Unemployment Benefit Extension Stalls in U.S. Senate

[tonysam]

Source: Bloomberg News

Oct. 21 (Bloomberg) -- Legislation to extend unemployment benefits is stalled in the U.S. Senate amid a partisan dispute over how to finance the plan, among other issues.

Republicans are blocking the measure that would extend benefits by as much as 20 weeks because they want votes on several amendments, including on how to pay for the $2.4 billion measure so it doesn’t add to the federal budget deficit. Democrats plan to finance the aid by extending an employer payroll surtax due to expire at the end of this year.

“We have wanted to do this for weeks and they won’t let us,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, told reporters yesterday. “We talk about doing something for economic recovery to stimulate the economy -- who is going to spend the money more quickly than somebody who is out of a job, doesn’t have income? That’s what the unemployment check’s about.”

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=abdI0IokR6FE

---

Every single one of these people who are holding up this needed legislation needs to be thrown out of office.

[Autumn]

1. Fucking assholes n/t

[tonysam]

2. They make me madder all the g.d. time

All gameplaying while people lose their homes and ability to pay their bills.

There are NO jobs to be had. I have tried applying even for menial jobs, and employers say my skill set doesn't match. In other words, I am overqualified for those jobs, even temporary jobs.

[Faygo Kid]

19. I'm with both of you.

This cannot stand. I have a job, but I think it will end soon.

[Le Taz Hot]

35. Raising two hands,

one for me and one for my husband. I'm a 54-year-old female. There are REALLY no jobs for me. Too much education/experience to be hired for fast food and too much competition from far younger people to be considered for the better jobs. At this point I'm hoping my 80+ WPM typing speed might be worth something. Funny, that's how I started out 37 years ago sans education and experience.

[tonysam]

41. I am in the exact same boat as you

I am now going to have to hire a lawyer to sue the ass out of the school district which wrongfully dismissed me a year and a half ago. I am afraid I am going to be screwed out of state extended benefits for some reason.

[tazkcmo]

3. They won't let us????

wtf?

[hedgehog]

4. +1

Time to stop all other business until this gets taken care of!

[Autumn]

5. Damn worthless republican majority.

who the fuck won the election.

[Sub Atomic]

6. They're using procedural tactics to delay passing this.

I've read articles all over the country regarding the unemployment extension and there are a lot of pissed off people out there who claim they are/were Republicans and will never vote for another one in their lives.

The more the Repubs play games with the UI extension, the more obsolete they become as a Party.

[tonysam]

7. The thing is the EUI

will have to continue for at least a couple more years before the economy turns around--if it ever does.

I almost think EUI should kick in automatically when the national unemployment rate is 8.5 percent or more.

[Love Bug]

39. That's what concerns me, tonysam

If it's like pulling teeth to get a 14+ week extension now, what's it going to take to get the next one and the one after that when this runs out and the unemployment situation hasn't improved one bit? It's hard enough sending out endless resumes in what seems like futile effort, all while living on a shoe-string with UI without the constant stress of ticking off the weeks until the benefits run out. My own benefits run out in mid-January, so I'm not done yet, but just watching this pissing match in the Senate is upsetting. My Senators (Franken and Klobuchar) are on board, thankfully.

[tonysam]

40. And I am on state extended benefits, which is a bitch

Nevada wants you to MAIL it in, so I don't know if they have even received my claim or they have decided to stall on it or say they are going to deny my claim.

Who the fuck knows? I have NO money at all to do any kind of search now, except internet.

[blue_onyx]

8. I know!

We were told we needed 60 votes to do anything. Finally, the Dems have 60 votes and now their whining that the GOP still won't let them pass bills? Seriously!?!

[Orrex]

15. They're keeping their powder dry, don't ya know?

:puke:

[AndyA]

9. Harry Reid, Senate "Majority Leader": "THEY won't let us."

Why are THEY setting the agenda? Isn't that what the MAJORITY PARTY does? Isn't that what the SENATE LEADER DOES?

Lead, for fuck's sake, Harry. Lead or get the hell out of the way and let someone who knows what the fuck they're doing take care of it.

The Republicans sure didn't have this problem when they were the majority.

Just do exactly what they did, Harry. :eyes:

[DBoon]

24. Harry Reid should try being unemployed

It might give him a new perspective on these matters

[liberalmuse]

10. Shit, Reid. When are you going to grow some balls?

Most ineffective Senate Majority Leader EVER. And FUCK the Republicans. They only give a shit about deficits when they're not going towards wars or blowing civilians to bits. Most especially when they aren't in power and therefore can't loot the public treasury like they've done under Reagan, Bush and W. There wouldn't be a fucking deficit if a Republican was never allowed to hold the office of The Presidency. God forbid we use our tax dollars to help our fellow human beings.

[mbperrin]

38. He needs to study what works!

Historians Caro and Dallek consider Lyndon Johnson the most effective Senate majority leader in history. He was unusually proficient at gathering information. One biographer suggests he was "the greatest intelligence gatherer Washington has ever known", discovering exactly where every Senator stood, his philosophy and prejudices, his strengths and weaknesses, and what it took to break him.<18>

Robert Baker claimed that Johnson would occasionally send senators on NATO trips in order to avoid their dissenting votes.<19> Central to Johnson's control was "The Treatment",<20> described by two journalists:<21>

The Treatment could last ten minutes or four hours. It came, enveloping its target, at the Johnson Ranch swimming pool, in one of Johnson's offices, in the Senate cloakroom, on the floor of the Senate itself — wherever Johnson might find a fellow Senator within his reach.

Its tone could be supplication, accusation, cajolery, exuberance, scorn, tears, complaint and the hint of threat. It was all of these together. It ran the gamut of human emotions. Its velocity was breathtaking, and it was all in one direction. Interjections from the target were rare. Johnson anticipated them before they could be spoken. He moved in close, his face a scant millimeter from his target, his eyes widening and narrowing, his eyebrows rising and falling. From his pockets poured clippings, memos, statistics. Mimicry, humor, and the genius of analogy made The Treatment an almost hypnotic experience and rendered the target stunned and helpless.

[Orrex]

11. Everyone in Congress should be required to live on the nation's average unemployment benefit amount

Until this passes.

John Kyl is an asshole among assholes, and I only wish that I could blame it all on him.

[harmonicon]

18. how about just minimum wage?

Also, no paid vacations, no retirement package, and no healthcare. Any changes they make for themselves would have to be extended to everyone who makes minimum wage.

[Orrex]

31. Oh, come on--that would be cruel and unusual

Nobody should be forced to live on minimum wage!



On second thought, I like the way you think...

[tonysam]

12. I think it is time to inundate the Republicans in the Senate

with phone calls, emails, snail mail, etc. to cut the crap.

[Orrex]

14. Who are the worst offenders?

I've been watching Kyl for a few weeks on this, but who are the other chief assholes (aside from Reid, I mean)?

[tonysam]

16. McConnell, Isakson, Hatch, for starters n/t

[wisteria]

13. I agree, they will play with peoples lives just to get the things they want. n/t

[jus_the_facts]

17. They never STALL when they give themselves raises they don't NEED...fuckers. N/T

[annabanana]

20. Once again, Republicans work against those who need.

They are on the wrong side of everything.

[JDPriestly]

21. Obama needs to bring all the congressional Democrats together and

read them the riot act. As long as Republicans think that they can destroy the Democratic Party by causing certain Democratic members in Congress to vote against the party in general on major issues, the Republicans will continue to stop legislation.

It is unfortunate that our representatives and senators cannot simply vote their consciences, but they should not be doing that right now. Right or wrong they need to show solidarity for their fellow Democrats in Congress. They need to hash out bills in the Caucus and when the majority of Democrats agree on one direction or the other, they all need to vote with it, whether they agree or not. The arguments and dissent should be voiced and heard before a final bill is presented. And once the bill is up, Democrats should rally around. That is how to put an end to the constant barriers being raised by Republicans. But, of course, Reid has to get with the program. I think that Nancy Pelosi is enough of a team player to understand how to work this.

[tonysam]

23. +1

n/t

[truedelphi]

27. Thanks for the wisdom. Totally agree. n/t

[BrklynLiberal]

22. Well..hopefully this will ensure that all the unemployed will vote Democratic!!!!

[ipaint]

25. This unemployment extension is not retroactive so every week they delay

that money is permanently gone for the unemployed person. So if someone is waiting to catch up on bills they are out of luck.

[robinlynne]

26. "They won't let us?" what?

[skoalyman]

28. Someone pull out the wd40 and get the ball rollin already

it been long enough.Spray it in the republicans ears.

[Union Yes]

29. Can we "lay off" some of these blue dog senators. Then revoke their unemployment checks.

[tonysam]

30. Kick n/t

[actionldy]

32. Pass the Extended Unemployment Bill

Unemployed American workers have united to demand extended unemployment benefits. We can get the bill passed if every unemployed worker will stand up and make their voice heard. Join over 1600 people who have already taken action to get the bill passed. SIGN the online petition to show your support.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/pass-the-unemployment-bill

Spread the word and if you have media, contacts please give them the link so that they can read and share the hundreds of real stories from Americans suffering around this country.

Thanks

[change_notfinetuning]

33. Can't expect much from Republicans. But the Democrats are worthless.

If they can't use the majorities they have to help the victims of Wall Street, as easily as they help the gamblers and moguls, then the Democrats should be underground - six feet or so.

They can celebrate 10,000 Dow all they want at the White House, but what it really means is that those companies that employ Americans are not hiring, at least here in the States. That's how they can maximize profits and satisfy the insatiable whores on Wall Street.

Where is the community organizer on this disaster? When I close my eyes, I see him fiddling while Saul Alinsky is spinning in his grave.

[adoant]

34. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

I can't believe this economy has finally made Me stoop too an
all time low. I made $300.00 today. All I had to do was sell
My soul (among other things I can't disclose in a public
form.). I can't believe it. I've been an honest person all My
life (not an angel mind you). I can't live like this. I never
thought it would come to this. These senators must buy a new
pair of shoes every few days, with all their feet dragging and
such. Could you just imagine how long it would take these
buffoons to sign a bill if it wasn't an emergency? Thank god
they don't have part time jobs as EM-T's. They would have to
vote on who's giving the CPR, and the guy named Bill, would
die in the senate. I just wish these guys & gals in the
senate would stop & think for a moment how many people
this bill effects. Reading about the way these people play
politics, reminds Me of My 9 & 10 Y/O nephews.Wahhhhh,
Vinny took My Xbox controller and used My batteries!! Unh,
unh, I bought dem batteries with my money!! No, I, your Uncle
bought the batteries for both of You (little ingrates, lol).
These senators are quick to vote on a raise for themselves
before they go on vacation for 364 3/4 days, but can't vote on
a lifeline for millions of hard working Americans. I have a
memory like an elephant. I won't be forgetting anytime soon,
how these morons treated us in this, our darkest hour.
November is coming soon. Can you say independent? I knew you
could. I'm done ranting. Good luck folks, we are all gonna
need it!

[Le Taz Hot]

36. Let me be the first to welcome you to DU.

:hi:

[Quantess]

44. Dear "adoant": you are in the wrong place.

[and-justice-for-all]

37. If those fucks screw me out of my benefits...!!!!!!

I am going to be laid off next week and if those assholes fuck me out of what I worked for....:mad:

[rdobbs2010]

42. 13 Republican Senators Vote Against the Unemployed in America!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/10/28/797957/-13-Republican-Senators-Vote-Against-the-Unemployed-in-America!

That's right, here we go again. If it wasn't enough for Senator Jon Kyl and Senator Mitch McConnell to thumb their noses on the unemployed, we now see 13 total U.S. Senators who really are out of touch with America!

On Tuesday, October 27th, the U.S. Senate approved a motion to move forward on their bill to extend unemployment insurance benefits (H.R. 3548). The bill under discussion would extend benefits for people who have exhausted them by 14 weeks in all states and by an additional 6 percent in states with unemployment rates above 8.5 percent.

However, 13 Republican Senators voted against the cloture vote to move the process forward to pass H.R. 3548, which has sat in the U.S. Senate since September 22. This action by these Republicans replicates the stalling tactics utilized initially by Senator Jon Kyl (R) AZ. So apparently these Senators would rather make the MILLIONS of Americans wait for the extension of benefits while they attempt to add additional amendments to the bill.

Here are the 13 Republicans who apparently do not care about the unemployed in the rest of the nation with the state level of official unemployment (U3) in brackets. "Official" means the actual numbers are considerably higher.

Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) <6.8%>
Sen. Christopher Bond (R-MO) <9.5%>
Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) <10.9%>
Sen. Thomas Coburn (R-OK) <6.7%>
Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) <8.2%>
Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) <11.6%>
Sen. Michael Enzi (R-WY) <6.8%>
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) <11.6%>
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) <6.2%>
Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK)<6.7%>
Sen. Jefferson Sessions (R-AL) <10.7%>
Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) <7.4%>
Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) <9.2%>

All I can say is these U.S. Senators need to hear from everyone in America on this important bill, which will go a a full vote by next Tuesday. Maybe the Senators up for reelection should think of those unemployed because they do vote!

Robert Dobbs for Congress, SC-01
http://www.electdobbs.com/

[sattahipdeep]

43. Pet projects Hatch....“It was worth it,”

Indeed, to this day, those involved in the decision to give the Afghan rebels access to a fortune in covert funding and top-level combat weaponry continue to defend that move in the context of the Cold War. Sen. Orrin Hatch, a senior Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee making those decisions, told my colleague Robert Windrem that he would make the same call again today even knowing what bin Laden would do subsequently. “It was worth it,” he said.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3340101/