After Weeks of Stall Tactics by Republicans Unemployment Extensions Assistance Begins to Flow

Washington, D.C. (July 26) – Finally, legislation is passed and the President has signed H.R. 4213 enabling the unemployed to qualify for unemployment extensions through November 30, 2010. The bill covered retroactive payments to the week of June 13, 2010.

Much needed financial assistance should begin arriving in the hands of unemployed Americans this week. Millions of Americans that have suffered the down turn of this economy seeking both employment and assistance, were left out in the cold by the Senate Republicans joining a filibuster against assistance to ‘Main Street’, choosing to stand up for Wall Street instead.

The impasse was breached when the two Republican Senators from Maine, Senators Snowe and Collins, broke ranks and sided with the nations unemployed, voting in favor of a much scaled down version of H.R. 4213 Jobs Creation and Closing Tax Loopholes Act, renamed Restoration of Emergency Unemployment Extensions Act of 2010.

The future for the unemployed may be a little brighter regarding the job market, at least in New York State. The New York State Department of Labor’s web site is reporting the three-month average, April through June of this year, has fallen below the trigger level for claimants to receive a Tier IV. The report indicates the unemployment rate has dropped to 8.3 percent, missing the critical extension cut-off by a mere two-tenths of one percent.

This number may move upward once again as, the Bureau of Labor Statistics is reporting that 1,647 mass layoffs occurred in June resulting in 145,438 American workers joining the rank and file of the nations unemployed.

The bill signed into law, did not provide relief for those that have suffered the longest during the greatest recession in the nation’s history, those that have expired all their emergency unemployment extension benefits, the 99er’s.

Rumors are abundant once again along with, well intended statements from members of the nations Congressional members, that all efforts to provide for those left out in the cold as a result of the economic meltdown of the Bush administration, are underway.

The current Administration along with Democrat Leaders of Congress, have been attempting to move forward with plans to revive the economy, and are achieving victories despite the overall resentment expressed towards the nation’s workforce by the Republican Party, applying pressures to block the road to recovery, and the send the nation back down the road of economic disaster.

It has hard to believe that a majority of Republican Party members still believe that giving tax breaks to the wealthy, sending jobs overseas by the millions while, leaving the entire burden of keeping the tax coffers filled by America’s workforce, is the answer to end this recession.

Trickle-down economics also known as, Voodoo economics has failed this nation three times in the last half century beginning with the Reagan administration. The nation was already struggling economically as the late President Nixon resigned the oval office, leaving the mess in the hands of the hardly capable Ford administration. The tough times lingered through President Carter’s administration however, it is hard to state whether it was the economy or, the hostage situation that ended his administration.

Nonetheless, history provides us with a look into the future, and that future should not include further meddling in the nation’s economy by the Republican Party, the party of ‘economic regression’.

Chief Editor – WorldNewsVine

Posted by worldnews on July 26, 2010. Filed under economic recovery,economy,News,Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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11 Responses to After Weeks of Stall Tactics by Republicans Unemployment Extensions Assistance Begins to Flow

Debbie

July 26, 2010 at 5:02 pm

THIS LETTER GOES TO THE PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, NANCY PELOSI, ALL SENATORS, AND ALL CONGRESSMAN AND CONGRESSWOMEN,

I AM PART OF THE 99ER’S THAT ALL OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS INCLUDING THE PRESIDENT HAVE JUST DROPPED LIKED A HOT POTATO.

I HAVE APPLIED FOR JOBS SINCE A PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY OUTSOURCES OUR JOBS TO INDIA BACK IN 2008.

I WOULD LIKE ANYONE OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO LIVE IN MY HOME THE WAY WE HAVE BEEN LIVING WITH NO HEALTH INSURANCE SINCE 2008, NO MONEY FOR FOOD, NO MONEY TO PAY BILLS, AND EVEN TO PUT GAS IN THE CAR TO LOOK FOR A JOB, (WHICH I MIGHT ADD IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND).

THEN ON TOP OF IT THE VICE PRESIDENT HAS A WEBSITE FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS, well there is NO MORE MIDDLE CLASS. We are on the WELFARE LINE NOW along with all of the other LOW CLASS PEOPLE. AND WHERE DO YOU GET OFF SAYING THERE IS JOBS? In Alaska!!!!!!!

Get off YOUR HIGH HORSES, AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXHAUSTED THEIR BENEFITS CREATE A TIER 5 FOR THE 99ER’S.

Like or Dislike: 0 0
- BEN
  
  July 27, 2010 at 9:44 pm
  
  THEY DON’T GIVE A CRAP ABOUT US.I DON’T BELIEVE THAT NEW YORK STAT. FOR A SECOND.I’M IN PORT CHARLOTTE,FLORIDA,WITCH IS A BARRON DEAD ZONE.WE ARE AT 13% UNEMPLOYMENT WITH NO JOBS IN SITE.THEY HAVE SAID THERE ARE 6 PEOPLE APPLYING FOR THE SAME JOBS…TRY 100.I HAVE BEEN PUTTING 1 TO6 RESUMES’ OUT EVERY DAY SINCE I LEARNED HOW TO ON THE COMPUTER 1,5 YEARS AGO.IVE BEEN BORROWING MONEY TO PAY MY BILLS FROM MY MOTHER
  I AM 48 YEARS OLD AND IT RIPS MY HEART OUT DOING SO.SHE MAKES SURE MY COMPUTER SERVICE STAYS ACTIVE SO I CAN CONTINUE MY SEARCHES DAILY.LAST MONTH I SENT OUT 110 RESUMES’.I HAD 3 INTERVIEWS THAT I THOUGHT WENT WELL,BUT NO CALL BACKS.I EVEN SHAVED MY MUSTACHE OFF TO LOOK YOUNGER. I THOUGHT I SAW A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL WHEN THEY WERE DISCUSSING THE EXTENTIONS BUT IT ENDED UP BEING A TRAIN.I AM EXPECTING MY EVICTOIN NOTICE ANY DAY NOW.MY LANDLORD HAS BEEN VERY PATIENT.NEXT WEEK I WILL BE 3 MONTHS BEHIND ON MY RENT.AND I WOULDN’T BLAME HIM FOR EVICTING ME.
  I HAVE ALWAYS WORKED EVERY DAY.I MOVED TO FLORIDA 25 YEARS AGO AND HAVE BEEN MAKING IT ON MY OWN UNTIL THOSE ECONOMY WRECKING REPUBLICANS GOT THEIR HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEELS AND DROVE THIS COUNTRY INTO THE GROUND.2 MONTHS AGO I ATE A HAND FULL OF PILLS BECAUSE I DIDN’T HAVE A GUN.WELL THEY PUMPED MY STOMACH AND BAKER ACTED ME FOR 3 DAYS AND
  SENT ME HOME WITH A NEW LEVAL OF DEPRESSION AND 3 DIFFERANT PERSCTRIPTIONS.2 DAYS AGO I WENT TO MY SISTERS BIRTHDAY DINNER BUT HAD TO LEAVE BECAUSE I COULDN’T STOP CRYING.
  I’M USUALLY THE ONE THAT SAID..GRAB YOUR BOOT STRAPPS AND GET ON WITH IT.I CAN’T AFFORD TO MOVE.MY FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE FULL HOUSES.AND EVERY TIME I HAVE A GLIMMER OF HOPE ,IT GETS SHOT DOWN FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER.I’VE THOUGHT ABOUT COMMITING A CRIME JUST BAD ENOUGH TO GIVE ME 3 HOTS AND A COTT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.AT LEAST IT WOULD BE A CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT.BUT THEN OF COURSE WHEN I GOT OUT NOONE WOULD HIRE A EXCONVICT.
  I KNOW EVERYONE IS THINKING I’M A WOOSE.BUT I KNOW I’M NOT THE ONLY ONE IN THIS POSITION.I NOW KNOW THE MEANING OF “DIRE STRAIGHTS”
  
  Like or Dislike: 0 0
Scott W.

July 26, 2010 at 5:57 pm

Thanks for the update, looks like if the numbers keep falling in NYS I will not qualify for Tier IV.

I just hope there are jobs by then….

By the way, I like the new web site!

Like or Dislike: 0 0
hemen parekh

July 27, 2010 at 5:09 am

Unemployed Girls, Beware !

Here are some findings of Pew Research Center’s Global Attitude Project ( in association with the International Herald Tribune – July 2010 ) :

 There is a pronounced gap between a belief in the equality of the sexes and how that translates into reality.

 In China, India, Indonesia and Jordan, equal-rights supporters think, most of the adjustments necessary to establish equality have already been made.

 In nations ( Europe / USA ) where equal rights are already mandated, women seem stymied by a lack of real progress.

 More than 50% in 10 of 22 countries said that when jobs are scarce, they should go to men.

Surely they have not read the survey conducted by Psychology Professor Keith Laws ( University of Hertfordshire ), which found that girls are better than boys when it comes to multi-tasking !

May be my 2 unemployed grand-daughters have still some hope !

With regards

hemen parekh

Jobs for All = Peace on Earth

Like or Dislike: 0 0
Peter

July 27, 2010 at 6:19 pm

Editor-

I have a question here and am counting on your input to better understand your article and the situation at hand. First glance, I agree with one of the points of your article here, “After Weeks of Stall Tactics by Republicans.” You see, there was a lot of suffering by the unemployed who were cut off from their emergency benefits. And from what I understand, the unemployed have never been cut off (experienced a hiatus) from their emergency unemployment benefits before, even with elivated unemployment as low as 7.4% (during the Bush years). This makes the stalling that went on exceptionally cruel, since unemployment was around 10% during the struggle.

As we have seen, the Democrats claim the Republicans have been stalling their ability to pass desperately needed legislation, by simply not voting for what the Democrats want. In other words, the Democrats have not been very successful in getting their way, because they can’t win a super-majority vote (60 votes out-of of 100). But why can’t a vote be called, such that only a simple-majority (51 votes out-of 100) be used to win the desperately needed legislation the Democrats are fighting for?

I believe the senate majority leader (Senator Harry Reid) has the authority to decide what type of vote can be used (Is this true? If not, who decides?) Given the Democrat membership in the Senate is well over the number to win a simple-majority vote, its natural to think they would call for a simple-majority vote to just get things done, avoid stalling and prevent the unemployed from suffering. In fact, the Democrats Health Care Reform legislation was recently won through the use of a simple-majority votes

Having said the above, are the Democrats making false claims here?

And are the Democrats really the ones who are making the unemployed suffer?

Like or Dislike: 0 0
- admin
  
  July 27, 2010 at 6:38 pm
  
  No, the Majority Leader must follow Senate rules. Legislation has gone on for years; it is simply removed from the calendar if it becomes a nuisance. There is only one Senate procedural maneuver available termed the “Nuclear Option” meaning the Majority Leader can demand a “up/down” vote on the matter only IF, no one in his party objects to the motion..
  
  As for the stall tactics, the GOP simply wanted the reversal of the Tax Loopholes removed which, they won. The Majority Leader then, scaled down the bill (by the way, this was originally a GOP bill, created to satisfy Senator Bunning back in March 2010) as agreed upon by the Minority leader to remove all the undesirables requested by the GOP, the COBRA extension, and so forth.
  
  Once this happened, the Republicans began once again, to filibuster their own bill. I cannot recall what the agreement was between Senator Snowe and the Majority Leader (I do recall viewing it) which in turn won her support, and her colleagues support from Maine.
  
  So, the bottom line on this was simple, the GOP wanted all the Bush tax incentives to remain intact, and have the remainder paid by Stimulus monies. The Stimulus fund is set aside for “Stimulus Projects” and funds are unavailable once again meaning, the GOP just simply did not want to extend unemployment benefits. I come from a long line of republicans, and trust me, the parties have their mascots backwards as well as, in general the GOP is simply out of touch with reality… go out and get a job, any job you can find, starters there aren’t a plethora of jobs available, and secondly houses will still foreclose, credit cards go unpaid, and where are you supposed to live on $10 or $15 an hour job (if you can find one of those).
  
  Unfortunately, the nation fell into a “groove” of living the “good-life” under the Clinton Administration, stability all around then, this Voodoo economic business went into play and the GOP just simply let the “rich get richer, and the rest of us poor bastards pay for it”.
  
  Hope that answers your questions.
  
  Like or Dislike: 0 0
Peter

July 28, 2010 at 3:24 am

Admin/Editor-

Thank you for taking the time to explain your view of this situation. I certainly appreciate it. About the Senate rules, would you know where one could look these up. It is a type of parlimentary procedure I am sure.

Thanks again

Like or Dislike: 0 0
- admin
  
  July 28, 2010 at 3:39 am
  
  Rules Of Senate Home is your best bet
  
  Like or Dislike: 0 0
Nancy

July 29, 2010 at 2:12 am

Please keep sending e mails stressing the urgency of the President and Congress to take action for the 99-ers and all others who are unemployed. We are no lazy and it is very difficult to live on unemeployment benefits. For weeks, months we have had no income!

In 2008, I was middle class, now like millions, I have only 24 cents in my bank account, no cash on hand, and $22 left on my only credit card. The (former) middle class Americans need to protest and work together to resolve the problems we have getting Congress to listen.

IF I did receive a request for a job interview, I have no money for gas in my car to get there. All our jobs went to India, China and Mexico. We all need to move out of the US to find employment. I am 51 years old and cannot even get hired in retail sales.

Washington, wake up to reality.

Like or Dislike: 0 0
Michael Norris

July 30, 2010 at 1:16 am

I have been unemployed since Mar. 2009 and have been unable to find a job, what they don’t tell me is my age at 58 is the reason that I do not get hired. Most jobs that I have applied for I am over qualified and still I do not get the job. I should be in Teir IV, but because I did not make the cut off I have no more benefits. Capital One Auto Finance just got off the phone and stated that they are going to repo the car due to non-payment. Once this happens that how am I to hunt for a job. I hear that Austraila has low unemployment and jobs for anyone that can get there. I don’t have the funds to do that. I am now at the end of my rope and looking down at a very long drop. Its time that the american people are taken care of first. I am a vet and was all for the wars that we are in at this moment. I supported because it would be a slap in the face for those that have died in these wars. It now has been 9 years and no end insight. We need to get out of them and use the money to get the US back on its feet. All useless bills need to end remove pork-belly add on’s. Why do we need to send money over seas to a country that hates us and this will never change. They have been fighting each other for hundreds of years and that will never change. The way to have money for this country to get back on it’s feet is to have the House and Senate members to take a pay cut , also limit the number of terms that they can hold office to 2 terms, once they have left office they do not receive their pay for the rest of their lives ( the American citizens do not get this so why should they), also make them pay for their health insurance like we all have to do now. Maybe they would see what it’s like to live from paycheck to paycheck. These cuts would save the taxpayers of America millions of dollars. Also they should have to stay in session if there is any unsolved issue, like the unemployment issue that is still hurting many lives. President Obama stated we need a change and he is right on that issue. Both the House and Senate need to be changed, all need to be going home and do what ever they do! They need to understand that they work for the people each and everyone and not only to line their pockets from the rich. Lets take back our country and our goverment as is stated in the first line of the Constition ” We the People” and not “We the Goverment”

Like or Dislike: 0 0
- admin
  
  July 30, 2010 at 1:30 am
  
  Well said… I have looked into Australia and Canada (Alberta region) for a few years, and have found that if you have something or can get something lined up, getting there is a small portion of the battle… President Obama did run on a Campaign of “Change” however, the Republican Party will block every attempt for change…
  
  Hopefully, the latest bill in the House, Closing Tax Loopholes will not meet the same opposition in the Senate for it is totally paid for therefore, shutting down the GOP’s argument… bets have it that, it won’t the Republicans will do whatever is necessary to protect their jobs, and protecting the wealthy will insure their positions for years to come…
  
  As far as contacting Senator Schumer’s office well, they’ve never been very forthcoming either… I would lay bets that the Senator’s statement was one of hope, not necessarily a promise that could be kept…
  
  What’s next for the unemployed, no one seems to know…
  
  I know it’s not much however, if you would be interested in penning a column for WNV there is a chance of generating some income via click-through advertisement although, we offer no guarantees… if interested email, editors@worldnewsvine.com
  
  Like or Dislike: 0 0