Democratic Senators Urge Swift Passage Of Unemployment Benefits Extension
WASHINGTON, DC – Fourteen Democratic Senators today called on Senate Republicans to stop playing politics and immediately help pass legislation that will provide relief to jobless workers by extending unemployment insurance for the nearly 2 million Americans who will exhaust their benefits by the end of the year. The pending bill would extend unemployment insurance by up to 14 additional weeks for jobless workers in all states and up to 20 weeks in hard-hit states with unemployment levels at or above 8.5 percent. According to the Congressional Budget Office, this extension would be fully offset. Every $1 spent on unemployment benefits has been found to generate $1.61 in new economic demand.
7.6 million Americans have lost their jobs and the deficit has grown massively since the recession began under President Bush in 2007. Now, hundreds of thousands of Americans have exhausted unemployment insurance benefits and another million are expected to exhaust these benefits by the end of this year.
Despite the urgent economic imperative, Republicans have held up the bill for nearly two weeks by offering amendments that have nothing to do with helping the unemployed.
“We can stand together now, pass this vital piece of legislation, and provide families with the means to stay in their homes and pay the bills as they look for work in these extraordinarily turbulent times. Or, Republicans can continue to prevent thousands of their own constituents from getting desperately needed assistance,” said Reed. “Slow-walking these benefits doesn’t just hurt individuals and families; it is bad for businesses and the broader economy. Helping people stay afloat is not a partisan issue — It is an urgent national issue that demands action now. And it is time for obstructionism to stop being the philosophy of too many Republicans.”
“The unemployment extension bill before the Senate is a great bill – one that will stimulate the economy and help unemployed workers across the country struggling to get back on their feet,” said Shaheen. “Helping people who are about to lose a lifeline is the essence of what we do as public servants – that is why this delay is so disappointing. I ask those members who are holding up this urgent legislation for political purposes to do the right thing and pass this extension immediately.”
“The Unemployment Insurance program provides a vital safety net during times of economic hardship,” said Harkin. “Workers have paid into the system through their hard work, so when they are out of a job they deserve support to see them through tough times. These benefits are fundamental to helping families meet basic necessities – to provide a roof over their heads, to put food on the table, or to keep the heat on. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and pass it without delay.”
“There is a general view that since much of the first stimulus package has not yet impacted the economy, a second one is not necessary. But unemployment benefits are the quickest, most effective form of economic stimulus because the dollars can get out the door fast and will be spent quickly at a time when we need the boost to consumer demand,” said Schumer.
“Michigan has the highest unemployment rate in the country,” said Stabenow. “Families in Michigan and across the country are struggling to put food on the table. Soon they will be hampered by home heating bills. This extension of unemployment benefits not only provides support when families need it most, it is also one of the fastest, most effective ways to stimulate our economy.”
“This unexpected battle over unemployment insurance is putting on display the irresponsible lengths to which our Republican colleagues are willing to go in their strategy of ‘No’. They said no to a job-creating economic recovery package, no to health insurance reform, and now no to a safety net for Americans who can’t find a job in the most severe economic downturn in generations. If we want to do what is right morally, and if we want to keep our economy afloat while the job creation engine gets back up to full speed, then we can’t cut out unemployment insurance when many families need it the most,” said Menendez.
“Families are hurting. In every region of every state, there are people who cannot find jobs today. Minorities are being hit even harder. Extending unemployment benefits is the right thing to do for those who can’t find employment and for our economy. We have to pass this now. There should be no obstacles put in the way of passing this bill promptly,” said Cardin.
“More than 14,000 Ohioans will exhaust their benefits this month if we do not act now,” said Brown. “Partisan delay of this legislation is a slap in the face to millions of American families. We need to pass this U.I. extension and we need to do it now. I strongly encourage my Republican colleagues to put politics aside and do the right thing.”
“Tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians have already lost their unemployment insurance and with it a means to help pay the bills as they struggle with long-term unemployment,” said Casey. “After previous bipartisan extensions under this Administration and the last the current obstruction is unconscionable and callous. Americans who have exhausted their benefits can’t take an IOU to the grocery store or their mortgage lender while this extension is held up.”
“Unemployed individuals need assistance regardless of where they reside, and this compromise represents a fair and appropriate extension of benefits for workers in need,” said Webb. “I urge my Senate colleagues to move this legislation forward swiftly as it directly affects the livelihood of so many Americans during these difficult economic times.”
“While the economy has begun to stabilize, we are not yet out of the woods. We must make certain that those who have lost their jobs in Delaware and around the country will be able to put food on the table and take care of necessities for their families. This assistance will help those most in need stay on their feet until they can find a new job,” said Kaufman.
“1,000 Minnesotans lose their benefits every week. Our economy is making strides toward recovery, but until the job market is back, unemployment benefits are vital. It’s time for the Senate to work together to provide this needed relief as soon as possible,” said Franken.
“Unemployment benefits for 40,000 women and men in Massachusetts, and 1.3 million people across the United States, will run out by the holidays if we do not act to extend their unemployment insurance,” said Kirk. “I came to the United States Senate to try to give a voice and a vote for the people of Massachusetts during these critical painful months, and extending unemployment benefits for those who continue to look for work is exactly what we need to do, and do now.”
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I have been unemployed for 17 months and all my extensions were completed the first week of August. I cannot afford anything. If I do not receive help soon, I will lose my apartment I live in, When is Congress going to wake up?. If they were in our shoes, they would have passed the extension immediately! I am one fed up American, who has worked for thirty years and paid my taxes to this government! I want an answer from Congress as to why they are holding this extension up!
This is just a suggestion. But I agree with the person that said we should go out in the streets to protest. I propose that we wait until after Tuesday the 27th. If it is not voted on, then we should protest peacefully in front of our workforce offices. Make signs, you can cut up boxes if you can not afford to buy materials. I will set up an e-mail after the 27th if this does not pass. We will be heard!
Someone already said it: All of them are playing games and it wouldn’t be politics if they didn’t. What’s not so obvious is “why are the Dems opposed to the e-verify bill (illegals must be verified for social security numbers before the employers are able to hire them!) The republicans want this legislation because it is our law that the illegals # 1, get legal and 2, pay taxes. The dems want the illegals loyalty as they will vote the dems back in and support every welfare state proposed by the dems. What is the big deal with allowing the first time home buyers tax credit currently being opposed by the Dems? It is all a political farce. Now, I am unemployed as well and have been since May of 2007. Don’t have anything in view yet. But, we can’t just blame the Republicans when they are asking for legislation that may just open up a job market that has been closed by illegals and the fact that employers are not checking to see if they are registered with the IRS. I think everyone currently out of work should bombard O’Bama and Pelosi and Reid with mail until they get the bill passed with the other bills attached. We need ALL!
I’m from Texas and we are having a hard time since hurricane Ike which hit over a year ago. Jobs are scares and my unemployment ran out in August. I’ve been only working part time but not enough to offset money to put enough for an extension. What am I to do. Every time I’m laid off I don’t receive unemployment because they say I haven’t worked enough this year. Now Texas unemployment is only 8%. but the city I live in is 10.5%. This is ridiculous. Why don’t they go city to city and not state to state to see where the economic hardship is. I need a job and not unemployment. I’m 55 years old, lost my car and about to lose my home. Why have the republicans held up the build so long? I just don’t understand why they just want to give the little man so much problems when we need the money so much for our families. Unemployment is an insurance for such a time as this, when we as citizens are without work and need help not for someone to argue about when and what to do about who needs it and what states need it the most. Well I no who to vote for in 2010 and it want be a Republican!! That’s for sure….
Anita
I will never vote Republican again for as long as I live. I am 39 years old and have been working in the construction industry for 19 years. My job now? Looking for a job. I have lost my benifits and every week that these fat cat, obtuse, don’t care about the working american man, republicans delay this bill it is another week we ration our food and try to feed our pets. BTW I am under my house by 150K. PASS THIS BILL AND GIVE ME AND MY FAMILY A FIGHTING CHANCE! I have called and wrote letters and get the run around.
What the article doesnt say is that the Dems want to renew an employer tax that is due to expire and the GOP wants the extension to come out of the Stimulus money that hasnt been used. How would you vote? Both sides need to get their act together! Use the Stimulus!!!! It’s our tax dollars.
I hope this is a wake up call for all those people who voted for a republican and now find themselves out of a job and out of unemployment benefits. Anyone who works for a wage should think twice before voting republican. Of course, the IMPORTANT ISSUES like abortion rights, gay rights, religion, Obama’s birthplace, etc. take precedence for those foolish enough to even think about voting for a republican. They care nothing, nothing for people, only for themselves. I wish we could lump all of them on a raft and include beck, hannity, limbaugh and dobbs in with them and push them out to sea where they would have to figure out how to fend for themselves just as those of us who are unemployed have had to do.
For all the Republicans who’s wives have probably never had to put their children in childcare as they worked. Thanks to all the moms who just want to feed their children send them to college keep a roof over their heads and food in their mouths.and keep them happy after spending all their great years paying into unemployment and you have the nerve to give us nothing!!!! Shame on you we are not asking to be millionaires like you all are we just want the phone to stop ringing and pay our bills.
FORGET CALLING OR WRITING THESE 4 REPUBLICAN SELF SERVING ARROGANT MORONS==FIND OUT WHERE THEY LIVE AND PICKET THEIR HOMES(PEACEFULLY) AND DISRUPT THEIR LIVES AS THEY HAVE DISRUPTED OURS. BRING THE ISSUE TO THEM–WHERE THEY LIVE–JUST HAVE THEY HAVE SCREWED WITH OUR LIVES, IT IS TIME TO DISRUPT THEIRS==PEACEFULLY AND LEGALLY. I WAS A REPUBLICAN FOR 40 YEARS—NEVER AGAIN!!! I WILL VOTE INDEPENDENT AS NEITHER PARTY IS IS HELPING THE WORKING CLASS –AS FOR KYL–THERE WILL BE A GRASS ROOTS EFFORT TO RECALL YOU!!
Ahh Republicans they allowed all the Health insurance companies free passage to drain us then allowed them to ship their customer service Jobs to third world country where their economy can flourish. Why don’t they understand the more People working in this country the more tax payers to help our economy. Jobs like Mental hosp. reopening would put many tax payers back to work. reopening steel mills, textiles mills just some that will give relief to this country instead of turning it in to a third world country.
I have worked non-stop since I was 15. Now at age 50 I know that I can’t be picky when I am looking for work. I want to keep my dignity, hold my head up high and be the provider like I always have been for my children who have always looked up to me and I have always tried to show them if they work hard they can not fail. I’m always trying to be a good example for them these benifits while in pursuit for the many jobs I have applied for but was not hired for at least kept me in the eyes of my children that greatness they hang onto not the failure this unemployment position that I temporarily am in makes me feel. Without the extension I fear the most for them. What little bit of subsidy that the unemployment benifit checks, along with the nearly depleated savings I have used to suplement the unemployment benifit has helped US my entire family from being put out on the streets I have paid my fair share into fund for some 35 years and now the fear of failure and my family being homeless is just so painful to bear. I have always made it on my own never asking for anything from our politians. I have to break that pride of silence and ask. Thank you if anybody who reads these blogs has influence in passing these bills and for the much needed and grateful support for people like me have earned some immediate action.
I’m a single mother of a 2 year old and we have not had any source of income in over 6 weeks. The car was reposessed, credit cards gone to collections and I now have only $11.62 in my bank account. I applied for Welfare but was told the process can take up to 6 weeks. My sons father is also unemployed but does not qualify for unemployment due to a disability time period for the previous year. Please help. I don’t care if I starve, but my baby needs to eat.
I have a newborn, plus two little girls that depend on me…….. I’ve seriously considered selling drugs. I have bachelor’s in Computer Science and a whole lot of experience in hard labor. The hiring market is dry and the benefits are gone. I’m getting deeper in debt. Hello !!!! Can anyone hear me? Hello?
Hello. Congress can you hear me?????? Do you WANT to hear me???????? I am so sick of reading how many people WILL BE out of benefits at the end of the year!!!! HELLO! Some are already out. Grt off your cushy butt and vote NOW to extend benefits. Mine ran out August 1st. And yes, I worked for the same company for 26 years before my job left the country. Pass this now.
Maureen, I agree we can talk till we are blue in the face, they have received thousnds of calls, and emails,they could care less. I dont understand why nobody wants to be proactive about this its great to write in these blogs but its not enough..I posted in Craigs List PROTESTORS NEEDED, few responses,Maybe if we all did across the country ,we can show those fat cats we are tired of being screwed with. THERE IS STRENGTH IN NUMBERS COME ON EVERY ONE STOP TALKING AND GET MOVING. carelud492@comcast.net carol
When is someone going to help we are in trouble,people need to understand that we were behind in the begining from the waiting weeks.I am with no money for a month HELP,HELP what dont people get we lost our jobs due to no fault of are own.Winter in comming,christmas is comming,i dont want to hear that an extention is pending Help us now,
This is nothing but politics power-play as usual. There’s nothing about needing more time to make sure they (Repubicans know exactly where the money is coming from and how they can afford another extension). Its more like” we got ours, (and paid off the “Big Banks & Financial Institutions) with your taxpayer dollars, you morons!. Now we want the real power in our losing seats.” While health-care reform takes presedence more people go homeless, more sickly, and eventually just die without help which to them helps their economy immensely.
All Americans should be hoarding their money from Big Banks and seeking alternative investments, as anyone of our jobs could be next! If the Republicans want to play hard ball with the 12-18% nationwide unemployed then we the working-class have the power to expose the bullies. We can make thier corrupt games even more difficult along the way. Stick it to them where it hurts, pull your monies out of the “Big Financial Institutions” and put it elsewhere, be creative, you’ll be amazed where the strings are being pulled. United. Or Divided as the Republicans want this country to go Wealthy/ Poor, more of a two-tier system, they got theirs. Now when are we all going to take ours? Lets say now, or happy job-searching….Next!
My husband just had his third heart attack last month and I’m about to exhaust my unemployment benefits. We’re about loose our home and I just got off the phone with the electric company trying to make payment arrangements. I don’t understand how in the world those republicans are sleeping at night knowing how many lives they are hurting. Unless the enjoy watching others suffer. I’m with the women who wants to protest in front of our local unemployment office. I’m also digging the guys idea to protest in front of those republicans front lawn. Whatever it takes let’s do it!!!!!!!!!! If we all take some form of action at the same time they have to do something.
Just give me my $$ FATASSES!!
All you guys got to do is make sure these assho*es don’t get voted in next term. They’ll understand.
I agree with you all… I am so sick of hearing about those who will soon be out of benefits… I haven’t gotten any help in over 6 weeks. It is so heartless what these senators are doing to good people. Maybe they don’t know what it is like to worry about food and shelter instead of vacation homes and luxury cars.
I dont know how to respond to this in a nice way….so i wont do it in a nice way. its time to pickett to stand up and make our selfs known. if it takes a peaceful overthrow of the government then so be it. start a voters strategey. if pickens can excite the world about energy. then we need to get excited about REPLACING our government by voting them OUT 1 by 1 and now not tomorrow! if they keep stalling this action they should be removed for deriliction of duties to protect the american intrest. lets start pressing criminal charges against our govt. look deep there are loop holes. lets start making them feel as responsible as they are for all of this mess. and charge them accordingly. even if the charges dont stick just keep putting layers and layers of action down against them to facilitate some kind of movement! if pressed hard enough they will have no choice but to provide some transparency as to why they are purpously starving us!
mabe we should implement a new tax on republican and democrat senate workers. they arent hurting so as one person said it, i can starve but my children need to eat. so if these were real men they would say i can starve but my american people must eat…………..but they arent real men. not a mark on those hands to show any real work has ever been done with them. not a skinny one in the bunch. bet not 1 of them couldnt walk a city block to save their lives yes lets tax our govt. leaders. we need to eat and they need to feed us! or get the hell out of office! OUR OFFICE. you are hereby given notice. clean out your desks. we are getting ready to organize. and i dont think our govt. will like it. strength in numbers people. why do you think they want to take our guns away? they know what they are doing to us! and when we are so far in debt. they will offer us the euro for a clean slate of debt. and dump the dollar. just wait and see.
My benefits will be running out by the end of this year, no where near where I live has any openings. I have bills that need to be paid, I don’t think it’s too much to ask for, just a little help. I’m sure there are a lot of people in the same boat I am. I don’t have kids or a wife and I couldn’t imagine if I did in these times.
I have an even better idea. put me in a seat in congress and i will work for free. thats right FREE! I will live off my unemployment and work harder than anyone in there to bring jobs back to america, even if it means breaking back room deals. I care about nothing but the people. feed america first. and after 1 year of service i will train the next person for 6 months free! untill the next free person takes over my position! hows that for a deal congress? i have scars on my hands from REAL and i cant spell this large enough REAL WORK. so put me in coach and any other true americans who will go in as i am willing to, just to fix their mess! how embarassing it would be for little old me to fix their mess. we the people are tired! so shape up. or clear out and let the dirty work for the real americans to do. i will leave you all to contemplate this as i now pick up the phone to start calling our govt. officials. my day will end at 3 pm when i have called everyone i can think of, and tomorrow i will do it all over again!
The two main Republicans holding up the unemployment extension bill H.R.3548 are Jon Kyle from Arizona (202) 224-4521 and Orrin Hatch from Utah (202) 224-5251.
Everyone give them a wakeup call for the unemployed who are now without benefits, and each week more join the list. Six million unemployed = Depression! Nationally, employers have dumped over 260,000 jobs, meaning that these are jobs that no longer exist.
The Senate Republicans are out of touch, delusional and not serving the people. Truly failure of government at a time of its citizens’ highest need.
Sign the petition to Stop the Senate from denying extended unemployment at: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/pass-the-unemployment-bill
And contact your Senators using http://www.opencongress.org
I live in Michigan and have been laid off for over a year. Every job that is out there in my state has 5 other applicants also applying and I’m an older person in the workforce and getting a job is tough if not impossible right now.
I have worked for over 30-years, paid taxes and now that I need help the Senate sits on the bill for unemployment extensions.I have been out of benefits for 6-weeks. My home is in forberance and will be forecloused on without this help. I have looked for a job for 2-years to no avail. Lord help us, our Country sure won’t. Give AIG more money for bonuses and vacations, makes sence to me, while we are going down the tubes or to the gutters, I should say.
Lily,
What is wrong with it is it has nothing to do with unemployment. The bill is held up for no reason what so ever. People are losing their homes will the Democrats and the Republican play their little games. Pass the unemployment bill and then they can play all they want to. The Republican should not be holding up this bill with amendment that DO NOT HAVE ANY THING TO DO WITH UNEMPLOYMENT.
The Republicans are killing me and many like me. My benifits ran out 6 weeks ago. I have had to drop 3 of my 4 medications , fallen 30 days pass due on my utilities,and can hardly afford to even try to get a job.
Take the politics out of this. I swear that I will devote all of my energy next fall to assure that no Republican candidate gets elected!!! If you agree…show some support!!
we need help. please vote .i have been out of work for 1 year now
All of us need to call or write to our senators now and tell them that we will work tirelessly for their opponents in the next election, I live in Georgia where our Senator Johnny Isakson a Republican put an amendment to slow or stop the extension from coming through so everybody who reads this can send him an email, his address is isakson.senate.gov phone #202-224-3643 fax# 202-228-0724. lets all tell him what we think of him. He’s a real piece of work.
I encourage everyone to go the site listed by Gary and sign the petition. I did, and I hope that all of you will follow his lead. I wish you could have read the scathing comment I left for our politicians when I submitted mine. It’s time we took back this country and put it in the hands of the people that made it great, the working man whose blood, sweat, and tears built America. I doubt that a single congressman or senator picked up a shovel or pick or any tool and worked with it to the point of pukeing in the sweltering heat, and (I’m not talking about John McCain who was forced to do so under duress) did it willingly so he could feed his family. I am sure that most of them couldn’t walk a day in our shoes if their lives depended on it. We’re talking millions (as high as 15 million) of people losing everything. Have you ever seen an angry, hungry, oppressed, unrepresented downhearted, and just plain fed up mob? Just read your history and you see what I mean. They aren’t around anymore. Congress needs to pass this bill without anything attached to it. It our lives they are dealing with. If they want a bunch of pork, let them go down to their local butcher and buy what they want. I fed up and mad, and reside in one of the states with highest unemployment (SC, whose govenor went to Brazil in an elict affair) and things are not getting any better. I have worked since I was 13. I’m 50 now and I can’t even get the same job I had when I started working all those years ago. The madness has to end and soon!!!!
These hardworking bums didn’t even convine until 2:00pm. A whole four hours later they were gone. No votes did nothing, yet they wait on this. You talk about a waste of money! Hey Obama, have your pay Tzar cut these bums pay by 90%.
It figures that the Republicans are holding this up while people are getting kicked out their homes and left for dead! It must be nice to have family money to back you up! What a bunch of jerks!
every time a republican gets in office i lose my job and the economy goes in the toilet bush did more damage to this country than any president in history wake up america just anouther beat down from the republicans when is it going to stop
Need billions to sent our kids off to Arabia to be shot? ………no problem. Need afordable health care? …too expensive, need unemployment insurance?…….no can do. All the Glen Beck’s and Sean Hannitys and Rush Limbaughs in the world will not be able to hide what the Republican Party has become. We are not as stupid as you think we are. Wait till 2010.
They passed it Today The senate!!!! what happens now?
The senate passed it Today.what do they have to do now?
On Unemployment Extensions of Benefits, the Senate passed a cloture vote, 87-13 last night. Here are the Republicans who voted against cloture. with their state’s official (U3) unemployment rates in brackets:
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%]
If you live in their states, you can perhaps make them unemployed.
I have been out of work for over a year. I have gone through all the extentions and now have nothing. If my wife loses her job we’re done. We have already let our house go and filed for bankruptcey but we still need help. We still eat, have rent payments, electric, phone and clothes needs. I don’t know what else I can give up. If those Senators only had a clue or if one of their kids needed this it would be done in a flash…..Hey maybe we should put them out next election and let them feel some pain…Oh wait…they keep getting paid don’t they?