Re: New federal benefits legislation for 2010? --Please use this thread for all discussion

[nancym]

Received this update yesterday. The petition is being delivered Thursday.

http://worldnewsvine.com/2010/05/update-99ers-petition-heads-to-washington/

That's good news, especially that it's going to Reid's office.

I called my own House rep today (can't do that too often, sends the blood pressure up too high!) and told the staffer there that I was tired of everyone in Congress who claims to be trying their darndest to help the unemployed that there's just not enough "political will" to do as much as they'd like to do.

I told them that I expected MY congressman to be the one showing the POLITICAL WILL, not waiting to find it in others. He's running for Senator this year and normally I would support him like I've always done. But I told him flat out that I would not VOTE for him if he didn't show some political will on his own and actually come out publicly backing help for those who are hardest hit in Florida, especially those over 40 or seniors who will have the hardest time getting re-employed, and all those who have borne the brunt of the worst part of this recession, before it showed even those glimmers of hope of getting better.

I told his office that I expected him to campaign on that, or to introduce legislation himself, or introduce an amendment, otherwise he would lose his base. (He's on the House Ways and Means Committee, for god's sake.) And god help us if the country is taken over by T-partiers, might as well leave the country at that point.

[sc4ram]

http://economy.freedomblogging.com/2010/05/18/congress-gears-up-for-jobless-cobra-extensions/32745/

[grandmom49]

At this point I must say I am very disappointed. 20,000 signers of a petition telling our Congress that they are disregarding millions is not very impressive. I applaud the effort and thank WNV for their assistance, but wonder what the effect will be. I hope there is not a negative backlash waiting for us.

[pyrox]

with all the post about this petition thing and now since it has ben delivered you here not a word about it.............

[Unemployed In Orlando]

Yeah I was wondering the same thing today. You would have at least thought there would have been some sort of mentions or updates today.

[SaraJ]

Petition delivery update!

http://worldnewsvine.com/2010/05/decker-99ers-petition-delivery-update/

[Jeff]

Petition delivery update!

http://worldnewsvine.com/2010/05/decker-99ers-petition-delivery-update/

Twenty seven thousand signatures may be tiny compared to the millions who've exhausted all benefits. But I think it's a very important and key petition in that it is something tangible for our Representatives to address. And along with official unemployment numbers and the stories of unemployed individuals, Petitions like this fill in an important piece to the decision making puzzle hindering the unemployed.

[UnemployedInFL]

Please feel free to post this on any forum or use it in your next fax or email to your congressperson.


RE: New proposed amendments to H.R. 4213 released May 20, 2010.
http://waysandmeans.house.gov/media/pdf/111/HWC_711_xml.pdf
http://finance.senate.gov/newsroom/chairman/release/?id=1a5f41d1-7639-441c-aace-8ad824bb6733
http://finance.senate.gov/legislation/details/?id=1c237e70-5056-a032-52e9-ef5f959b7a76


Dear 111th Congress of the United States of America,

Please tell me why the 111th Congress of the United States of America continues to treat people who lost their job through no fault of their own from May of 2006 thru May of 2009 unfavorably, compared to others who lost their jobs after some subsequent date, like some line drawn in the sand. Those who lost their jobs more recently than us still have savings, assets and a home to live in. Most of us don't. Why are they more privileged?

I am of course referring to the total lack of additional weeks of EUC/EB benefits for people who have exhausted all EUC and EB benefits, And, the Enactment Date of an individuals right to defer new benefit years as proposed by the AMENDMENTS TO THE SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R. 4213 Sec. 502. Coordination of emergency unemployment compensation with regular compensation.

Why do you insist on treating us like we have some kind of plague or desease which will destroy this nation. YOU destroyed this nation along with our livelihoods. We're NOT going away.

If you're doing it to keep us from being counted in your monthly unemployment rate forget it. You don't fool anyone anymore. Everyone I know, employed and unemployed persons alike, know how deceitful the numbers really are. Depriving us of benefits just so we fall of the rolls of being included in the unemployment rate is so knowledgeable to the whole country it only serves to show how desperate you are to make reality disappear. When in fact the only reality will be when you loose your job the next time you're up for re-election.

So go ahead, keep ignoring the 800 pound gorilla in the room. You won't be forgotten!!!

No amount of political contributions from corporate america or wall street or bank in America or health insurance company will save your political career. So kiss it goodbye. You're finished.

[GonzoFL]

http://www.minyanville.com/businessmarkets/articles/stock-market-dow-jones-obama-congress/5/25/2010/id/28458

Maybe....and that's a BIG maybe,this is where our extended benefit weeks lie.


From the Huffington Post,Larry Summers speech regarding the new stimulus.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/25/larry-summers-obamas-top_n_588787.html

[Liz]

I just called today and here is the whole scoop from Sen. Schumer's office....

In bill 4213 there is going to be some federal funding attached to the bill and it is in conference committee right now, so she could not tell me the amendment number.

The federal funding will go to the states and it will be up to your state to determine how it wants to spend the money - and I think she said it was for up to three social programs.
So for example more benefits for those that have expired Tier 4 is one of the options on how the states can choose to spend the money...

FL gave benefits to unmarried women with children under 18 the last time around that I did not qualify for so you have to make sure to call your state to ensure the funding is allocated for long-term unemployed whose Tier 4 benefits have expired.
I think Tier 4 is best because once it is passed in the Senate the state cannot take three more months to implement it updating computer systems, etc...
Yippee!!!!!! We are almost home! So call your Representatives /Senators and please tell them you want that money allocated for addional weeks added to Tier 4!

***ADMIN EDIT - Please stay on topic within established threads

[Unemployed In Orlando]

Make sure you tune into MSNBC here in about 2 minutes to listen to the Ed Show and talk about the 99'ers.

http://www.examiner.com/x-45498-San-Diego-Unemployment-Examiner~y2010m5d25-Unemployed-99ers-break-through-to-the-Ed-Shultz-Radio-Show-and-now-MSNBC-TV-Ed-Show-tonight

Unemployed 99ers break through to the Ed Shultz Radio Show and now MSNBC TV Ed Show tonight

May 25, 1:54 PM · Donalee King - San Diego Unemployment Examiner
It began May 18th when a 99er had the courage to take action and walk up to Ed Shultz and Chris Matthews during the live coverage of the Primary elections in Philadelphia, PA. This gentleman got the ball rolling for media exposure of Congress' dirty little secret that HR 4213 does nothing to help the millions of Americans who have exhausted all tiers of benefits available to them or soon will.

Then we began our phone BLITS on the Ed Shultz Radio show last Friday. We had a few callers that day and guest host Errol Louis promised to look into this further. Yesterday Ed took the last few minutes of his radio show to address the 99ers and confirm the story of our 99er hero who approached him in Philly.

Well today we finally broke through to the main stream media. This afternoon almost the entire Ed Shultz radio show was dedicated to the 99ers, our cause and callers with incredibly heartbreaking stories of how they are suffering without benefits. On his show Ed promised that tonight his TV hour on MSNBC would feature a segment on this very issue.

So to all those who said we would never do it (get through to the media) and to those who just gave up trying, I say: WE DID IT. See what can happen if you just keep hammering away! Please everyone email Ed at http://www.bigeddieradio.com/emailEd/ and tell him your story, your frustration with Washington and what you think he needs to know about this issue.

Be sure to watch tonight at 6:00PM EST on MSNBC or watch online at: http://www.zahipedia.com/2010/01/28/online-msnbc-news-live-msnbc-live-news/

[waybol]

I am not sure where to put this post but I did after 3 looooong years, find a job with a little help from friends.(references) I will have to move to a new town. but it is o'kay its only a few miles from where I am at now and sometimes change brings new challenges and new rewards.I will still monitor this board and continue to watch and help in anyway that I can.Good Luck to all,and remember we all do, still matter. It's not us. it's the economy.I am very happy to be where I am at and, they seem very happy to have me..I am over 50 and in the paint and bodywork line of work.Thank you for your help and guidance,Thank you for this website,it got me through my insanity. I think................. Wayne

[Unemployed In Orlando]

I am not sure where to put this post but I did after 3 looooong years, find a job with a little help from friends.(references) I will have to move to a new town. but it is o'kay its only a few miles from where I am at now and sometimes change brings new challenges and new rewards.I will still monitor this board and continue to watch and help in anyway that I can.Good Luck to all,and remember we all do, still matter. It's not us. it's the economy.I am very happy to be where I am at and, they seem very happy to have me..I am over 50 and in the paint and bodywork line of work.Thank you for your help and guidance,Thank you for this website,it got me through my insanity. I think................. Wayne

Good luck Wayne, thanks for being a great contributor to the site since day one I hope everything works out well!!

[sc4ram]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/24/long-term-unemployment-no_n_587119.html

[nancym]

I am not sure where to put this post but I did after 3 looooong years, find a job with a little help from friends.................. Wayne

Congratulations, waybol! It's great to hear some good news for a change, especially from those who have been searching for so long.

[UIO--maybe we should have a separate thread for "success stories, new jobs, business startups, etc---?]

[Unemployed In Orlando]

Roger that Nancy, I will make it now under Off Topic

[connorsgp]

hate to be the bearer of this news, but yesterday the US House scaled back on extending the EUC eligibility from Dec 31 to Nov 30 to reduce HR4213's total deficit cost by 50 billion. It looks more and more like there will be no extension IE Tier 5 or extension of weeks for existing tiers...just to much election year chatter about deficit spending ...so it seems that none of us can look forward to more EUC regardless of what Sen Shumer's staff says.

[nancym]

I found this HuffPost article to be most informative about what's actually going on with these benefits and jobs bills sitting in Congress:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/26/democrats-retreat-from-cl_n_590849.html

[Liz]

Yesterday, I called Sen. Schumer's office and they told me they were working on helping the long-term unemployed who's benefits had expired.
(Please note: In the past they extended dates a few times but that did absolutely nothing to help us - we needed additional weeks to be added to Tier 4.)

So I called Sen. Schumer's office this am because I searched the amendments to Bill 4213 and could not find anything specific for adding additional weeks to Tier 4 or a new Tier 5 and and this is what I was told by the gentleman that answered the phone.

One of the amendments in Bill 4213 should help the long-term unemployed that have used up the six weeks of Tier 4 benefits.
It is not under the unemployment section but it is under the TANF section. The funds were allocated to TANF & the states have the option of three if they want to add weeks to Tier 4 or a new Tier 5 or ignore us and use it for other programs.
To ensure we get this funding for the people that have already run out of weeks two months ago and cannot feed their families or pay the rent we need everyone to call our state
Representatives / Governor, etc...& specifically say we need these funds allocated to additional weeks for Tier 4 ...and not used for some other program...

[nancym]

Re: Schumer's comments:

And who makes that decision? Just the Governor? The state legislature won't even be back in session until next year. Is it an agency decision? I'd bet you anything they just put any money available into TANF, since it's been heavily promoted already at the local Workforce centers. Worth a call to the Gov's office, I suppose, if they ever pass the bill this week.

[nancym]

I think I've had it at this point. I've never agreed with those who make Nancy Pelosi into some kind of Satan figure, and I've always given her the benefit of the doubt. But this video of her press conference today has a lot of people really upset, including me, and I'm not even completely dependent on a Tier 5 because of school and all.

Reporter asking about the 99ers. A little less than 17 minute mark:
http://www.cspan.org/Watch/Media/2010/05/27/HP/A/33420/House+Speaker+Rep+Nancy+Pelosi+DCA+Weekly+Legislative+Briefing.aspx

Also article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/27/tier-5-pelosi-says-no-to_n_592121.html

I don't know who that "reporter" was that started the apparent "joke" about the number of letters, but the actual answer to the question was even politically stupid. Is she so naive about what is actually going on that she doesn't realize that even if 4213 passes, almost half of the people that would get help, even those people, would run out of all benefits about a month before the election?!?

And what "low unemployment states" are these where the reps are more worried about the deficit than helping the unemployed? Last count there were only THREE states (Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota) that had unemployment rates below 6%.

And the arguing going on seems to have a lot to do with paying for the already included benefits with a tax adjustment for hedge fund managers, for chrissake, so it really is a lot about hedge fund managers vs. the unemployed, no matter how you want to slice the nuances. And even when all is said and done, only about a quarter to a third of this giant bill has anything at all to do with jobs or benefits!

I tried calling Pelosi's office but now it seems they will only accept calls into their comments line!

So now is Ed Schultz our only avenue to get attention to this problem? Seems like it.

[connorsgp]

Unfortunately it now appears that the extension to Nov 30 will go nowhere. The Senate has already adjourned for Memorial Day (week off) and the House is in such disarray over the deficit that I now believe that 4213 will die before it ever gets to a vote.

[sc4ram]

Looks like Speaker Pelosi made it pretty clear what the legislative agenda will be thru November in the video (and it wont include a Tier V) . Since she pretty much controls the House agenda with a iron fist I have to believe her on this one .
She must of concluded that there is more voter outrage against spending than there is voter support for new Tiers.

Unless there is some ground-swell of advocacy for another EUC Tier (given the sarcasm in the video about all of the letters they have received, it is doubtful that would even make a difference, reminds me a bit of the Health Care reform bill) we are on hold until November (they will have a hard enough time getting funding for existing Tiers thru November passed in this environment).

The only thread of hope I see is that if the Dems get decimated in the mid term elections in November, they could have a "lame-duck" session to pass additional benefits (while figuritively flicking the bird @ the world and the budget) on their way out of town.

Im surprised the NELP guy was quoted as saying they think there will be more extensions next year. Given the fiscal environment I think that is unlikely (especially if the Dems get a drubbing in November) . Also the end of the mid term elections will kick off the Prez's re-elections efforts. He will run on the "positive" effects of the stimulus package and Health Care Reform, hard to portray that message when you are still signing Unemployment extensions into law (that presumes he can wash the gulf oil off himself by then).

Starting to look like a tough summer. I wish everyone the best of luck .

[Garys1n2]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/05/28/house-approves-scaled-tax-spending/?test=latestnews

House apporoved unemployment comp through the end of the year...or close. Sure, it's only the House and not both, but its a step forward instead of a step back.

[grandmom49]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/05/28/house-approves-scaled-tax-spending/?test=latestnews

House apporoved unemployment comp through the end of the year...or close. Sure, it's only the House and not both, but its a step forward instead of a step back.

Maybe not a step back, but definitely not a step forward. A sidestep or maybe a sideswipe. Every time the federal law making bodies take a vacation leaving bills like this pending they add millions to state spending while killing off a few more claimants each time. Florida AWI had to have everyone whose EB benefits were interrupted refile for benefits, then had to review each application to see if the claimant qualified. They could not even start reviewing the aps until they received guidelines from the DOL. Now they will have to go through it all over again for everyone whose benefits terminate on June 5th.
Has anyone been able to get a bank to wait until Congress returns from a recess to have mortgage payments made & late penalties waived? Has anyone been able to defer their homeowner's tax or insurance bills until Congress returns from vacation. Oh yeah, and how many were able to delay paying the cost of their children's graduation from HS?

I give up! Within my limited voting powers I will not return ANY currently elected official to office.

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