Senate March 5

[daytonaman]

Cloture motion to extend benefits & additional benefits through 12/31/2010, They will resume motion on the bill Tuesday March 9

[Michael55]

Cloture motion to extend benefits & additional benefits through 12/31/2010, They will resume motion on the bill Tuesday March 9

Does the above mean that the April 3 cut-off date will or might be extended - so that those with tiers expiring AFTER April 3 can move into the next tier?

[daytonaman]

Cloture motion to extend benefits & additional benefits through 12/31/2010, They will resume motion on the bill Tuesday March 9

Does the above mean that the April 3 cut-off date will or might be extended - so that those with tiers expiring AFTER April 3 can move into the next tier?

If the bill passes, it will extend the cut off date again, and add additional tiers or benefits to those who have exhausted all benefits Regular, EUC I through IV and EB, Also, the current cut off date should be April 5, as it was a 30 day extension that was officially signed into law late March 4

[cantfindajob]

are you saying they invoked cloture today on the bill...I couldn't see Cspan2 where I was..????

[daytonaman]

are you saying they invoked cloture today on the bill...I couldn't see Cspan2 where I was..????

Yes, Majority leader Harry Reid invoked cloture today on the Tax extensions bill including Jobless benefits and numerous other benfits

[Robbi314]

I haven't been able to find any specific info on what the language is.Everything I have read is very vague. Is this to add a tier V or add weeks to tier IV? If so, can you post a link? Thanks!

[cantfindajob]

if they add weeks instead of a new tier it will be to T3 since all states did not get T4...adding weeks is much preferred I'd think since the states will have less work to do to institute...fall 2009 all over again...throw the bums out!!!

[enrique2010]

I would like to thank everyone for all the information out here, but I wish someone would say, “Don’t worry the government won’t let us down, there will be additional tiers.”
I'm capsized, staring on the edge of safe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jeff]

I would like to thank everyone for all the information out here, but I wish someone would say, “Don’t worry the government won’t let us down, there will be additional tiers.”
I'm capsized, staring on the edge of safe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know how you feel. Been looking but can't find any evidence of another Federal Tier beyond Tier4. Some have mentioned the Fed adding weeks to Tier3, but can't find any mention of that either. If anyone has a link to such an article, would you post it?

[GonzoFL]

I would like to thank everyone for all the information out here, but I wish someone would say, “Don’t worry the government won’t let us down, there will be additional tiers.”
I'm capsized, staring on the edge of safe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Remember enrique,that besides the checks in the mail and I'll respect you in the morning....the most feared line of bullshit is "Hi,I'm from the government and I'm here to help".

[Hoppy]

I would like to thank everyone for all the information out here, but I wish someone would say, “Don’t worry the government won’t let us down, there will be additional tiers.”
I'm capsized, staring on the edge of safe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Remember enrique,that besides the checks in the mail and I'll respect you in the morning....the most feared line of bullshit is "Hi,I'm from the government and I'm here to help".

Gonzo, you are a pip! lol!

[daytonaman]

Today at 3:00pm, the senate will start discussions again on the extension bill, for those who can't get the C-Span2 on TV, you can view it here via live stream

http://freetubetv.net/index.php?view=1Y3NwYW4y

I found this article regarding a TIER V


Tier 5 unemployment insurance florida


I read yesterday a few people have contacted Reids office and they were all told that Reid is working on a Tier 5 extension but they don`t know when it will go to congress. Someone else called Pelosi`s office and they were told there is no more extensions (tier 5) because not enough people are complaining about it.... EMAIL or CALL your state senators, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi and demand a Tier 5 extension. I have contacted them all this week via email. Posting on the net is great but it won`t do a thing unless you are contacting these elected officials as well, if Pelosi`s office "needs" complaints then let the flood gates open and send them to her.

[sc4ram]

No new tiers for now.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100309/ap_on_bi_ge/us_jobless_aid_taxes

[Hoppy]

I found this article regarding a TIER V
I read yesterday a few people have contacted Reids office and they were all told that Reid is working on a Tier 5 extension but they don`t know when it will go to congress. Someone else called Pelosi`s office and they were told there is no more extensions (tier 5) because not enough people are complaining about it.... EMAIL or CALL your state senators, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi and demand a Tier 5 extension. I have contacted them all this week via email. Posting on the net is great but it won`t do a thing unless you are contacting these elected officials as well, if Pelosi`s office "needs" complaints then let the flood gates open and send them to her.

Daytonaman, did you contact Pelosi's office in Washington? this is the number I found but want to be sure it's the correct number (202) 225-4965.

I just spoke to a CS rep at AWI regarding claiming the 8 weeks of EB Florida passed since I had my EB cut off Nov.8th. He said I was not eligible for the 8 weeks of EB so I've decided to be more proactive and make some phone calls rather then use email!

[daytonaman]

I attempted to call Pelosi's office, had a hard time getting through, I did fax letters to Senators Reid, Nelson, Lemuieux, Speaker Pelosi, Congressman Mica, urging them to add additional benefit tiers for the long term unemployed. As far as the 8 week EB in Florida, I'm not sure, tried getting through to AWI, was told to try again later, I exhausted tier IV on March 1, my EB ended sometime in August I believe, and I received 14 weeks on the EB.

[Hoppy]

I attempted to call Pelosi's office, had a hard time getting through, I did fax letters to Senators Reid, Nelson, Lemuieux, Speaker Pelosi, Congressman Mica, urging them to add additional benefit tiers for the long term unemployed. As far as the 8 week EB in Florida, I'm not sure, tried getting through to AWI, was told to try again later, I exhausted tier IV on March 1, my EB ended sometime in August I believe, and I received 14 weeks on the EB.

thanks, daytonaman, I'll go with the faxing too.

[daytonaman]

I just spoke with Maurice Emsellem at NELP, he told me that the bill today will do the same as the 30 day bill passed last week, through the end of the year, IF the bill passes, he stated that the addition of benefits would be brought to the floor IF and Only IF enough people request it, so the only way for those of us whom have exhausted all tiers and eb to get the much needed tiers is to keep calling, faxing, and writing to our lawmakers in congress.

[waybol]

I will recieve my last check at the end of this month for tier IV and I have already used up all EB. does anyone know what the number of people running out of benifits completely will be in the coming months? We need to get together to push for a tier V. I assume the number will grow each month,but does anyone know by how much?

[tj21121008]

well i called laura
at sen mcdermotts and she flat out told me that there is no tier v and there most likely wont be because they have to end it some time and get us back in the work force !!!!she also said that the bulk of the unemployed are just finishing there 26 weeks and they are considered the long term not us who are on tier 4 !! wtf are we supposed to do in 2 weeks ?? they are not listening to us guys!!! 2 days ago they were all saying that they were going to work on tier v and now there not even working on it ... what are we going to do? i have been calling everyone every day and it went from hopeful to total despair .. i guess we will all be in tents next freaking month! if anyone else finds something out post it and god help us all because we are screwed as far as the gov goes they can help haiti and chili but us????? nope .. they want us to disappear but keep loud people ok?

[nancym]

... does anyone know what the number of people running out of benifits completely will be in the coming months? We need to get together to push for a tier V. I assume the number will grow each month,but does anyone know by how much?

Well, guess what--None other than Goldman Sachs has done an analysis on this question, and you can read about it here:

"As Extended And Emergency Unemployment Benefits Finally Begin Expiring, A Much Different Employment Picture Emerges" (scroll down to bottom of page)
http://www.zerohedge.com/article/extended-and-emergency-unemployment-benefits-finally-begin-expiring-much-different-employmen

Their concern, and rightly so, is of course the impact on the economy of millions losing benefits in the coming months. Their calculations show and even greater number than what I've posted elsewhere about the coming months. I had estimated on average about 300,000 per month from now through July, and they are figuring that at 400,000!

Besides the sheer numbers, the most significant thing about this article is as I've pointed out previously, but they have it in their official print, that these numbers hold even if Congress extends those deadlines for all those progressing through the tiers!!!

If Congress doesn't feel they have to act just because they're not getting enough complaints (!?!?!?), it behooves them to perk up their ears to what the consequences of doing nothing for that huge number of people might be, not just politically, but the effect on the entire economy.

I suggest putting that in your emails.

[GonzoFL]

Nice to see your posts again Nancy. Thanks for linking that article I read it earlier today,it is indeed mind boggling. Congress needs to not only read this article,it also needs to heed its call. This is going to become an economical disaster of biblical proportions real quick. Have they no clue on The Hill? It almost seems like they want this Country to go deeper and deeper into the abyss. I honestly don't know what to think anymore. April is fast approaching and the jobs just are not there. This year is not looking to good for us old "99er's. I think I will start learning the words to the Canadian National Anthem.....might come in handy.....eh.

[Hoppy]

Just read this article on msnbc regarding the bill that got through the Senate today:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35773847/ns/politics/

this is a quote from that article:

"Even though these programs may be good for your state, a senator has an obligation to stand up and say 'no more,'" said freshman GOP Sen. George Lemieux of Florida. "No more spending our kids' future. No more bankrupting the promise of this country."

Oh, boy, thank you George! A Senator from one of the hardest hit, highest unemployment states, what a guy.

[connorsgp]

the senate just passed the final bill that extends EUC eligibility till 12/31/2010....at least everyone eligible can now advance through the 4 tiers without worrying...till Dec anyway

[enrique2010]

the senate just passed the final bill that extends EUC eligibility till 12/31/2010....at least everyone eligible can now advance through the 4 tiers without worrying...till Dec anyway

Does this include all of us that are about to run out of tiers by the end of March?

[Unemployed In Orlando]

Latest NELP email for those who dont subscribe :

Friends -

We have good news to report on many fronts.

The Senate Jobs Bill:
Yesterday, by a vote of 66-34, the Senate achieved cloture (ie, end of debate) on its current Jobs Bill, the one that includes and extension of the present UI and COBRA programs through the end of 2010. All Democrats except for Ben Nelson of Nebraska voted in favor of cloture, and the following Republicans voted in favor of cloture: Brown (MA), Collins (ME), Snowe (ME), Isakson (GA), Chambliss (GA), Murkowski (AK), Voinovich (OH), and Cochran (MS).

Today, the Senate voted on the final bill and 62 Senators (we do not have the roll call yet) voted in favor of the bill - it has passed. Read more on the Senate's passage of the bill here. It is now on its way to the House of Representatives and we hope that passage, and any resolution of House/Senate differences (if any) will be swift. The President will sign the bill as soon as it's presented to him.

This means that the EUC program, full federal funding of EB, the $25 extra in UI benefits each week, and the COBRA subsidy will in almost certainty continue, without interruption, through the end of 2010.

This would NOT have been possible without all of you taking action in the many ways you have these last few months. Your elected officials have heard loud and clear that they CANNOT play politics with these benefits - they are too important to too many families across the country. So we thank each of you who sent an email, made a phone call, or otherwise communicated with your elected officials because if it weren't for all of you, we would not be on the cusp of such a great victory.

What's next?
As many of you have noted, this bill does not add any weeks of benefits to the EUC program. Unfortunately, the Senate was not willing to consider an expansion of the program while still trying to continue the basic benefits through the end of the year. NELP is working on an effort to directly address the historic needs of the long-term unemployed, including extra weeks of benefits, targeted job creation programs and other helpful measures.

Job Creation

Throughout the year, Congress will continue to grapple with the ways in which it can help create more jobs. Today, Congressman George Miller (D-CA), Chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, is introducing a bill that would spend $100 billion on public job creation - jobs in education, law enforcement and public safety, and other jobs that provide needed local services to communities hard hit by job loss. NELP is fully supportive of this legislation, which if passed, will save or create 1 million jobs. As soon as it is introduced, we will put up links to the bill and any press releases about it.

So, we're likely to pass another hurdle today, but we're aware that there are many more to go - until all unemployed workers have the safety net they deserve, and more importantly, until they are all back to work, you can be assured that NELP will be fighting tooth and nail for all the help possible.

Your friends at unemployedworkers.org

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