WHO GETS WHAT: Stimulus to pad pockets of jobless

[WI_DEM]

WASHINGTON - More jobless workers would get fatter unemployment checks longer in the massive economic recovery package moving forward in Congress.

Helping the nation's jobless has not been a controversial part of the stimulus package. Both the House and Senate versions offer an extra $25 a week in jobless benefits to millions of workers through the end of the year. The current average weekly benefit is roughly $300.

It also would keep unemployment checks coming through the end of 2009 for more than 3 million people whose state benefits will run out after March.

The nation lost nearly 600,000 jobs last month, the worst showing in a third of a century, as a vicious cycle of cutbacks by consumers forced ever more layoffs by beleaguered employers. The unemployment rate catapulted to 7.6 percent, the highest in 16 years, and seemed headed for double digits.

The stimulus would give states $500 million to help process the flood of unemployment applications. There's been such a crush that some states are running out of money, forcing them to tap federal coffers to keep sending out unemployment checks. Computer systems in New York, North Carolina and Ohio have been shut down by technical glitches and heavy volume, and labor officials in other states are reporting higher-than-normal use.

The Senate bill also includes a provision that would suspend federal income tax on the first $2,400 that jobless workers receive in unemployment benefits.

http://my.earthlink.net/article/pol?guid=20090210/499117e0_3422_1334620090210219143270

[liberal N proud]

1. I doubt the unemployment would consider it padding

[Donnachaidh]

2. what a repulsive article title

Unemployment does NOT *pad* pockets. Not in the REAL world. :grr:

[Ichingcarpenter]

9. DEB RIECHMANN has been hauling water for the Bushies for years

She did a lot of stories for Cheney and Bush

http://labs.daylife.com/journalist/deb_riechmann?count=10&offset=60

media matters take on her:

http://mediamatters.org/issues_topics/search_results?qstring=+DEB+RIECHMANN

[Ichingcarpenter]

3. Is Earthlink still around? Damn I thought they went out of business

they were one of my first IEPs.

Anyway thanks for the link and the info.

[Donnachaidh]

10. does Scientology still own it?

I'd heard years ago that CO$ owned earthlink. One of the primary reasons why I never subscribed to it.

[earth mom]

4. WTF?! $25 bucks is chump change!

Between this and the measly $20 bucks a week they are giving taxpayers in the "stimulus" package, why the hell isn't everyone out in the gawd damn streets?!!! :wtf:

They are ripping us all off people while they pad the pockets of big business!!! :argh:

[Vincardog]

5. What abut those "Discouraged" workers? No job or 2 years? Tough

[bobbolink]

6. Pad The Pockets????? I'm sooo glad there isn't any verbal bias in the media...

:grr:

Oh, yeah.. make that the "Liberal Media".

:nuke:

I just LUV the propaganda!

[bushmeister0]

7. I was on unemployment when our book store went under.

I don't remember it being an all expense paid vacation.

[SeattleGirl]

8. Jeebus, they think an extra $25 a week is PADDING????

Holy fuck, but these people have their heads up their asses!

[Holly_Hobby]

11. What they don't tell you is, after you colect the initial 20 weeks,

you have to re-apply for the extension and have to wait ANOTHER 4 weeks to get another check.

And an extra $25??? GMAFB. What an insult. Like an extra $100/month is going to help anyone keep their house.