Will Congress Extend Unemployment Benefits Beyond 99 Weeks?

[sc4ram]

Interesting read, but I think somebody miscommunicated.



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/29/will-congress-extend-unem_n_516905.html

[Sheila]

Now I see the problem. The government is under the illusion that people have gotten 99 weeks of unemployment. B.S., not in FL!!!

[daytonaman]

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/89543-dems-see-backlash-coming-for-gop-after-unemployment-benefits-impasse

I understand that the debt is serious, but why must they pick the unemployed to argue the point?

[Sheila]

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/89543-dems-see-backlash-coming-for-gop-after-unemployment-benefits-impasse

I understand that the debt is serious, but why must they pick the unemployed to argue the point?

The idiots who are blocking unemployment extensions are forgetting that these same people will be qualified for all kinds of welfare. The worse part will be when the foreclosure rate in our country goes sky high. The unemployed used to be working people, therefore, many of them have mortgages. Our country is run by a bunch of nimrods.

[Unemployed In Orlando]

For those of you who do not subscribe :

We are extremely sorry to have to tell you that Congress has gone into recess without passing the 30 day extension of the UI and COBRA programs, and that it appears extremely unlikely that the Senate will be called back into session for a vote before April 5th, when the programs expire. We have learned that the Senate has scheduled a cloture vote (a vote to end debate on the bill - they must get 60 votes to move forward) for 5:30 pm on Monday, April 12th, at which time they'll try to move the 30 day extension through as quickly as possible. Simultaneously, and we hope over the recess as well, they will be working with the House to resolve some differences in the bill that would extend these programs through the end of 2010. We are hoping that year-end extension will be firmly in place long before the end of April.

For more information on Congress' failure to act, please see our press release.

We wish we had better news for you. We have been in close contact with many of the state UI agencies and the organization that unites them all and they will be working diligently to get their programs back up and running as quickly as possible once Congress acts. We hope that for those of you who face a disruption in benefits that it will be short-lived.

A few things to remember:
-If you are in the middle of a tier of benefits, you will be able to remain on that tier and finish it out before you benefits lapse. We hope that this lapse is so short lived that a minimal number of people are impacted, though we know for those who lose benefits, the impact will be great.
-When the programs are reinstated, they will be retroactive so you will eventually receive every bit of benefits you would have had the programs not lapsed. We know that for many of you the disruption is devastating even if retroactive, so we do not mean to minimize the impact, but wanted you to all know that benefits will be retroactive.

Again, we are sorry to have to deliver this news and look forward to updating you with better news as soon as Congress re-convenes in April

In the mean time, visit our NEW action alert to get in touch with your Representatives. We are urging the Senate to act quickly upon their return to pass the 30-day extension. Be sure to have your friends and families do the same - the time is NOW - you must act so that Congress knows that they too, must act NOW.

[Sheila]

Thank you for posting this latest information and keeping people updated. I for one appreciate it.

[SaraJ]

Good read...we could use some more media attention like this...maybe there is hope for a tier v down the road

http://worldnewsvine.com/2010/03/unemployment-extension-99ers-appeal-to-congress-for-aid/

[sc4ram]

This is a update of a article that was posted earlier , Happy Easter.............



http://www.examiner.com/x-27052-Rochester-Unemployment-Examiner~y2010m3d30-Unemployment-extension-legislation-Is-Congress-considering-increasing-the-99-week-limit--March-30?cid=examiner-email

[grandmom49]

Now I am very confused. According to Pres Obama in the video the unemployment extension was passed & he signed it.What is going on? Does anyone know?

http://www.wesh.com/money/23023550/detail.html?treets=orl&tid=26511860203813&tml=orl_12pm&tmi=orl_12pm_1_11000404022010&ts=H

[SaraJ]

Happy Easter Everyone!

Please sign the petition if you haven't, it's approaching 5000!

http://www.change.org/petitions/view/the_99ers_need_a_tier_v_added_to_unemployment_benefits

[Unemployed In Orlando]

I just posted an article and link to the PBS video over in the off topic section for those who are interested.

https://unemployed-florida.forumotion.com/off-topic-discussions-f3/pbs-special-on-the-unemployed-jim-strattons-latest-article-t194.htm

[Jeff]

UIO, Thanks for the link. Our states mainframe is from the seventies?!

[SaraJ]

Good article on the reality check for Congress!

http://tinyurl.com/yd27maw

[daytonaman]

Can you believe that a company is PROFITING off the unemployed, They help and advise employers to deny claims

http://www.workingamerica.org/blog/2010/04/06/fighting-unemployment-claims-a-booming-business/

[sc4ram]

BTW- I heard Steve Moore of the Wall Street Journal Editorial Board (on the Fox Business News show of the same name) say today that there is $500 Billion of Stimulus funds that have not yet been spent from last year's stimulus pkg. Thats were Tier V funding should come from..............

[fred]

BTW- I heard Steve Moore of the Wall Street Journal Editorial Board (on the Fox Business News show of the same name) say today that there is $500 Billion of Stimulus funds that have not yet been spent from last year's stimulus pkg. Thats were Tier V funding should come from..............

Wait till a little later. Obama and Company will probably start spending in the second half of the year. In a election year they want you all to think they are in your court.
The Dems in the House voted against using stimulus funds for the 1 month extension but unfortunatly everyone remembers the last thing done. Just like Viet Nam...The People sided with whoever gave the largest bowl of rice.

[nancym]

A few new links of interest:

http://worldnewsvine.com/2010/04/unemployed-without-extensions-99ers-rally-to-be-heard-by-congress-monday/

http://worldnewsvine.com/2010/04/senate-finance-committee-plans-hearing-on-unemployment-issue/

Please be aware that WorldNewsVine is a news and opinion compilation site, much of its content added by "citizen journalists" and no one is actually paid as regular staff but rather very tiny amounts based on advertising clicks on the article pages. (Same goes for Examiner.com and similar sites. I.e., until CNN or ABC or even Huffington, or some bigger org picks these items up, no one is reading this stuff but those of us starved for news of jobs or unemployment benefits legislation!)

Be that as it may, it can be a valuable source to gather leads to other original news items. Even with the writing that sometimes needs copy editing, I'm thankful these guys are putting in the effort to provide some news that's sometimes very hard to find.

[nancym]

[This is a duplicate of a post I made today on Open Congress.]

Check out the Senate Finance Committee's spiffy new website:

http://finance.senate.gov/

Check the calendar for April 14. This is the main source for the guy who wrote about it on WorldNewsVine.

I'm guessing this is the Senate's answer to House Rep Miller's HR 4812, which doesn't actually have UI benefits in it, but is a somewhat decent bill to create jobs specifically and directly for the long term unemployed, at least in part.

IMO, this may be the avenue for both more benefit weeks and targeted jobs. With today's deficit problems, a broad pure benefits bill might just meet with far too much opposition from the right and be viewed as too much of a "handout" by them.

But if it were couched with efforts to have those on benefits get into work programs, maybe sort of like CETA back in the 70's (not quite as ambitious as FDR's New Deal, but significant), maybe it would have a better chance.

The Finance committee, as we all know, tends to be rather conservative financially, so any bill from Baucus and Grassley might have more of a chance with the general Senate, if they can actually agree to a large bill or series of bills.

If they could emphasize plans to actually hire and get folks hired, but couple that with at least some extra time with benefits while these programs get in gear, maybe there's some hope here.

I'm speaking logically and hopefully, ha-ha, but we'll see what happens. Meanwhile, I emphasize again, THESE committee members should be on your call list!

[grandmom49]

Palindette, the Unemployed Zealot has a new call-in radio show. here's the press release.
http://www.free-press-release.com/news-paladinette-now-has-a-radio-show-1270681082.html & here's link for more info
http://joblessunite.yolasite.com/radio-show.php

[Jeff]

Palindette, the Unemployed Zealot has a new call-in radio show. here's the press release.
http://www.free-press-release.com/news-paladinette-now-has-a-radio-show-1270681082.html & here's link for more info
http://joblessunite.yolasite.com/radio-show.php

I listened to the test spot she made. Interesting. She needs call-ins to her show and is a member of unemployed friends out of California, a site with over 3700 members from all over the country. At any given time there are several hundred members posting. Here's the link if anyones interested: http://unemployed-friends.forumotion.com/forum.htm

[GonzoFL]

Speaking of Unemployed Friends web site,this was posted on there this morning. if there is any substance to what the OP was told......there may be hope yet.


PM Sent To Me Concerning Nancy Pelosi

Post by wabbitstu Today at 11:49 am
I just now received a PM from a poster over at City-Data's unemployment forum. I sometimes will go over there and post or answer questions. Anyways, somebody sent me a PM message I thought I would share here:

"I called Nancy Pelosi's office and when I mentioned I was calling about unemployment the staff member without knowing my specific concern right away mentioned *_TIER V_* (which shows that it is being called about _frequently_) and she mentioned that Congressman Hoyer is the one that 'is handling it'. She then switched me over to Hoyer's office where I was told that they should be addressing a *_TIER V_* by next week. She said they were getting *_many_* calls on it and they were looking to address it soon.

Because calls are coming in we are seeing an acceleration of effort by _House Leaders_ to address the issue. The House of Reps seems to have it (TIER V) on their radar and it is up to us to help them keep it there. I would encourage*_ all_* that are desiring to continue having this move more *_quickly_* to contribute by making calls to Congressman Steny Hoyer's office (_as well as your own House Rep_) and make your urgency known. Let's not ease up at the end and let's apply the rightful pressure on this major concern. *_Let's flood those lines_!*

[GonzoFL]

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/91605-senate-dems-hope-to-advance-unemployment-extension-today-eye-yearlong-fix-soon

[deetann]

[This is a duplicate of a post I made today on Open Congress.]

Check out the Senate Finance Committee's spiffy new website:

http://finance.senate.gov/

Check the calendar for April 14. This is the main source for the guy who wrote about it on WorldNewsVine.

I'm guessing this is the Senate's answer to House Rep Miller's HR 4812, which doesn't actually have UI benefits in it, but is a somewhat decent bill to create jobs specifically and directly for the long term unemployed, at least in part.

IMO, this may be the avenue for both more benefit weeks and targeted jobs. With today's deficit problems, a broad pure benefits bill might just meet with far too much opposition from the right and be viewed as too much of a "handout" by them.

But if it were couched with efforts to have those on benefits get into work programs, maybe sort of like CETA back in the 70's (not quite as ambitious as FDR's New Deal, but significant), maybe it would have a better chance.

The Finance committee, as we all know, tends to be rather conservative financially, so any bill from Baucus and Grassley might have more of a chance with the general Senate, if they can actually agree to a large bill or series of bills.

If they could emphasize plans to actually hire and get folks hired, but couple that with at least some extra time with benefits while these programs get in gear, maybe there's some hope here.

I'm speaking logically and hopefully, ha-ha, but we'll see what happens. Meanwhile, I emphasize again, THESE committee members should be on your call list!

Creating jobs would be great as long as it doesn't carry the same stipulations as the last one where you had to "have a child under 18 living at home" - puhleeeeze.....where does that leave us with no or grown children???? Aren't we worthy of a job too???? We still have to eat and have a place to sleep!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[grandmom49]

Gonzo, I believe the year long extension they are talking about is extending qualifying dates for the tiers already in place. I spoke with my reps office today for over 15 mins before I was finally told that no more tiers were being debated because the majority want us back to work not sitting home collecting benefits. Prior to that they tried to placate me with information on the current extension bill.

[grandmom49]

Nancy,
Would you formulate a statement for the finance committe hearing. I would gladly co-sign as I'm sure many other members of the forum would. I know that if I write my own statement it will be more emotion than fact and not as professionally worded as a statement authored by you. Plz? I think sending them a statement signed by more than one of us (hopefully, many more) will show them that we are serious & that the cessation of funding unemployment benefits while so many of us remain out of work is a serious national problem.

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