More than 200,000 jobless counting on an extension

[sabra]

Source: CNN

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- More than 200,000 jobless Americans are anxiously waiting for the Senate to restore their extended unemployment insurance.

These folks were expected to stop getting checks last week after lawmakers failed to extend an April 5 deadline to file for federally-paid benefits before adjourning for a two-week recess. A total of a million people could lose benefits this month if the Senate doesn't act, according to the National Employment Law Project.

When they return Monday, senators are scheduled to take the first vote needed to push back the deadline until early May.

A final vote, however, is unlikely to come until later in the week. Monday's move is a procedural step that simply allows lawmakers to consider the bill. Democrats need at least one Republican to join them to get the legislation past this hurdle.

Though the measure generally enjoys bipartisan support, it has gotten caught in the divisive politics pervading Capitol Hill. Republicans blocked the extension's passage late last month, saying the $9 billion bill should be paid for.

Read more: http://money.cnn.com/2010/04/09/news/economy/unemployment_benefits_senate/index.htm

[high density]

1. Republicans filibustering unemployment insurance

I'm glad that CNN is going with calling it a "procedural step" as if the Republicans' record obstructionism is completely normal. :sarcasm:

[tonysam]

2. And no Tier V will even be mentioned.

Yep, it is obstructionism by the GOP, which hopes to use THEIR tactics against the Democrats this fall by claiming the DEMOCRATS are against UI--after all, they couldn't pass it in a DEMOCRATIC Congress.

[pattmarty]

3. It's because of that crazy loony tune motherfucker Coburn. I guess.........

..........in Oklahoma those "Okies" will vote for a dead horse if it ran as a Republican.

[jxnmsdemguy65]

10. I urge everyone reading this to call Coburn's office....

202-224-5754, and let his staff know just what a shitty thing he did to us unemployed, over the Easter holiday no less. Use the strongest possible language, and leave the ears of the college boy that picks up the phone burning...

[vduhr]

4. My son lost his benefits....

He's not able to file for an extension due to this crap, and he has child-support, bills, etc. that will go unpaid unless they extend it this week. I too will have to go through this next month as I am on Tier II, which will run out on May 17. So, unless they extend the filing deadlines completely through the end of the year, as the bill is supposed to do, and they stop this monthly extension bullshit, all those collecting unemployment extension will have to go through this every month. But don't let that stop these Repug pigs from getting their $174,000 a month paycheck, including the raise they voted for.

[Ricktre]

5. Tier V Unemployment Extension

I can not believe it is so hard to do what makes sense given the economy. I am spreading the below:

To all my fellow 99ers:
I appreciate the idea of everyone writing to their representatives but I have come to the conclusion this is the wrong approach. I have made multiple efforts to reason with my representatives through letters and letters to the editors since last September that unemployment benefits should be extended through 2010 to no avail. The reasoning for extending unemployment benefits through 2010 is to allow the economy to stabilize and keep people from going through foreclosure and putting more people on already stressed public services. Mostly allowing unemployment benefits to continue would allow everyone to see the economy stabilize and maybe grow a bit and then people would feel comfortable they were not going to lose their jobs and then they would be more likely to spend and employers would be more likely to hire.
Unfortunately our representatives are not proactive but reactive as evidenced by their not adding an unemployment benefit tier last year until the news media grabbed hold of it. I believe they will not act again until such time as it is shoved in their faces. What we have to do is akin to what Paris Hilton did and what Sarah Palin does. We need to make media spotlights. People need to write to newspapers and TV reporters about the lack of continuing unemployment benefits and the effect it will have on millions of Americans. If you are so inclined, please tell them your personal story. They feed on that.
If possible, we need to arrange a day where we all meet at our respective unemployment/job connect office at one time to show everyone just how many people this affects. If ten thousand Tea Partyers can get massive media attention, millions of unemployed Americans showing up at one time should put our situation in the forefront of our representatives’ minds.
I like you, have worked hard all my life, 35+ years without a break, and would gladly go back to work if I could just get someone to hire me. We did not cause this problem and there are currently not enough jobs available for all of us at this time. Adding a fifth tier and continuing unemployment benefits through 2010 would benefit those unable to secure employment and would help the economy as a whole.
Sincerely,
Rick

[tonysam]

7. +100,000

Congress refuses to do the right thing and add a Tier V and extend the filing date for at least through the end of the year. There is no real jobs recovery in sight.

[prolesunited]

6. People on unemployment are living hand to mouth

as it is. It's not like they can just tap their savings (haha) to tide them over until Congress acts. Wonder how many people will lose their place to live, go hungry or pay/CC fines as a result of this crap.

What an asshole you have to be to hold your fellow Americans who are down on their luck hostage just to make a political point.

And to those who say kick people off unemployment and they will find a job: Tell me where millions of jobs will magically appear? All it means is a huge increase in homelessness. And, considering more than half our economy is based on consumer spending, what happens when 10% of your formerly working adults have no money to spend on such things as food and gas?

I think the Democrats really need to step up and point out who is to blame for all of this suffering. The GOP as the party of Christian, family values, my ass.

[TK421]

8. I agree with everything you said there, and what really upsets me is the

attitude some people have that the unemployed are lazy and enjoy being out of work. I got laid off from my job June of last year ( job of eight and a half years ) and have collected since....there is NOTHING around here, nothing! Nobody is hiring, and every application I have filled out has not been answered. Since I'm pulling in a fraction in unemployment of what I used to make , it is increasingly difficult to pay the bills I had before, not to mention being without coverage kind of sucks right now ( I need to get to a dentist, and certainly can't afford out-of-pocket for a visit ). Sorry for rambling

[prolesunited]

9. No worries

I'm in the same boat. I'm a middle manager -- not enough experience for the executive-level positions and not even considered for lower-level jobs. I'm applying and yes, I realize I won't make as much as before. You think they would want my experience at bargain prices. I'm totally frustrated. I've worked a full-time and part-time job nearly all my life. I've had some nibbles and interviews, but nothing has panned out. It's a shock for me because I was hire immediately after the interview for all my other jobs.

[atomic-fly]

12. Mine just ran out..

Same as you...a few nibbles but no offers yet.
Time to start selling some stuff.

[tonysam]

11. It is the EMPLOYER who forces an employee out of a job

It's not a quit, so how in the hell do these idiots who bitch about UI get away with calling people who are thrown out of work "lazy"?

It's just divide-and-conquer garbage of which the GOP excels.

[TK421]

13. I agree....and if I'm eligible for an extension ( I'm sure I am ) and haven't

found full-time work, which I need to survive..I take the extension and hope for the best. When you fill out application after application and get no response, what the fuck else are you supposed to do? Also, I have paid into the unemployment tax since I was working at 17 years old...I've been paying that tax and have never been out of work for more than 3 months ( within that period, even, I had moved and was looking for work.

There is this general feeling out there that if you are collecting unemployment, you should be ashamed of yourself, and I say BULLSHIT

And I want to choke the living fuck out of the people that are saying this, since they always seem to be the ones who are safely employed