But, what are they going to do when there ARE no jobs! 1,800 lose their checks today here in Maine. In Maine, all that is offered is nursing, home care givers and truckers. What are they to do?????
Even McDonalds isn't hiring! 
Posted on 12/28/2002, 1:19:43 PM by GailA
800,000 Jobless Americans to Lose Aid 800,000 Jobless Americans Set to Lose Aid After Congress Ends Year Without Extending Benefits
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON Dec. 28 — Already facing a sputtering economy and slow hiring, nearly 800,000 unemployed Americans face a new woe Saturday when their federal unemployment benefits end.
Democrats and labor unions, sensing political opportunity, are blaming the cuts on President Bush and Republicans in Congress. Bush, in a late show of support for an extension, urged Congress last week to get it done when lawmakers return to work next month.
"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."
Congress left for the year without extending the federal benefits, meaning that 750,000 to 800,000 unemployed workers will get cut off Saturday. Another 95,000 jobless workers will exhaust their state benefits each week afterward. Already, 1 million people have exhausted all of their benefits.
There were two competing bills that languished: A $5 billion plan from the Democrat-controlled Senate that would have extended benefits 13 weeks for people now receiving them or who were newly eligible, and a $900 million plan from the GOP-led House for five extra weeks for workers in a few states with high unemployment rates.
"It's unfortunate that the Senate didn't pick up our unemployment package and pass it," said John Feehery, spokesman for House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill.
Bush has now sent a "very strong message" to Congress to extend the benefits and make them retroactive, said Labor Department spokeswoman Kathleen Harrington. The agency is confident that benefits will be extended, she said, and has been relaying that to many governors who are calling with questions.
Some states will continue to process claims for benefits and at least one state, Idaho, will keep paying them with the expectation that funding will be available early next year, she said.
Democratic lawmakers rallied Friday in New York to put pressure on their Republican colleagues. Also, the AFL-CIO arranged a news conference in New York City featuring several unemployed workers whose benefits are being cut off.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
I am still waiting for evidence that President Bush has any intentions of cutting the size of the Federal government, or of trying to cut some of the waste, or of easing the burden on taxpayers, or of weaning welfare queens from the public teat, or that he has any sort convictions or ideals, or that he has a backbone, or...
Oh I know...at least it's not Al Gore; hell, Al Gore would have caved on the proposition that all those currently on the public dole should remain so, and that those of us that actually work and pay should support them. It's a good thing we have a republican in office. At least it was a republican that caved on the proposition that all those currently on the public dole should remain so, and that those of us that actually work and pay should support them. My wallet feels so much better.
Did I miss something or since when is there the International Brotherhood of Unemployed Whiners.
If this is the GOP defense (argument), then Conservatives have already lost the debate.
This is arguing on Democrat Party terms; instead of claiming to be in favor of extending benefits, and making them retroactive, why does the GOP not let them expire and tell those without jobs to get to work? They have been crowing about the economy; are they lying about its robustness? They give lip service to the free market, but continue to tamper with the free labor market.
The Dems have defined the argument, and the spineless GOP was sucked right in. It's win-win for dems and the welfare queens; and nothing but losses for Conservatives and productive Americans.
Likewise, the 15 highest benefit welfare states had the . . . shocking! . . . highest numbers of people on welfare. The 15 lowest benefit states had the lowest number of people on welfare. This is common sense. Unemployment benefits do NOT help people get jobs, especially when they become permanent.
I admit, more can be done and SHOULD be done. But in that first move, Bush did more to POTENTIALLY reduce the size of the federal workforce than Reagan did in 8 years.
We have a sad situation on our hands, folks. If you have a job, get down on your knees and thnk God!
But, what are they going to do when there ARE no jobs! 1,800 lose their checks today here in Maine. In Maine, all that is offered is nursing, home care givers and truckers. What are they to do?????
Even McDonalds isn't hiring!
And of course, making benefits retroactive increases the burden on those of us that work. Thanks President Bush.
I'd rather have any honest job than sit on my can waiting for the roof to fall in on my head! Jobs here have always been few and far between, perhaps some folks should try starting their own businesses, then they might in time be able to hire some people.
My mother always said there is no sin in good honest days work!
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