GOP Sets Up More Roadblocks To Unemployment Benefits Extension

[tonysam]

Almost two days after the H.R. 3548 survived its first cloture vote, there has been no major movement on the bill that would extend unemployment insurance for Americans who have exhausted their benefits. Why? Republicans keep throwing up new procedural barriers.

After reaching a bipartisan agreement to include an amendment extending the first-time homebuyer's tax credit, Senate Republicans agreed today to drop their efforts to weigh down the legislation with controversial amendments regarding ACORN and the E-Verify program. In exchange, they've turned to a new form of obstruction: demanding a vote on two new controversial amendments. The first would speed up the expiration date for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (a non-starter for Democrats who point out that a sunset date for the bank bailouts is already written into law). The second is yet another attempt to change to the way the extension is funded, by using "unspent" stimulus money, rather than the federal unemployment surtax, which amounts to 0.2 percent tax on the initial $7,000 of employees' wages.

As we've discussed before, funding an extension through the surtax is a sound strategy. After all, unemployment benefits have been extended so frequently over the past 30 years, many businesses have already budgeted for it. And it's not exactly a hefty expense, costing employers, on average, an extra $14 per employee annually. The GOP opposition is nothing more than petty politics.

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Why are the Democrats letting these stupid fuckers get away with it?

[tonysam]

1. It gets worse

Durbin:Senate Won't Vote On Jobless Benefit Extension This Week

WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- The U.S. Senate won't vote on legislation extending federal jobless benefits to long-term unemployed people, a top Democratic lawmaker said Thursday, as a fight between party leaders drags into its fourth week.

The measure would extend federal benefits by 20 weeks for jobless people living in the hardest-hit states, and for 14 weeks for out of work Americans in all 50 states.

Assistant Majority Leader Richard Durbin (D., Ill.) said lawmakers wouldn't vote on the legislation until next week.

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I am getting madder and madder by the day over this obstruction.

[tonysam]

2. Kick for this latest outrage n/t

[tonysam]

3. Kick again n/t

[sakabatou]

4. New GOP slogan:

"Fuck the People."

[Peregrine Took]

5. They are always trying to come up with ways to limit access to UI benefits.

Regular and extended.

[Better Believe It]

6. Why are the Democrats letting these stupid fuckers get away with it? Answer:

Because Republicans won the 2008 elections and make all the Senate rules?

[Brigid]

7. What is with these people?

Do they watch "The Grapes of Wrath" and think it's a comedy? :banghead:

[tonysam]

8. These morons think the "recession" is "over"

Reports have nothing to do with the worsening unemployment problem.

Many states have extended benefits kicked in, but having to fill this shit out by mail and waiting TEN DAYS instead of two for money is just ridiculous.

I suppose the GOP assholes think they can run out the clock.

[tonysam]

9. Kick again and again n/t

[tonysam]

10. A big kick

:kick: