Millions could lose unemployment benefits in 2012 (extension is estimated to cost $44 billion)

Yahoo ^ | 10/11/11 | Tami Luhby - CNNMoney

[NormsRevenge]

Millions of unemployed Americans are waiting for Congress to do something other than trade barbs over their job creation plans.

If lawmakers don't act soon, the jobless see their unemployment checks start to disappear come January.

More than 6 million Americans are set to lose federal unemployment benefits in 2012, with 1.8 million running out in January alone, according to new figures from the National Employment Law Project.

President Obama's $447 billion American Jobs Act would extend the deadline to file for federal unemployment benefits for another year. Though the Senate is expected to take up the controversial jobs bill on Tuesday, it's unlikely to get very far.

While many Washington observers say the administration's jobs bill is dead in the water, it's possible the unemployment extension could be separated and sent through on its own, or as part of another bill before year's end. The extension is estimated to cost $44 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

[NormsRevenge]

extension is estimated to cost $44 billion..

--

Strange Times, indeed.

Many nations are nowhere near that total annually for their entire budgets.

[Buckeye McFrog]

All coming together according to plan.

“99’ers” and “victims of GOP Austerity” coming together to join the “Occupy” protests at a strategic time.

[cuban leaf]

There is a reason they perpetually increase unemployment benefits: For our government, the only thing scarier than millions on unemployment, is millions losing their benefit without finding jobs. If they join them, they could make these “occupy” protests into a monster that the Greek mobs could only imagine in their wildest dreams.

“When people lose everything and have nothing to lose, they lose it.” - Gerald Celente

[Sacajaweau]

Take all the Federal Pensions being paid out this year...cut them in half and we’ll have money left over.

[Sacajaweau]

It'll be extended because it goes right back into the economy...

What we need is a good data base of the "jobs" of the unemployed. Maybe we have to change the terms of receiving unemploymnent.

[9422WMR]

According to the article:
Up to 99 weeks total time drawing unemployment compensation.
That’s 1.9 years sitting on the couch watching satellite TV and eating government handout food and procreating to have more spawn on the take.....
What’s not to like?/S

[cuban leaf]

—It’ll be extended because it goes right back into the economy...—

Like Welfare.

Why am I working, again?

[Slump Tester]

"Take all the Federal Pensions being paid out this year...cut them in half and we’ll have money left over."

Don't forget the billions we waste at the UN.

One thing about money spent on unemployment - the majority of it stays in this country!

[Darteaus94025]

"For our government, the only thing scarier than millions on unemployment, is millions losing their benefit without finding jobs."

I'd add, "...during an Presidential election year." There is NO WAY that this President will not SPEND billions more to extend unemployment benefits during 2012 to improve his re-election probability. Next year's deficit is going to be through the roof.

[the invisib1e hand]

Again?!

[TheBattman]

Someone explain to me what made the Federal Government (or State Government - or the taxpayers in general) responsible for paying people a check because they are out of work. Please - enlighten me.

I understand the so-called “unemployment compensation insurance” BS - the program is billed as “100% paid for by employers who pay taxes on wages paid”.

Are we really suppose to believe this is true today, with the seemingly unending unemployment benefits being paid?

I cry BY for other reasons as well - not the least of which - there ARE jobs (at least here in Arkansas) if someone is willing to actually work. Oh? You say you cannot take a job that pays less than what you were making before? Gee - I hate for you that you chose to bury yourself in a lifestyle that cannot be supported with lower income (and I can honestly say I found myself in that situation several years ago and nearly drowned - but I didn’t ask the taxpayers to bail me out).

[TheBattman]

and who cares how much they decide to spend (has it been long enough to forget the budget “crisis” we supposedly saw this year?) - Oh, right - they don’t care about how much they spend - they will just take it out of the Defense budget...

[Darteaus94025]

Budget? What budget?

[Buckeye McFrog]

Next year's deficit is going to be through the roof.

Damned straight. This Soooooper Committee is a complete joke. They are just trying to time it so the failure happens over the holidays when nobody is paying attention.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The headline makes it sound like unemployment benefits are an entitlement that should never expire.

[Eva]

The administration’s jobs bill is dead in the water and they will claim it is the fault of the Republicans. The jobs bill will then go to the Deficit commission, where Patty Murray, who has incidentally written the Infrastructure and Transportation portion of the bill, is the Democrat co-chair, as well as chief Democrat Congressional fund raiser.

The plan is paint the Republicans as obstructionists on jobs and then ram it through the deficit commission.

[Wiggins]

I happen to know of two school teachers that were pink slipped that said they were going to stay out until their unemployment insurance runs out. I also hear from some people still working that they don’t care if they lose their jobs as they will just file for unemployment. t seems to me that some people are willing to take less to not work at all.

[Ernie Kaputnik]

“Why am I working again?”

So that:
1.) the DNC base doesn’t starve;
2.) the children of the DNC base has free school breakfasts & lunches everday;
3.) the DNC base has plenty of money on their EBT (welfare credit cards) every month to keep them stocked up on tortillas, refried beans, and 40 oz. Schlitz Malt Liquor;
4.) the democrats can continue to receive funding from federal employee unions;
5.) the unions have supplemental insurance;
6.) millions of illegal aliens receive IRS tax refunds
every year.
7.) illegal aliens can continue to spit out their unholy spasn at your expense and receive free welfare benefits;
8.) illegal aliens can continue to spit out their unholy spawn and receive a free education and in-state college tuition at your expense;
9.) illegal aliens can continue to spit our their unholy spawn at your expense, which ensures generations of future Demoncrat voters;
10.) the DNC can continue to keep 97% of the “African-American” population on the “Gubmint Plantation”.
11.) the DNC can keep millions of federal employees on the payroll (all vote Democtrat);
12.) the DNC can f*ck you and your children out of freedom and common sense;
13.) (Feel free to add your own reasons....)

See my tagline.

Ernie

[cuban leaf]

I will NOT go down as Boxer did.

[Steak]

I have had a job since I was 14 years old (35 now). Problem is, there are NO JOBS! I am a telecommunications expert, and a broadcast engineer. I have tons of experience, and awesome references. I can shoot data at satellites, wire up a whole city with Wifi, run a pro sports stadiums systems without a glitch. I am so highly skilled that it HARMS my job prospects, but cannot even find a job at a grocery store. I’ve applied for jobs at 1/3 my old salary, and can’t even get an e-mail reply, since the companies are so clogged with applicants. We are hurting. I have two young daughters, and a wife, who count on me, and have been out of work for over a year. Only reason we ate well this year is at least i had time to cover every inch of our property with vegetables. We eat what we grow.Winter will be hard.
After the mortgage (humble country home) and the heating bill, we live off of $75 a week (yeah, that’s for gas, food, clothes for a family of 4), with my unemployment insurance, and my wife’s meager earnings.

For those complaining about an extension, you are full of caca. Yes, I agree, that when times are good, unemployment insurance keeps some people from looking for work. Right now is different, there are NO JOBS, not even McDonald’s jobs. We are screwed. I have worked, and paid taxes, consistently for 21 years now, and have been hit by a tidal wave that we call the economy. We do what we can. I have sold my guns, my fishing equipment, all my stuff I have worked and saved for for years. We have run through our savings. Imagine that everything you worked and saved for, your whole life, you had to list and sell on craigslist, the only thing you have left is your family’s home, and jerks online complain that you are watching directv and sitting on the couch having a holiday.

I’m a longtime conservative, and far brighter than most jerks on this site, and you guys have it wrong. Are there people taking advantage of the system? Of course there are, its government, plenty take advantage of everything they can. Myself, and MANY like me just want to work, where shall we go? Will you resign and give your job to me? I’ll gladly switch places on that one! The next person who calls me or people in my position lazy, I challenge them to resign from their job, and offer me their position. Otherwise, shut it!

33 posted on Mon Oct 17 20:58:32 2011 by Steak