Unemployment Compensation Act of 2009 H.R. 3548 Second Cloture Passed November 3, 2009
54Introduction
Well folks, one week has gone by since the first cloture vote on H.R. 3548. With 7,000 Americans falling off the unemployment rolls each day, another 49,000 are wondering how their going to survive. It's really unbelievable the House passed this bill on September 23, and a few Republican Senators are still stalling.
Unemployment
Senate Still Stalled after Second Cloture
Yesterday, the Senate held another cloture vote to bring the debate to an end. The Senate requires two cloture votes to move to a final vote. Unlike last time where we had 13 nay senators, this time we only had 2 nay senators. Senator Christopher Bond (R-MO) and Jim DeMint (R-SC) were the two nay voters. Considering this, Democratic senators will have to wait another 30 hours before proceeding to the final vote unless they have bipartisan agreement to proceed earlier.
Whatever way you want to look at it, it's some improvement. Since the House passed the bill on September 23, the Senate has amended the bill once in favor of Americans. The House version only approved 13 additional weeks of unemployment benefits for states at an 8.5% unemployment rate or higher. The Senate's amendment was far more generous. They wanted all 50 states to recieve an additional 14 weeks of unemployment benefits while states with unemployment rates of 8.5% or higher would get an additional 7 weeks. After this, the game playing started. The first time the Senate tried to vote on the bill Senator Kyl objected because he said more time was needed to review the legislation. The second time the Senate tried to vote on the bill, Senator Hatch objected. After that, some Republican senators started stalling the bill to get unrelated amendments added. Finally, after over a month of stall tactics, they have bipartisan agreement to include the amendment for the first-time homebuyer's tax credit and the tax loss carryback. Republicans pushing for ACORN and the E-Verify program amendments have decided to give up. However, do you think the games have stopped yet? Nope! Now some of the Republican Senators are trying to add amendments to speed the expiration date on the Troubled Relief Asset Program and to change the funding on the unemployment extension from extending the FUTA tax to using unspent stimulus money instead.
Conclusion
I applaud the senators who stood up for all states recieving extended unemployment benefits. However, I don't agree with adding unrelated amendments to a bill so desperately needed by so many. However, considering the median net worth in the Senate is $1.74 million, I guess some of them just don't care. Afterall, it's not their children going hungry or wondering how much longer they will get to sleep in their own bed. Now, various sources are saying we can expect a vote on the bill this Thursday. I think we've all heard that line before, don't hold your breath too long.
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Pablo hang in there. Theres got to be a light at the end somewhere.Im in the same boat and i just pray everyday that we can keep ours heads above water.
Mine has been out for approx. 3 weeks now. I have called Voinovich's office 4 times. The people that answer the phone (Kevin) is one of the rudest people I have ever spoke to. They have no information or suggestions for me on what to do. DHL closed our facility in Wilmington Ohio. I put myself through nursing school for an LPN. I have passed my boards and still can not get a job. I have put in well over 100 applications since I passed. I would like to know how these people get a way with treating us like that when we call. To my understanding that is there job and that is why they get paid for. I'm sure there are plenty of people that would be much more helpful and thankful for a job like that.
I exhausted my benefits 7 weeks ago, I am hanging on by a thread, I already had my electric shut off, and things are the worst I ever saw them, I can't find work, Why can't the Paresident override all this nonsense. We are desperate,How could those congressman have a clue,nor do they care it doesn't effect them. one word BUMS
This has been the most trying time of my life. I have a BS in Business Admin and I have been out of work for a year +. The only income my family had was unemployment. We have lost our home which at the time of purchase was valued at 249,000 and was auctioned and sold for 138,000. Our car has been taken by the bank and we are currently ineligible for any government assistance. What is it going to take for these naysayers to get off their buts and represent the people who elected them into office. Enough is enough!
I exhausted my benefits in July. I am 65 years old and
no one is hiring in Michigan. My social security isn't
enough for rent, food, car, etc. I don't have anyone to live with. I have no more money. Am I eligible for HR3548?
I don't want to think it is age descrimination, but is it?
I lost my job in March of 2008 with no prevail of finding a new job I filed for unemployment. I had collected unemployment since then and finished it in October 2009. We are trying to pay rent and other bills off of my boyfriends unemployment but that is impossible,bills are much more then he collects and then on top of it, our home was broke into Halloween night and the laptop that I used to try and find jobs was taken along with every piece of jewelry I owned and many more items. Because I didn't have a job I could not afford renters insurance so everything is a loss,so please get our extension of unemployment to us A.S.A.P.
Hi Mac
Yes, you should be eligible for. You will probably have to reopen your unemployment account though. Good luck!
Pablo Aguila 2 years ago
Well, I just lost my une. compensation and i can't find a decent -or even indecent- job here in Miami. I would like to see those who oppose other extension in my- and a lot of others I know- situation. Let's hope common sense will prevail.