Dean Condemns Bush Stance on Jobless

[Rose Siding]

PORTSMOUTH, NH -- Governor Dean described the more than 80,000 jobless Americans who lost their extended unemployment benefits this week as "the latest victims of an uncaring administration." He called on President Bush and the Republican Congressional leadership to return from their holiday vacations to make sure that these unemployed people do not lose their unemployment benefits just four days before Christmas.

"When the President and Republican Congressional leaders want something that will benefit pharmaceutical companies, like the recent Medicare bill, they'll hold the Congress in session until early morning and even break the rules of the House of Representatives to ram it through. When they want tax breaks for their contributors, they can find the resources."

Nationwide, beginning December 21st, 80,000-90,000 unemployed workers will exhaust their unemployment benefits each week. Extending federal benefits would cost about $1 billion a month, and the Federal Unemployment Trust Funds currently have roughly $20 billion in reserves, enough to extend an adequate benefit to millions of Americans.

The President and the Republican Congress had plenty of time to enact an extension of the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation Benefit program before Congress adjourned but in the face of indifference from the President, Republican Congressional leaders refused to bring the legislation to the floor.

"When the President asks for an additional $87 billion for his unnecessary war in Iraq, the Congress approves it while relinquishing its proper oversight role. But when it comes to ordinary Americans, the Republicans won't even interrupt their Congressional vacations to do the right thing. It really is a shameful display of misguided priorities and everything that is wrong with Washington."
more....................

http://blog.deanforamerica.com/archives/002800.html

[LuminousX]

1. Bravo! Let's echo this message wide and far

[virtualobserver]

2. bush and the republicans are so vulnerable

they haven't had an opposition until now.

[CMT]

3. keep emphasizing the $87 billion per year for Iraq

and the unfeeling nature of the Bush administration to people in our own country.

[beyurslf]

11. Per year? Try twice that this year. That was the supplemental in sept. n/t

[dave29]

4. picked up by the Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21553-2003Dec22.html

"It is incredible callousness" to refuse to consider the issue, Dean said. He described the cost of extending the benefits as relatively low at nearly $20 billion.

Under the unemployment insurance system, workers who lose their job through no fault of their own are generally eligible for 26 weeks of unemployment insurance provided by state benefit systems.

Since March 2002, workers have been eligible for an additional 13 weeks of benefits provided by Congress after they exhaust state jobless benefits. Congress adjourned this year without again approving those extended benefits.

Republicans argue that the economy is beginning to improve and unemployment is on the decline, rendering it unnecessary to provide extended benefits. Dean rejected that argument, saying up to 90,000 workers will lose benefits because of the inaction in Congress.

Republicans said Dean's argument is another example of his big-spending tendencies.

I love it when they accuse him of big spending. I keep thinking 87 billion in my mind over and over and over and over

[Rose Siding]

5. Ha! Big spending, budget balancer, Dean!

"Republicans said Dean's argument is another example of his big-spending tendencies."

How can they have the nerve to SAY that! Look at bush's deficit.

[auntpattywatty]

6. There no jobs to apply for thanks to Mr. Bush's mis-handling of the

economy. We need to think up a new name for Republicans - they call themselves Compassionate Conservatives - what are they really -

callous conservitives just for a start

[dave29]

7. compulsive conservatives

n/t

[Rose Siding]

8. They are selfish-financed

[stopbush]

9. Their lies and hypocrisy are amazing!

"Republicans argue that the economy is beginning to improve and unemployment is on the decline, rendering it unnecessary to provide extended benefits."

Well, golly, if that's true, why not extend the benefits? If jobs are miraculously appearing few of those people will need the additional 13 weeks of coverage, correct? Once you get a job, your UI benefits stop. Just how much will it hurt to give these people a few extra dollars for a few more weeks?

So the repigs are either saying that they're too cheap to give these workers even a few more weeks of benefits to get them through until they find all those great jobs, OR, they're saying that they don't care if these workers (and their families and children) suffer for a while before they get those jobs. And all this with $20 BILLION sitting in the bank. Wow! Now THAT's compassionate conservatism!!

Look for the repigs to use the "UI benefits make people lazy. Those lucky duckies are more than happy to live on the dole while WE work our asses off ( I'll have some more Dom Perignon while I'm at it...and did you confirm my taxpayer-funded junket to The Bahamas? Great!)." That was a cheap argument to make when the target of scorn was Raygun's imaginary welfare queen. I don't know how much water it holds with unemployed mid-level white collar workers who have been voting repig that last few elections who are now losing their homes to bankruptcy.

Of course, the truth is that there are no jobs out there and it's only going to be worse in about two weeks when all of the temp hires for Xmas retail are sent packing, swelling the unemployment ranks once again.

Bastards.

[Rose Siding]

10. LOL, I forgot about "luckie duckies"

Repubs sure look ridiculous making this argument.

[beyurslf]

12. If the economy is improving and jobs returning then it shouldn't

cost all that much to extend the benefits. Of course, cutting them means they will no be on the UI rolls... and viola! The numbers are even lower now :)