’t tax beaks or something for businesses soon, we’re really screwed. This is from tax cuts expiring and the costs associated with Obamacare.
Hang in there. I just watched that new reality show “Downsized” and so much of it hit home that I wanted to crawl into a fetal position.
Ok.. so can someone bring me up to speed. The AP was so worried about getting out the message that a severely outnumbered GOP “blocked” the bill, and how much money they were taking out of the pocket of the unemployed, that they didn’t define “extened” unemployed. I don’t believe these are the 99’ers are they? There have been so many extensions that I have no idea how many weeks unemployed these folks are.. Little help...
I posted this in a similar thread and I do so here Because .. I want those that are fortunate enough to still have employment to understand that .. Not all of us are deadbeats!
Well it’s been over two years for me. (Out of work)
I have never drawn unemployment and the way things look .. I have no hope of landing .. even a burger flipping job .. Ever!
I have been given Every excuse known to man for why I haven’t been offered a job that I have applied for.
The worst excuse? .. You need to be bi-lingual .. yep .. spanish bi-lingual!
I suspect and in an offhanded way have been told that it is my age(58).
Employers are willing to hire anyone under the age of 26 ‘because’ the Government is going to pay for their health insurance!
After 40+ years of working and fighting(army) for this country .. I am Barely hanging on to what little I have been able to acquire over the years!
Where I go from here .. I just don’t know but .. I am scared to death.
They are going to get painted as “MOP” (Mean Old Republicans) again just before Christmas. They need to offer a deal to the administration and the Democrats. Funding for NPR or a 6 month unemployment extension and let them choose.
I would like to ad a subtitle to your original title.
House GOP blocks bill to extend jobless benefits (Lame duck Democrats with majority block bill to extend jobless benefits.)
The Democrat playbook has already been used. They will shift the blame to Republicans for every bit of economic bad news even though the Democrats retain a majority in the house until the new congress gets seated.
I would like to add a subtitle to your original title.
House GOP blocks bill to extend jobless benefits (Lame duck Democrats with majority block bill to extend jobless benefits.)
The Democrat playbook has already been used. They will shift the blame to Republicans for every bit of economic bad news even though the Democrats retain a majority in the house until the new congress gets seated.
As we heard ad nauseum in “Historic” ‘08, “Democrats hold a supermajority in congress”. The GOP is incapable of blocking ANYTHING.
We know how you feel. Hubby wasn’t called back to work until August of ‘09 and he went through one whole extension. He was lucky to be called back just before his second one kicked in.
Because he’s in construction right now and winters up here mean shutting down until Spring, I’m worried that he’ll be screwed out of ANY unemployment when he gets laid off again in a few weeks, even though he’s worked this year steadily since the beginning of April. They’ve changed the unemployment laws so much that it’s a good possibility.
I bealieve you mean HOUSE Republicans, who I agree have gotten a lot of undeserved bashing from alleged "conservatives" for the past several years.
And the employer pays these monies......how? Take your time. Give up? Ok, I'll help. Every hourly wage, salary, bouns and benefit dollar I've earned since age 13 and continuing for the 23 years plus I've consistently held a job has been discounted by the cost the employer pays. Just as the same is discounted by the employer's half of social security. So yes, I have paid. So have you, so has everyone else.
Let me add to your anecdotal story that most of the folk in my surround all busy collecting unemployment with a smile, have a job on the SIDE which is not reported.
The problem is, well I dunno how many people are doing this. I’m thinking there’s a lot doing what your relative is doing. But we’ve no statistics, just an inner knowledge that this kind of thing is going on big time.
Unless the gubmint stops this thing, they’ll get used to this little weekly subsidization income. Then, when you try to take it away, they boohoo for the cameras and become part of the spin machine.
Why on earth did they ever set a limit on unemployment benefits to begin with?
While I’m at it, not a penny is ever deducted from anyone’s paycheck for unemployment benefits should they be needed. While all my life the gubbmint took 7.5% of my paycheck while my employer matched it....that’s 15% of my salary folks.
So tell me this....why are they called unemployments BENEFITS while Social Security/Medicare are called ENTITLEMENTS?
The GOP did nothing. The new House is not seated yet.
It was the Democrats that voted to not extend the benefits.
Call me touchy, feely here, but this is hitting just before the Holidays. The Press can turn this December into the GOP Grinch who stole Christmas 2010!
Just a thought, but maybe you should think about moving someplace where there are better job oppurtunities.
But hey, I didn't vote for the democrats and contribute to this decades long destruction of our economy. I don't think people can lament against Obamunism and the reckless expansion of socialistic policies on the one hand and then point to me as part of the problem on the other. Let's deport Obama's free loading aunt and stop repaving highways over and over before we start throwing willing, tax paying, law abiding Americans out on the street. Am I crazy to suggest that?
Well said. Good luck to you and your job hunt.
I own several businesses, and therefore, I have a pretty good idea how bad the situation is and how much worse it may get. Revenues are down, expenses are up, and there is definately a trickle down effect with the people with whom I do business. I have had to make difficult decisions over the last few months, including painful staff reductions.
With that said, unemployment insurance was never intended as a life-long safety net, as it is in England, Ireland, and other socialists states where people are "on the dole" for generations. At some point, the unemployed have to move from unemployment insurance to welfare benefits.
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