LOL Georgia Works: Boehner, Cantor Embrace Possible Obama Plan For Long-Term Jobless

[mfcorey1]

ASHINGTON -- Republican leaders in Congress on Tuesday offered their support for a plan the White House is considering to help the 6 million long-term jobless get back to work.

The Obama administration has suggested it is looking at a program called Georgia Works, which allows businesses to train jobless participants for eight weeks without having to pay them. The program is voluntary for workers and businesses.

"Reportedly your administration is looking at the 'Georgia Works' program as a potential model" for reforming the unemployment insurance system, wrote House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) in a Tuesday letter to President Obama outlining possible areas of agreement on job creation.

"As you may recall, we suggested adoption of a 'Georgia Works' type program during our discussion of efforts to help the economy back in December of 2009 (White House meeting on December 9th and subsequent letter on December 22nd)," Boehner and Cantor continued. "We continue to stand ready to work with you to implement common-sense reforms in this area."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/06/georgia-works-boehner-cantor-obama-jobless-plan_n_950687.html

[TeamsterDem]

1. Oh good, some more non-job "jobs." Just what we need! Golly, hopefully

they also prevent these people from joining unions!

Seriously, wtf happened to this country?

[Owlet]

2. Georgia's Unemployment rate is 10.1%

The U.S. National average is 9.1%. Is the plan to raise the national average to that of Georgia?

[yurbud]

3. what do they call that when you work for no pay?

slavery?

[TeamsterDem]

4. in today's bagger parlance slave owner would be redefined as "job creator." nt

[yurbud]

5. Man! I was just getting ready to write a satirical piece about GOP plan to reduce unemployment by

cutting the minimum wage to zero.

Satire is impossible anymore.

I just hope they haven't seen the old Eddie Murphy skit where he claimed Abraham Lincoln forgot to sign the Emancipation Proclamation.

[icnorth]

6. Geez, 8 weeks without pay...

wouldn't have to feed em either... slam dunk if the Pubs can make that mandatory instead of a voluntary program. That ought to piss some juice back into the old stock market.

[bluestateguy]

7. I have a question about this lousy program

Are the people enrolled in it counted as employed or unemployed?

I'm just thinking that that could be a backdoor way to reduce the topline unemployment rate.

Make no mistake as to where I stand. I oppose this program.

[Ruby the Liberal]

8. Well if Boehner and Cantor are all for it - whats not to like?

USA! USA! USA!

[whosinpower]

17. It socializes labour costs.....

Isn't that.....communist or something?

[WI_DEM]

9. Will these people receive unemployment compensation while they 'train' for 8-weeks?

[brer cat]

10. Yes, they will

And if it doesn't work out, they continue to draw their unemployment. It was a way for folks to get some on the job training and the potential for full time work is real.

[notadmblnd]

13. So how do you look for a real paying job if you're busy working for your UI?

Does anyone have the numbers for the amount of people that are actually hired after 8 weeks?

[brer cat]

18. Full time work is the object of the program

The employers had actual jobs and were looking for applicants. Many folks in my area were laid off construction workers who needed to train to go into different areas....this gave them the opportunity. If a job opening came available through this program that they were interested in training for, this let them do it without taking a job and possibly finding it didn't work out. If that happened, it would have meant they lost unemployment insurance. Doing the 8 week program meant unemployment continued if it didn't work out.

[notadmblnd]

11. Well why don't they just come out and say that they want people to work for free?

I'm sure there will be thousands lined up in the streets for those no paying jobs.:sarcasm:

[amborin]

12. Georgia Works = Workers get approx $2.00 hour ..why not just call it by its true name: Corvee Labor

[aquart]

14. How many permanent jobs has this produced?

Any?

[DrunkenBoat]

15. "Georgia Works For Free"

[whosinpower]

16. And what is to stop

Businesses from firing their staff - and rehiring using the "Georgia Works" plan - and gain free labour....what is to stop them from doing this over and over and over again.....maintaining zero labour costs while government picks up the tab?

Here is another idea to chew on and ponder....
Raise corporate taxes. Give corporations a tax credit for every registered unemployed american that they hire instead of lowering taxes. That tax credit has a timelimit of three years and if that person is laid off in the interim - the tax credit is clawed back to pay for that person's unemployment.