Unemployment Insurance Update October 2009 - A Third Federal Extension?
77Introduction
Are you almost ready to run out of unemployment insurance benefits or worse yet, you have run out already? No matter how hard you searched for employment, there are no jobs. Do you lay awake in bed at night sick with worry about how you will pay your bills once the unemployment ends? Although it doesn't help, you're not alone. According to the National Employment Law Project (NELP), over half a million people exhausted their benefit at the end of September, and 1.5 million people will exhaust their benefits by the end of 2009. In comparison to last year at this time, the figures are even worse. Last year at this time before the Tier II extension was passed, 800,000 unemployed workers were scheduled to run out of benefits in October, followed by another 350.000 in November and December. Clearly, something has to be done quickly.
How Many Unemployment Insurance Extensions are There
Are you wondering how many unemployment insurance extensions there has been in this latest economic downturn? As of October 1, 2009. There are two federal extensions available to those who qualify. They are:
- Tier I Emergency Unemployment Compensation - This was the first extension. Approved in July 2008, it provided an additional seven weeks of unemployment insurance benefits to those eligible.
- Tier II Emergency Unemployment Compensation - This was the second extension for eligible workers that exhausted regular Unemployment Compensation (UC) and Tier I benefits. Approved in November 2008, it provided seven weeks of additional unemployment compensation for eligible workers regardless of the state's unemployment rate. Furthermore, in states with an unemployment rate more than 6% for three consecutive months, it provides an additional 13 weeks for a total of 20 weeks.
In addition to the federal extensions, some states have implemented extensions of their own.
Considering unemployment is still a problem, another federal extension is in the process of legislation now.. This extension is called H.R. 3548 - Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2009. This provides 13 additional weeks of unemployment compensation to eligible workers who have exhaused UC, Tier I, and Tier II benefits. If passed, it will be available in states that have an unemployment rate above 8.5%. Currently, 25 states and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are eligible.
Status of the Latest Unemployment Insurance Extension - H.R. 3548
As of October 1, 2009, although H.R. 3548 passed in the house, it is held up in the Senate. Apparently, some Democrats are upset because their state is not eligible. For instance, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, D-N-H, said "Unemployed workers face equally severe challenges no matter what state they live in, and they should be given the support they need." Therefore, she is urging the bill apply to all states. In light of this, she wrote a letter to Senate leaders saying it was unfair that hundreds of thousands of unemployed workers from states with lower unemployment rates will be excluded under the House plan.
No Job, No Home
Current State of the Economy
According to the Obama officials our economy is in the recovery mode. However, the following statistics show Americans have not recovered yet.
- According to Jack Reed, senator of Rhode Island, mortgage forclosures continue to rise. Despite federal efforts, they have risen another third since last year.
- According to Karen Weaver, global head of securitization research for Deutsche Bank Securities, 26% of U.S. borrowers owe more than their home is worth.
- According to the federal Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Office of Spendthrift, more than 50% of homeowners who had their mortgage remodified in the beginning of 2008 have missed at least two payments by now.
- According to the National Bankruptcy Research Center, consumer bankruptcies hit their highest level in July 2009 since October 2005 when legislation made it more difficult to file for bankruptcy. Furthermore, it seems the long-term trend is heading back to the filing rates before October 2005.
- As of August 2009, 34 million American were on food stamps. This is approximately one in 12 people. This is 22% higher than in June 2009, and the highest level of food stamp usage since they started keeping records in 1969.
- For 2008, the nation's poverty rate was 13.2%, the highest level since 1997. Because of the high unemployment, they expect the figures for 2009 to be significantly higher. Furthermore, after being adjusted for inflation, median family incomes in 2008 were lower than a decade ago.
Conclusion
Regardless of whether our economy is improving or not, there are still alot of people in this country that are hurting. Considering this, I agree with Senator Shaheen. Unemployment benefits should be availble to all eligible unemployed workers who have exhausted UC and the other tiers regardless of the state's unemployment rate.
For instance, in some states, a large percentage of the population is centered in larger towns where the are more economic opportunities. On the other hand, in the outlying towns with smaller populations, there are less economic opportunites. Therefore, the higher employment rates in the populated areas artificially rise the state's employment rate as a whole. For example, even though Minnesota's unemployment rate for August 2009 was 8%, there are 17 counties out of 87 that have unemployment rates at 8.5% or greater. Additionally, although Minnesota's unemployment rate was one-tenth percent less in August compared to July, there were fewer people working in August compared to July. Unfortunately, when people are no longer looking for working, they are not counted as unemployed, and again, the state's unemployment rate appears better than it is. Furthermore, this is longest recession since the Great Depression, and at no other time in the history of unemployment have workers been unemployed for so long. Consequently, if people did have savings to fall back on in the beginning of the recession, more than likely they are at rock bottom now. Considering these factors, I believe it is not economically advantageous to stop benefits in states with rates lower rates than 8.5%. Unless consumers start spending again, the economy and jobs will continue to be sluggish.
How High Will the Unemployment Rise - November 2009
- Unemployment Rate 2009 Update November - How High Will Unemployment Rise?
Beginning in December 2007, we are two years into this recesssion, and unemployment is rising even higher. In Septemeber 2009, it was 9.8%. The new figure for October is 10.2%. It hasn't been this high since...
See How Your Senator and Representatives Voted on the Last Three Unemployment Extensions
- Friend or Foe of the Unemployed? Nay Votes on Unemployment Benefit Extensions 2009
Has long-term unemployment affected you? If so, have you laid in your bed at night, tossing and turning, wondering how you are going to pay the rent or put food on the table? With 7.2 million people out of...
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I think all this is a bunch of BS!!,WE DON,T NEED TO SPEND MONEY ON WAR!!, WHEN YOU GET nothing or benefit from it!! we the people of the USA need jobs back here not over see,s.people lets close our borrders build up this country for the kids, make jobs.in citys and states.pay for our health benfits.and start living again.
I totally agree with both of you! Something needs to be done, but it seems like the people who have the power to make changes aren't!
Let's not foreget when election time rolls around....to oust them on ass.
Hi Shirley
I agree! I initially thought Obama was going to be a good president, but I don't know anymore. I wonder if he would let things drag on for so long if his children's heads were sleeping on a hard, cold tent floor! The situation in this whole country is sickening.
Another problem equally as important is the way they are handling SS disability. Read http://hubpages.com/hub/social-security-disability
When US will better more.
Hi Kyon
From what I understand it doesn't look like unemployment will improve that much until 2011. Thank you for stopping by and reading the article.
so what the us prisedent plan about this case?
if you all do your research before negatively commenting about the president..it's not him holding up the extension...it is the republicans...the republicans refused to vote on the extension last week because they claim they needed to look into the spending first....and for the record people the economy was messed up BEFORE Obama became president....The RECESSION started in DECEMBER 2007...
Hi Mzdash0f
I think some people on this site have done their research. For instance, DeelnCalifornia has a very good understanding of the history of the bill, and he's right. H.R. 3548 began as H.R. 3404 last summer.
I didn't read up on what happened with H.R. 3404, but I have paid close attention to H.R. 3548. From my understanding, it was held up in the Senate because Senators from states with unemployment less than 8.5% thought the bill was inequitable. They thought all states should recieve help. Personally, I agree. However, you can't blame some people for being upset, especially if they have already exhausted their unemployment. They're scared and desperate. They need help now before they lose their homes, etc.
As for President Obama, no, he is not responsible for the economy's downturn since it began before he even took office. However, one of his campaign promises was to create new jobs for America, and so far, although things take time, I haven't seen much effort in that area since the economic stimuus,and it's debatable whether that created new jobs for the economy. Furthermore, I don't believe in flaunting your wealth when the country is hurting so much. Didn't I read something this year about Michelle sporting around a pair of $500 tennis shoes. How do you think some Americans feel about this when their kids are sleeping on tent floors wondering where their next meal is going to come from?
Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
...i too am unemployed right now...i served 8 years in the military and i have 2 adopted kids that i care for so i feel where EVERYONE is coming from ...when i said RESEARCH i never said that no one knew what H.R 3548 was...i said RESEARCH because i had read over 5 comments that said it was Obamas fault that we are in a recession that's why i said research shows it started in DECEMBER 2007...how can anyone expect one man to fix in less than a year what someone else has messed up over several years....it was because of Bush that i PERSONALLY decided not to re-enlist in the UNITED STATES ARMY...again i am in the same position that everyone else is in but i DO know who is at fault...i gave 8 years of MY life to serve and protect my fellow americans and i would do it all over again if i could but what do you think Bush gave me in return?
A story ran on Yahoo this past week that there are 6.3 applicants for every available job. People want to work, but the work is simply not there.
The Economic News you hear reported is just wealthy people trading stocks... it's not what is really going on in the everyday lives of ordinary people.
If you truly want to understand what is going on you follow the money trail and you dig into the FED and the FRACTIONAL RESERVE BANKING SYSTEM. An economy can not sustain itself on a perpetual debt model. Until the Central Bank issue is addressed expect more of the same and more people hurting.
Protect us! What the hll are talking about? You were in the army because it was you job,don't give me any of that protect Americans crap! Who are you protecting us from???? Besides I do not need your protection,so save it for your self!!!
Hi Mzdash09
I am sorry; I misunderstood your comment. Yes, I agree with you. The recession is not Obama's fault. Since I am not an economist, I know some of the reasons behind the recession, but not all of them.
Since you're unemployed, too, I think you can understand where some people's attitudes are comming from. They're scared, and it's easy to use Obama as a scapegoat. Although I don't think Obama is responsible for the recession, I do think he should be concentrating more on the econonmy and job creation rather and less on health care reform. If you look at the public opinion polls, health care is secondary to people's concerns about the economy and jobs. However, I imagine he feels overwhelmed by the massiveness of the problem. I know I wouldn't want to be in his shoes.
Your input is appreciated. Thank you for stopping by and commenting.
Hi Mike
Thank you for your suggestion about reading more on the Fed and Fractional Reserve Banking System. I certainly will take your advice.
I appreciate your input, Mike. Thank you for commenting.
Hi G
I'm sorry to disagree with you. I realize our involvement overseas has come at a great cost. However, regardess, of whether our involvement has been right or wrong, I appreciate the men and women that serve our country. Just like you and I; they are only doing their jobs.
Thank you for stopping by and commenting.
They have set on this enough. They know in 13 weeks yo can not find a job as bad as it is out there. Having business owners on the news saying things are pickng up. They know regular people who are out there know the truth. We are going into winter. It will not be till may or June 2010 if then we see a pickup in job market.
Hi Thisisenoughpoliitics!
Maybe you haven't heard, but the Senate did pass an amendment on H.R. 3548. Whereas the initial bill called for a 13 week extension for states with an unemployment rate at or above 8.5%, the new amendment calls for an extension of 13 weeks for all states and an extra 6 weeks for states with an unemployment rate at or above 8.5%. For more information, read http://hubpages.com/hub/unemployment-insurance-sen The amendment is with the Conference Committeee being ironed out right now.
While I agree 13 weeks is not long enough considering the jobless recovery if it is even a recovery, at least the amendment is better than the initial bill.
Thank you for your input. I appreciate it!
Obama Change,Change,Change... That's what we were brain washed with. The president went off on how many jobs he has created or saved where are they. I forgot speech writers. One for trying to get the Olympics in Chicago, and second the acceptance speech for The Noble Peace Pize. ( which you haven't been in the office long enough to be spoken in the same sentence with ) Whats next???? How many Oscars will he be nominated for?
Hi Ilbts
Yes, that was the premise of his campaign, and now, he needs to help the country figure out a way to change our future onto a positive track.
Although the economic stimulus probably may have saved and created jobs, unfortunately, it was not enough of a stimulus to make up for all of the jobs our economy has lost. The Obama Administration and Congress are going to have to figure out something and quickly or we may actually have another Great Depression rather than the Great Recession we have now.
G says:
13 hours ago
Protect us! What the hll are talking about? You were in the army because it was you job,don't give me any of that protect Americans crap! Who are you protecting us from???? Besides I do not need your protection,so save it for your self!!!
ARE YOU SERIOUS? my job was to protect and serve! Instead of sitting at home behind your computer maybe you would have rather been lying in the prone position next to me with your M16 in Iraq...where were you in 2001-2004? Again protect you from who?
Like Seamist said whether right or wrong someone has to do the job...that someone wasnt you was it! back to the issue at hand UNEMPLOYMENT..someone gave me a site to go to and sign a petion for extenting unemployment...when i signed it there were like only 400 or so signatures. the site is:
http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/NeedExtended
Seamist, thank you for all the good advice you give and for being open minded in all situations and concerns..and good luck to ALL...
Thumbs up, Mz.Dash09! It's unfortunate some people are ungrateful and don't understand the bravery and sacrifice the service men and women make to protect our country for the well-being of all. There aren't too many people willing to do what Mz.Dash09 did, and he and all other service personnel and the American families who have lost their beloved family member or friend should be honored and thanked from the bottom of our hearts!
Our minister served as a missionary overseas, and the other week he was telling us how in the Muslim world even showing the the sole of your foot is considered disrespectful and can bring harm. Because of Mz.Dash09 and others like him, we have the privilege to live in a country where that does not happen!
Again Mz.Dash09, thank you very much for your bravery and dedication in serving our country even though there are some who don't appreciate it.
I was in the first gulf war,it wasn't really a challange to bomb and kill unskilled fighters,I felt like a bully in high school.As for your stupid comment,your full of sht and you know it! You wernt even there, how do I know? Because they do not use the M-16 weapon anymore.You think people go to the mid east to fight for our freedom? I don't think so,you see we are already free,so we must be fighting for there freedom.Well I just do not think Americans should be used like slave suckers for some stupid rag heads! And you are an idiot to actually think this war is about our freedom and not OIL!!! Why don't you first learn what kind of weapons there are,and then you can pretend to be a WAR hero!
It is time that those who took the jobs out of this country are held responsible. Why are we bailing out companies that have outsourced the majority of their manufacturing? If you want to move your company to India, Germany, Mexico....., then YOU go with it. Tax their imports, if they do not want to pay American wages (this cuts into the private island, jets, $10,000 purses etc.) It is not the union that is taking the money. It is the corporate heads that are earning bonuses for bankrupting organizations! Capitalism needs a overhaul. Franklin Roosevelt initiated some radical (at the time) changes, we need them now. We can no longer listen to the rhetoric that if "American's would work for less, we would not have this problem" That is the biggest piece of propaganda since Hitler. Look at the profits of these companies. They want to pay $5.00 per hour, while at the same time, listing "unprecedented profits", or "profits are through the roof". When they asked the American's to BUY AMERICAN, we did. What did they do? Moved their company to countries that the greatest resource is human beings. Creating a middle class in a number of other areas, while ours quickly dissolved. Did anyone ever hear the phrase, "the middle class carries this country on its back"??? Well, look at us now. Quit allowing the greedy, pigs at the top from robbing us blind. There should be sanctions for not using American labor. One wants American priveliges, but no one wants to pay. When people have no other worries but to follow Paris Hilton around the beach - we are sick. Her family is getting rich off of illegal immigrants in the service industry - check out the staff in any hotel. Yet, we are impressed with her dog's diamond collar? Wake up - let us return to American's roots. God Bless America, we better not forget - or we will nothing. This could continue, however, if the point cannot be understood at this juncture, then I am deeply afraid for this citizenry.
Smith,you said it! And try getting seafood that's from the us,like shrimp or tuna,next time you go to the s market look in the back of every can of tuna and there all from scummy asia,canned crab too.Then go to the seafood deli and just look at the countries listed on the shrimp and fish.Do you think it's ok to import seafood from countries that dump toxic waste and most of there trash in the same ocean they catch seafood and sell it to the cooperations of this country,so they can make big profits,while the ones eating it get sick and don't even know it! We have some of the best products here in this USA and we can't even get them, what a joke, we save the good stuff for other countries. And then we give them our jobs.......Ha! Ha! You gotta laugh! It's time for a R.WHAT?
Hi Seamist , Thanks for the update on amendment H.R. 3548. This is still an issue that needs close attention now not later. Also, I have heard that with this issue GM, Delphi etc. have been given notice that their retirees healthcare after working their for years to retire that their backed healthcare (blue cross etc.) to medicare will be gone in Jan 2010. This means no supplemental to these poor age people. This was due to bankruptcy. People you need to wake up if you think any retirement is safe in this country now you better think twice.
Hi s smith,
You are 100% correct if you ship jobs to other countries you have to live in the country it resides in and not ship product back with a fair tariff not $1.00 as some products are now coming back with. Look into it if you think this is wrong. Far trade is not what we are doing in today society. Undermining USA is what our government is doing.
Doe anyone know if and when the people are going to actually get a unemployment ext. check? I mean aig are handing out bonus $ to everyone who works for them,one of there bathroom cleaners got a $7000 bonus,why not! It's not there money,it's the tax payers money that the congress gave to them.Well they sure passed that bill in a hurry diddn't they? They just don't care about all the honest hard working people who are out of work,and whoes taxes paid for all of these bailouts.If there not going to extend unemployment,then they should supply jobs...
Hi S Smith
Great commentary! You said it better than I could. Some economist believe the US needs to enact an industrial policy that puts American workers first and compares with the trading policies of our trading partners. I agree.
SHOW AMERICA HOW MANY OF US ARE UNEMPLOYED AND STRUGGLING
Friday, October 30, 2009 show America how many of Americans are out of work.
During this day all unemployed Americans that can afford to drive that day- drive with your flashers on where ever you go.
If possible if most people can get out during the hours of 11am-2pm. Maybe elected officials will be out on the roads themselves and notice the amount of heavy traffic and notice all the four-way flashers and push for unemployment extensions and push others to create jobs. 10% doesn’t seem like a large number until these people are actually scene.
I am tired of employed American blaming Unemployed American that we could find a job if we really looked and we all want a free ride.
Come on Unemployed Americans, I know this will be a struggle for gas but maybe $3-$7 dollars may help all unemployed.
Hi G
I didn't even realize that about the seafood; thanks for educating me on it. Your comments made me think about the past. We live in a small communty about two hours away from the Canadian border. About six years ago, Walmart came in, and stole the business away from the other small stores. They just couldn't compete with Walmart prices. However, do remember when Walmart's slogan what "Buy American." You go in that store nowadays and almost everything is foreign made.
Hi Jen Ellis
I agree Jen. We need to stand up for what we believe in and our right to have employment that at least pays for our basic needs like food and shelter. As I sit here and think about this, I have to wonder if our country is partly in this situation because of people like me. At one time, when I was younger, I didn't pay attention to what was going on in the world around me. Now that I am older, and things have only got harder economically rather than better, I am paying more attention, and I am writing our elected reprensatives. However, do you ever wonder how much people's apathy have affected this country?
Hi Thisisenoughpolitics
I haven't heard about those health care and insurance issues, thanks for informing me. I'll have to check into it.
Amen to s smith! I agree with you 100% also. Nothing is going to change until the American people start electing representatives that refuse to allow the special interests in this country to pad their pockets in order to keep things the way they are now; the rich man getting richer and the rest of us poor, notice I didn't mention any middle-class.
I am in total agreement with you that it is not the Unions that are to blame, it is the corporate greed at the top that has been running this country into the ground for the past 30 years. All it takes is for one of these corporations to get away with this type of greedy behavior and the next thing you know the rest of corporate America follows in their footsteps.
to G: i dont have to pretend to be a hero and i never said that i was...dude be serious with yourself....good for you for serving in the first gulf war...stay focused on hoping the unemployment benefits get extended...in the mean time google me baby!
801st Combat Support Hospital..Fort Sheridan, IL/ 256th Combat Support Hospital.. Brooklyn, Ohio(Operation Enduring Freedom)...i served during THIS war not the gulf war!
the link below is from the Congressional Record-Senate on October 13th, 2009
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getpage.cg
On October 13th they tried to get the bill H.R 3548 read a 3rd time and passed unanimously but Senator Hatch from Utah said HIS SIDE needed to look at the bill(yet again)...the bill was already looked at last week by the Senator of Arizona(who is on his side)
Let's all go back to school so we can have a degree and still have a minimum wage job.
Greed is the only reason things have gotten to this point. No one cares about the little people, like us, that made this country great. If we continue to follow the morons leading us to distruction, the "american dream" will turn into a nightmare(if it hasn't already).
Hi D
Yes, I agree with you about the corporate greed. For instance, take Chase. I am still ticked about their underhanded, greedy tactic. Back six or so years ago, the offered a bunch of life of the loan low interest rates as long as you never made a late payment. After the government helped bail them out, what do you think they did. After the government passed the legislation on what credit card companies can and cannot do, they raised the minimum rates on all of their customers who had these low interest rate loans even though none of them made late payments. That took place mid summer. Customers only had one month notice and there was no opt-out nor were they willing to help in other way. In my case, it raised my payments from 300+ to 900+ a month since I used that loan to consolidate my loans. Now way could I afford that increase, especially in today's economy. They didn't care whether it would mean their customers would have to file bankruptcy or not. Now that's a prime example of corporate greed.
Hi Mz.Dash09
Thank you very much for sharing that link with the readers!
Hi Reddog
I hear you about the school! I, too, went back to school to try to get a better job. Four years time and thousands of dollars spent on a BS in Environmental Science. When I got out of school, I couldn't find any jobs except for sorting hazardous waste for $10 an hour.
Thanks for commenting and stopping by.
Watch the movie three kings,yea I was one if those based on in that movie,believe it or not? You know we got all them riches,and then they get taken away from the MAN,same OL same OL,nothing changes! Now I can't even get an unemployment check! You said enduring freedom,did you ever think of what that really means? I say we endur our own f****n freedom befor china takes it away! Save the Earth,stop The Bear bile extraction trade all over Asia! Stop the live skinning of animals! Now that's a fight worth all!!! Americans should start being more respectful to the Earth and the Animals,and than maybe we might have better luck.Until then,I think we will remain to be cursed....F**k iraq!!!
yeah Mr G...i agree with Youuu!!
Does everyone here remember the Contract on America, where the social safety net was cut to the bone? Who needed to give all those benefits to those good for nothings who didn't deserve them anyway, right? I have to work for a living, why should anyone get anything for free? Besides, I'm comfortable now, and I don't see ever an end to this prosperity. Right?
Does anyone remember when the great national non-discussion over NAFTA took place some years ago? You remember that there was no labor or human rights or environmental represenation during those discussions and eventual legislation that made it so much easier to move jobs and money out of this country? Or the deregulation of the banking industry and the stock market? "The market with regulate itself" Alan Greenspan, ha ha.
The timing was so good; there was prosperity and jobs during the Clinton years, an aura of comfort on the land. Everyone was in denial about what class they came from, what they really were, because they had a &&^^% credit card and an active fanasy life.
This is the culmination of all that legislation that so many of you stood idly by while it was being passed. I personally have a HUGE axe to grind; I was an activist at the time and trying to talk all these IPOD playing, porno watching mopes to take note of what was going on and how it was going to impact them in the years to come. But people were comfortable in the moment and refused to think of something so gosh darn negative. Let the good times roll, right?
I have friends that say the American people have learned their lesson and will never let something like NAFTA and the Contract on America occur again, but really, think about it; they will never entirely rescind these changes in finance and labor. It is too goshdarn lucrative for them. There is merit in the argument that a wave of people who survived the depression and the war supported the building of a national/state safety net, but those people are pretty much dying off, so there is not much of an institutional memory left of how it was and why that "net" legislation was put in place in the first place. People were starving and homeless, remember? I have talked to people who remember in desperation trying to boil and eat shoe leather, and there was a whole generation of kids who had deformed rib cages and legs due to rickets - my father was one of those, and that was due to lack of milk and vitamin D in the diet.
I have a tremendous amount of skepticism about the ability of the American people to think for themselves and look out for their own self interests. There is such non think there, so many semi literate products of the school system who cannot be bothered to read social and political history. This is a correction that was a long time coming; it is payback for letting other people do your thinking for you, it is payback for falling for sharp sounding maxims without really thinking about their ramifications. It is payback for not having the sense to look out for your own self interests. So in a way I think "good", but the pain that people are going through is terrible. I can only hope that we won't get fooled again.
Sorry, just had to blow off some steam. Anyone with half a brain in their head saw this coming years ago.
I am finally proud of more people speaking up about what is happening in our country. Especially the going back to school politics. No one does not think an education is not great for you but your government has been trying to do this to you for along time. They feel if we can make you believe and go back to school and spend thousands of dollars that when you get out those good paying jobs will be there to support you , your family and be able to pay rent along with your bills and college costs. At $7.50 or $10.00 good luck. Americans you finally are starting to wake up and see what is happening young and old. Your government isn't working with you they are undermining you. It is good to see we are starting to wake up and finally stand together.
Are there not 50 states in the union. Puerto Rico will receive an unemployment extension, and leave 25 states out in the cold.
were on the titanic everybody enjoy the ride,hope you can swim ha ha
Hi G
Thank you for your input!
Hi Xtina
You are so right! I think a big part of our problem is apathy. Some people don't care what is going on in the country and world around them until it starts to affect them. However, to avoid the negative consequences, you need to be informed from the beginning. Otherwise, politicians will be elected who may not represent what the citizens want. So, it begins with our future generation. How do we get the kids in school today more motivated about current events and the legislative process?
Thank you for your input and stopping by!
Hi Thisisenoughpolitics
Well-stated!
Thank you for your input!
we need help now. they say unemployment is still high in several states. ive been unemployed for almost 2 years. i have filled out over 200 applications for jobs. have only heard fron approx. 20. all stating "thank you for your interest in our company.,but at this time we have no position available for your qualifications.
so yeah i can do all the work search i want but im still not getting hired. even traveling 50 mile radius. still nothing. and now my unemployment is pending. well NO GAS MONEY to even go look for a job.
even though texas is below the so called 8.5 unemployment
rate, the small cities are suffering tremendously with
unemployment in the last month every job that ive aaplied
to, so do other 30 people apply at the same time.
Some people get really defensive about they can find work
and why shouldnt the other people be working, bla,bla,this
ive seen people who were making 70-100k a year on food
stamps, the jobs are just not there anymore.
Texas does need for H.R.3548 to pass quickly or alot more
people will lose homes, out on the street.
the senate can get raises but we can't get anything for us. all these old men up there don't have to worry about paying bills or going to the hospital must be so nice not to worry
your all a bunch of cry babies,get a job and quit living off the dole,us chinese know how to work you americans are fat and lazy.
Hi Big Daddy
Haven't you been reading the news? There are six people for every one job opening nowadays. It is impossible for some people to get jobs under those economic conditions.
Hi Everyone
For the last week, I've been working on an article on what senators and representatives voted no on the three unemployment extensions. It can be seen at http://hubpages.com/hub/voting-records-on-unemploy
I have been with out any income for about 3 months. I send out 50 -200 resumes a week still due to the amoun t of resumes company's are recieving i stikll do not get many calls. what ever the case they need to get this extension quick and that way the econonmy wont get any worse,. im in muichigan and they need to hurry up
Of course Obama gets blamed for this because he is the president, but look behind the smoke and mirrors and you'll see some die-hard anti-everything Republicans stalling this bill to get an anti-ACORN amendement added to it. So there it sits, stalled in the Senate while a few bad apples screw people who have no recourse but to starve and die.
Makes me wonder why we elect anyone from that party anymore? Do they care more for their big business buddies but string the "little people" along? Seems to me they do just that. No wonder why they are at record low approval ratings, eh?
Unabashed Liberal Jake from Chicago
Politicians, Democrat and Republican alike, are responsible for the state of the country as it stands. If we wouldn't continue to allow corporate big wigs to acquire six and seven figure salaries to do next to nothing but run companies into the ground, jobs would not be eliminated in the name of "cutbacks" and this country would not be in the crapper like it is now. A little accountability goes a long way. I have to believe that a little control over how many people are allowed to enter this country and work has a lot to do with the problem as well. Our "open arms" policy has always been an achilles heel, and now, with terrorism being a real problem, shouldn't something change?
WE NEED THIS UNEMPLOYMENT EXTENSION NOW!!!what the hell are they waiting for is this a stall tactic that these politicians are using people need this money this is no time to play around with people lives they are losing their homes and can not pay their bills i have been without money for about 3 weeks now and i look for a job everyday but there is nothing out there i bet if this was a vote for a pay raise for these politicians it would be done today.
everyone i applaud you for speaking up . winter is coming and going to get worse ,they need to hurry up and do what they are supppose to for the american people we are the ones
not no other countries
What really bothers me is that we can send billions of taxpayer dollars to other countries to help them, and yet, in OUR OWN COUNTRY there are people starving as we speak. There are people losing thier homes, thier hopes and dreams, and in an alarming number, thier lives, due to poverty. If I could send billions to help everyone else, I would damn sure make sure that my own people were not suffering while I'm doing it. I don't pay taxes so someone in another country can eat while my neighbor and his children starve to death in my own backyard. This country has spent enough money in the past few months to feed everyone in this country, if not the world.
I ran out of benefit 2 months ago and have been looking for work but found none. Politicians, please dont hold up and pass the extension so we can feed the kids. God Bless America.....
Politicians do not want to help us. This is why. We are insignificant to them. We aren't the large corporation that can finance thier campaigns. We aren't the corporate executives that make it profitable for them to dump billions in our pockets to mis-appropriate. They don't care if we starve or lose everything we've worked for all of our lives. They care about us just long enough to get elected into office (or appointed). After that, they don't give a rat's ass what happens to us unless we're financing thier escapades or helping them come up with ways to screw the little guy. If they cared about us, they wouldn't be dragging thier feet about giving anyone any help. After all, this does make the third time they've been asked to extend benefits for us. I didn't think we would see the second extension, let alone three.
I stand to lose everything I've worked for all of my life. Back in the seventies I watched helplessly as the economy took a nose dive, but we survived without all the Government "help" we are seing today. I'm not sure the Obama intervention withtheb automobile industry is a good thing. GM is doing some stupid things, like getting rid of Saturn, the only automobile brand that had extremely high customer satisfaction ratings and a high quality product. What about not letting companies go belly up to help people keep jobs? What happened to Obama's commitment to automobile workers that he wouldn't allow them to outsource work to help us keep our jobs? Penske was planning to have a foriegn source provide product for the company if he bought the company. Isn't that the opposite of what everyone was planning to do to help keep jobs? Now, GM has dumped the company. How is this going to help keep jobs? Wouldn't you think Hummer, seeing they have a government contract, would be the last company GM would dump. Does it make sense to dump a company that has that kind of income potential? It seems to me that what they tell us and what they actually do are two totally different things. No one seems to be holding these people to thier word these days when we need it the most. I guess today's politicians spit out so much b.s. that they don't even recall the crap they promise people or the hardship they cause.
Thank You for bringing that up. By getting involved in GM's business, the automobile industries business for that matter, Obama has caused thousands of more auto industry workers to lose thier jobs. Good work. I knew we could count on him to help us keep getting paid.
The politicians are not listening to us anymore. It is a fact thet we are slowing coming to grips with. Whether it be healthcare, war, or a long list of other things we must fight for what we want. The politicians work for us and they seem to have forgotten that fact. Even our "news" programs can not get it straight. They too are controlled by big business and politics. Once they saw that money could be made we became collateal damage. We now have to "put our money where are mouth is" and show them what we want. Instead of talking on the blogs we should be out demonstrating in our state capitals and in Washington. We should be bombarding the federal and state ofices everyday about what we want and do't want. We did it before-let's do it again.
Something I don't understand. All of this conflict going on about a number of life and death issues facing almost everyone in this country, and no one is trying to raise hell to these morons. They're lying about the unemployment rate, the so called "stimulus job generation rate", and the all in all "recovery" of the economy. The fact that there are no jobs available (even for the newly gone back to schoolers), means to me that there is no recovery in sight.
H.R. 3548 was passed in the Senate this afternoon with no nay votes!
i have been out of work for almost two years and ihave been looking.there are no job to be found and for the person who said we need to get up off our fat lazy behind lets hope you never have to get off your fat lazy behind then you will see how hard it is out here.
I have been actively searching for work since November of 2008. The only replies I've received are scammers trying to take the little money I have left. Someone should do something about criminals targeting the un-employed, making things worse than they are, causing more suffering among the people trying to find honest work out there.
Reddog - You can always write a story about those scammers.
It seems like the country and people are running scared. We are voting to put the people who caused this issue back in office look at Mass since 1979 those people voted democratic. People it is time to raise issues and clean the entire government out and start over. If you think your vote counts look at your TV healthcare adds all over it on every commercial and your wages going down. People wake up and stop thinking changing a politician is going to help you.
It seems legislation favor the poor only to the degree that the rich have taking enough.
Things need to get better and the govt needs to act selflessly
Most people who are having a hard time finding work have been involved in occupations that are being downsized. People coming out of manufacturing, auto dealerships and finance will have to learn new skills or face low paying service jobs.
Companies are always in need of people with good sales skills, writing skills or computer skills such as graphics. Check the local tech school and see if there are some night classes where you can learn a new skill.
I was a commodity broker for the first half of my career but the internet replaced us. So instead of trying to find another brokerage job, I learned to build web sites.
Hi Tradrmick
Good for you! You must be bright to teach yourself how to build websites. However, I'm sorry you lost your job. That must have been a tough adjustment financially.
I too can no longer do my job of my 13 years, so I am trying to write obviously. However, there sure is alot more to it than writing if you want your articles read. But, at least it is challenging, and it gives me somewhat of sense purpose, especially if I feel like I'm helping people.
Good luck with your new business! Thank you for stopping by and commenting. I am sure you will be an inspiration to others.
Senator Bunning just proved what we have been saying about these politicians all along. They do not care about the millions of unemployed. "Tough shit", as he put it. Who's going to pay for the extensions on unemployment? We will be paying for it. We will be paying for everything that this administration has done , and will do in the future, for a very long time. The question still remains, what the hell are they doing to fix this, and what the hell do they plan to do to keep this from happening again?
Hi Humma Ofi
I agree with you. Senator Bunning wouldn't have been worried about how we are going to pay for it if he were unemployed.
You know what I find strange? Back in October, all the unemployed were concerned about the unemployment benefits. They were very vocal, and I don't blame them. However, this time around as I've been looking for and reading news on the net about unemployment, I don't see hardly any comments. I wonder why everyone is so quiet. Surely, not everyone has got employment in this time. Thank you for your input!
Senator Bunning's comments were arrogant and insensitive. "who is going to pay for it? I'm missing a basketball game, tough shit." You wonder how people like him go to sleep each night.
the people who are currently unemployed have paid into the system. that's why it's part of every business/corporation.
these people who are against it have obviously never been laid off in a recession.
I'm wondering now, is there a third tier for the unemployed?
has anything been passed? did HR 3548 ever get passed?
Hi RebekahELLE
Yes, Senator Bunning is not very compassionate or gentlemanly for the matter. I guess when an ABC news reporter was trying to question him, he walked away and flipped him the birdy over his head. Can you imagine that kind of behavior from a senator? It's probably a good thing he is retiring this year.
As for where we are on the unemployment. Yes, H.R. 3548 was signed into law back in November. I believe it gave states with unemployment rates of less than 8.5%, 13 weeks of extended federal unemployment benefits while states with rates of 8.5% or higher got an additional 6 weeks. They extended the unemployment eligibility period for one more month earlier this week. As of yet, they have not approved any additional federal extensions. We can only hope, I guess.
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will us 99ers get this exstension.
DeeInCalifornia 2 years ago
Hey, check out everyone's comments on www.washingtonwatch.com - and click on the "HR 3548" section and the "S 1699" section.
There are so many on this website who are facing "homelessness" for them and/or their families - -all because they have all been hanging in there ever since the bill "HR 3404" was introduces back in July 2009 for an unemployment benefit extension.
So many people have been so very very patient as they face "no money" or soon will be with "no money". They all want jobs but most are out of benefits "now" or have been out of benefits for over a month.
I thought the idea behind HR 3548 was to - - get at least something passed quickly (they stalled HR 3404 because of it) for most states UNTIL they can "correct" what actually should have been on the first bill (HR 3404). So everyone (so many states and people) has to suffer because they didn't get HR 3404 right the first time around and said it was going to take too long to pass, and now, they "supposedly" don't have this new ammendment to HR 3404 (HR 3548) right either?
Is this a political "stall tactice" or what? I can really see that "all states" should have been considered in the first place - and now with the newest bill HR 3548, but at the cost of "everyone" sufferning for it?
HR 3548 could have been approved already, by now (like last week!), and then they could have worked on HR 3404 to get it passed as fast as the "Cash For Clunkers" passed.
Hey, Pres. Obama sure stepped in on getting unemployment benefits extensions to pass fast before, why aren't we hearing much from him about this problem with unemployment and the now worsened job market? What good is getting the now "unpopular" healcare plan he is still pushing for - when the job market keeps worsening and he is now becoming so unpopular because of it.
So many comments on the Washington Watch website are heartbreaking and some times scarry with some of the more angry/hungry people out there.
Something really needs to be done NOW - - not wait another week (stall tactic everyone thinks).
Again, I thought HR 3548 was just sort of a "quick fix" of the jobless market/unemployment problem for now, and then work on the main HR 3404 they started originally with quite awhile back to quickly pass that.
Obama should step in on this HR 3548 to get it passed for all states soon and then work on the HR 3404. Obama has the power to really push this thru and it looks like he hasn't (or doesn't want to).
Healthcare is important and always will be - - but what good is it if you have people going on the streets (and maybe even dying soon) because of no money for food because of no benefits to help them thru the "tough" on-going recession in the job market.