In the midst of the worst long term unemployment crisis in this country since the Great Depression, our Senate passed the “Unemployment Compensation Extension Act.”
Great news! Huge Victory!
Right?
All those people who were cut off during the six week stall by the Greedy Obnoxious Party of No! are now going to get benefits again!
Right?
Wrong. Despite the celebrations, the unfortunate facts are that this bill leaves the long term unemployed out in the cold. Tier IV is the end of the road for our unemployed. 99 weeks and you are done. There is no Tier V in this bill, what it does is continue funding for Tier IV (up to 99 weeks.) Also missing: COBRA extensions. Gone.
http://www.opencongress.org/articles/view/1987-Senate-Breaks-GOP-Filibuster-of-Unemployment-Extension-Bill-Now-Set-to-Become-LawAnd if you want to see just how congressional sausage is made, and just how sick our Republic is, read the bill:
http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h4213/showAlmost all of it has NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH HELPING THE UNEMPLOYED.
Hey 99ers! I guess you just don't count. Right?