Almost two days after the H.R. 3548 survived its first cloture vote, there has been no major movement on the bill that would extend unemployment insurance for Americans who have exhausted their benefits. Why? Republicans keep throwing up new procedural barriers.
After reaching a bipartisan agreement to include an amendment extending the first-time homebuyer's tax credit, Senate Republicans agreed today to drop their efforts to weigh down the legislation with controversial amendments regarding ACORN and the E-Verify program. In exchange, they've turned to a new form of obstruction: demanding a vote on two new controversial amendments. The first would speed up the expiration date for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (a non-starter for Democrats who point out that a sunset date for the bank bailouts is already written into law). The second is yet another attempt to change to the way the extension is funded, by using "unspent" stimulus money, rather than the federal unemployment surtax, which amounts to 0.2 percent tax on the initial $7,000 of employees' wages.
As we've discussed before, funding an extension through the surtax is a sound strategy. After all, unemployment benefits have been extended so frequently over the past 30 years, many businesses have already budgeted for it. And it's not exactly a hefty expense, costing employers, on average, an extra $14 per employee annually. The GOP opposition is nothing more than petty politics.
Until those details can be ironed out, the legislation will stay lodged in the upper chamber. And every day that it does, another 350 Illinois families will exhaust their benefits.
Comments
Jim_L on Thu, 10/29/2009 - 16:18
The Republicans want to make the President and his administration look bad. " Your stimulus didn`t work! " By dragging this out it helps make their point, although at a great cost in NEEDLESS human suffering. More repos, foreclosures, bankruptcy, evictions, desperation driven crime, suicide, etc.
That is called politics. Isn`t it fun?
fratboy512 on Fri, 10/30/2009 - 07:18
Can the President not issue an Executive Order to extend the benefits?
There almost 7 million Americans unemployed. If everyone one of us calls the entire list of Senators, it should send some type of message. Here is the link for all phone numbers and email addresses. Let's be heard!!!
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Driver on Thu, 10/29/2009 - 17:00
Wow! This is sickening. I truly am sick to my stomach.
Jim on Thu, 10/29/2009 - 17:30
I can't understand what happened to the Republican Party I used to know: in this case, the loyal opposition who would advance seperate, distinct proposals, BUT, would not end up allowing people to go hungry and homeless. They've lost their minds and need to be removed from office; the past two weeks of obstruction has been a farcical parade. Get rid of them.
LoveD80s on Thu, 10/29/2009 - 17:45
HERE WE GO. ANOTHER WEEKEND, NO BILL. MORE MISERY AND PAIN
Durbin:Senate Won't Vote On Jobless Benefit Extension This Week
By Corey Boles, Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- The U.S. Senate won't vote on legislation extending federal jobless benefits to long-term unemployed people, a top Democratic lawmaker said Thursday, as a fight between party leaders drags into its fourth week.
The measure would extend federal benefits by 20 weeks for jobless people living in the hardest-hit states, and for 14 weeks for out of work Americans in all 50 states.
Assistant Majority Leader Richard Durbin (D., Ill.) said lawmakers wouldn't vote on the legislation until next week.
Democrats and Republicans can't reach an agreement on how many amendments will be allowed votes on the Senate floor alongside the legislation.
The House of Representatives passed its version of the unemployment benefits extension in September.
The national unemployment rate reached 9.8% in September nationally, but in many states it is far higher.
-By Corey Boles, Dow Jones Newswires; 202-862-6601; corey.boles@dowjones.com
Jim_L on Thu, 10/29/2009 - 18:54
I hear ya LoveD80s. This is sickening.
Uda on Thu, 10/29/2009 - 18:24
During the discussion between Lemar Alexander and Jon Kyl prior to the cloture vote Wednesday, Kyl who was a proxy for Alexander, stated that the existing benefits have not run out yet, insinuating that there was no hurry to pass the extension. What is wrong with this guy? Is it dementia, or what? I feel sorry for anyone who admits to being a Republican, especially if you live in Arizona.
roberto627 on Thu, 10/29/2009 - 18:31
I would like to see someone who is able and has the web chops orginize a march on D.C. to get the attention of our government and the incredible emergency importance of passing the Unemployment Benefits Extension Bill - perhaps without ANY amendments! Wow what a concept! I think it is time that the people show up in D.C. and voice their outrage at the disconnect between "us" and "them". Any takers? Lets do this VERY SOON!
Jim_L on Thu, 10/29/2009 - 18:51
10,000 marchers with signs might even make the news. Might
Jim_L on Fri, 10/30/2009 - 05:13
Right now there are only 9 weeks left in the year. A 14 or 20 week extension would require voting on "something else" to allow anyone to be on an extension in 2010, not to mention the extra $25 is to run out at the end of 2009 as well.
We will see jack squat before Thanksgiving folks. We will be lucky if the first week we can file for is week ending 11/28/09.
This is about as much fun as playing "Let`s drink what`s under the sink".
GOTTA BE REAL on Thu, 10/29/2009 - 19:34
We can all put our hardship stories on this blog, however the only stories that count are the ones that you can tell you reps. And it is this .... if you don't vote for this bill and fairly soon that you will not be voting for them come next election. This way they can know what it going to be like to be out of a job and have no income and they can worry where the rent, mortgage and food money is going to come from.
editreply
J.Hancock on Thu, 10/29/2009 - 20:23
All of Congress needs to know that ALL states citizens deserve the protection and support of the government in this mess that they(Congress) put us into. If not, they need to be reminded that it is "WE THE PEOPLE" that are the ones they need to serve, not "corporate America".
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."
As true today as it was then.
Congress needs a swift kick, right out of their offices.
I say, make Congress unemployed, let them see how it feels.
WE THE PEOPLE need to start standing up for ourselves again.
Theirs not an American out there, that would rather be employed and not having to worry about their future into the next month. Right now, that's all they have. "Let me pay my bills, pay my rent, but, what am I gonna do for food?"
That is not America people. That is where we are though. Thanks to those in Congress.
Take back America for WE THE PEOPLE!!!!!!
standfast on Thu, 10/29/2009 - 20:31
ey are throwing money at everything and now they stop at the unemployed.
What a joke. Well, it will be unfortunate when I stop paying my credit cards (35% interest), health benefits, and etc.
I am happy these small minded petty psuedo intellectuals are unable to do anything.
I believe 2 million people on the streets is exactly the wake up call we need to NEVER EVER VOTE AN INCUMBANT IN AGAIN.
Which is why I am starting a new political party called "The Opposite Party"
Just vote for the new guy, no matter how disconnected, unsympathetic, self centered and filled with undeserved expectations that person is.
BTW, I don’t care about right vs.left, republicand vs. democrats; an incumbent politician is un-American; our founding fathers didn’t have lifetime politicians.
Many of our problems stems from the fact we have taxation without representation thanks to a lobby system that would dazzle anyone. So you can’t really blame them. You must blame yourself for voting an incumbent in or worse yet, for not voting at all.
Regardless of your economic situation and political view, I urge you to join my cause and never ever vote in an incumbent again.
That’s right. Just keep saying to yourself “I will vote for the NEW guy”.
On second thought I think we need a new name for our party. Something that makes us think to never ever vote an incumbent in again.
So for all you unemployed people, who ever gives me the best name wins a $5 star bucks card. Which is more than your country gave you over the last several weeks if you are one of the 400k people whose benefits ran out in September.
God Bless America!
Kara on Thu, 10/29/2009 - 21:28
I'm truly ashamed to be a Republican right now. The Republican senators that are holding this bill hostage are narcisstic and completely lacking in empathy. They are absolutely clueless as to how much the American people are suffering. Of course, they wouldn't have a clue because they're taken care of for life - a 6 FIGURE INCOME and a cushy retirement with full benefits.
chriskaye on Thu, 10/29/2009 - 21:39
You are still a Republican, Kara?
chriskaye on Thu, 10/29/2009 - 21:43
This is just incredible - I just don't know what to say or do any more. They are basically telling us to *uck off and die, their E-verify and Acorn amendments are much more important to them than the people in their own states who are homeless and/or not "eating much" at this time. You can't even say "shame on you" at this point - the message from them is *uck you - give us our legislation or else.
But on the bright side maybe we can give these guys the heave ho come next election. It's worth a try.
Mystic1982 on Thu, 10/29/2009 - 23:13
I was just looking at the senate calendar for November... here is the link...
http://democrats.senate.gov/calendar/2009-11.html
Am I reading this right? Is it showing that the senate will meet at 5pm on the 1st to do a vote? Whoever sees this, please look and let me know... thank you so much!!
__Adele in KY
kevdawg60 on Fri, 10/30/2009 - 05:30
It is scheduled to be ammended the way the "extremest republicans" want it. It is supposed to go to a cloture vote at 5pm on Monday the 2nd, then to the house (wont fly after changes to the legislation they crafted let alone with ammendments) then to the president who will probably traveling the world in places he has no business right now entertaining with his wife while the kids are well fed and taken care of by a nanny totally funded by us unemployed "tax payers". What a Farce!
Heather167 on Fri, 10/30/2009 - 01:22
I just don't understand how can they keep putting this off. Don't they realize how many American families are hurting from this? My benefits have ended weeks ago!
Why is it so easy to send Aid over seas???
Why are we the first to help other's and last to help ourselves?
This is so sad!!
kithylin on Fri, 10/30/2009 - 02:33
I don't actually live in Illinois, I'm in texas but.. i'm one of the several that need this bill passed.
I was laid off from my job as a DataCenter Technician Level II in may of 2008, due to the company down-sizing, and have been unable to find any kind of work since (McDonald's says i'm overqualified).
I moved back in with my mother, as i couldn't afford my apartment.. we're living on her social security check of $900/month with a $200/month oil royalties check.. we only afford $55/month entirely for all of our food, and that includes $30 from the food stamp program (they think we make too much money) after $800 rent and utilities.
We barely get by.. our only functioning car has a bad clutch and has sat in the driveway for 6 months. we depend on neighbors to get food.. i'm even leeching a neighbor's wireless for internet.
If this bill passed we could at least fix our car, and maybe be a little less worried about how we're going to eat for the next week for a change.
I've exhausted all of our benefits between may `08 and now, mainly to help with small problems. we have no savings nothing.. :(
Jim on Fri, 10/30/2009 - 02:51
Mystic 1982: See the link below; you're on to something.
http://frwebgate4.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/TEXTgate.cgi?WAISdocID=89140223...
kevdawg60 on Fri, 10/30/2009 - 05:39
Guess it is time to send out Xmas cards to all of our poor folks in Congress. I feel bad for them! NOT! Oh lets not interrupt their 1 week recess in 10 more days of real tough work of wasting all of their time, while we starve, get thrown in the street from our homes to starve. Rise up, flood the republican leaders office with phone calls and emails telling him what a scumbag he is for allowing his "brothers" to blockade our minimal help for his corporate buddies. I used to be a republican up until this week. These republicans could not hold a candle to the republicans I was raised by! God bless all of you and hang in there.
Jim_L on Fri, 10/30/2009 - 07:08
Don't get your hopes up again, but take this for what it`s worth.
http://www.subprimeblogger.com/2009/10/29/unemployment-benefits-extensio...
Driver on Fri, 10/30/2009 - 07:38
Jim_L,
Thanks for the link. Its all B-S, they say "this can be passes as soon as tomorrow", but these as*holes are off for the weekend. This is very discouraging for all of us. May the good lord be with us all!
In The Same Boat on Fri, 10/30/2009 - 08:00
I have the same question as Mystic1982. Can anyone look at this site and tell me what this means as far as Sunday?
http://democrats.senate.gov/calendar/2009-11.html
beth on Fri, 10/30/2009 - 08:17
Jim - Cannot access this site - can you summarize?
Jim on Fri, 10/30/2009 - 03:51
Mystic 1982: See the link below; you're on to something.
http://frwebgate4.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/TEXTgate.cgi?WAISdocID=89140223...
LoveD80s on Fri, 10/30/2009 - 08:35
So, really looks like they are "working" on Sunday at 5....i will certainly be glued to the tv at that time. Are they doing anything today at all? does anyone knows?
In The Same Boat on Fri, 10/30/2009 - 08:47
I'm confused, on the website abouve it says Sunday, but I just heard Reid say Monday. So I guess Monday?
LoveD80s on Fri, 10/30/2009 - 09:16
thIS IS SUCH A MESS! when is it. Sunday or Monday? why do they have it written as Sunday at 5? this is unreal, they don't even know what they are doing.
icebaby on Fri, 10/30/2009 - 09:27
just found out though extended benefits are for those who exhasted benefits after sept.1st. they will not be retroactive as it stands right now. will only be forward, so hoping for it to pass soon.
Mystic1982 on Fri, 10/30/2009 - 09:46
icebaby, where did you get your info from?? I have understood it to be different... I ran out of benefits in August.... I thought that me and everyone else who has used up all the extra extensions qualified...
Jim_L on Fri, 10/30/2009 - 09:55
Running out in Aug does NOT disqualify you.
Jim_L on Fri, 10/30/2009 - 09:52
I see the senate has recess the second and fourth week of November so.....this needs to be a done deal by next weekend.
Then there is the little problem of the end of 2009. Nine weeks away from now. These extensions are not authorized into 2010, and neither is the $25 kicker.
In The Same Boat on Fri, 10/30/2009 - 09:52
I believe you are correct Mystic1982.
icebaby on Fri, 10/30/2009 - 09:54
heard from another blogger the sept 1st cutoff, so not for sure. go to unemployedworkers.org to read about not being retroactive.
Mystic1982 on Fri, 10/30/2009 - 09:56
ok... I have found a link on the unemployed workers website explaining eligibility... here s the link
http://www.unemployedworkers.org/sites/unemployedworkers/index.php/benef...
AND here is the text....
Clarifying Eligibility for the New Extension (October 29, 2009)
Friends-We understand that many of you may be under the impression that once the unemployment extension bill is passed, it won't apply to anyone who has already run out of benefits. Let us assure you that is NOT correct. If you have exhausted your full range of federally funded benefits before the passage of this bill, you WILL be eligible for these additional weeks. In that sense, the bill is retroactive in its reach. However, in another important aspect, the bill is NOT retroactive. You will not receive a lump sum payment dating back to the time when you exhausted benefits. The benefits will only be paid going forward. We know this creates a huge hardship for many of you who exhausted benefits weeks or months ago, and it is one of the things we have been speaking about most strongly as this bill has been delayed time and time again. We know you are falling deeper into debt with each passing week, and we are sorry to say that there is just no possible way that these benefits could have ever been designed to be paid retroactively. However, once the bill is passed, you will know that you will have an additional 14 or 20 weeks to depend on going forward, and we hope that provides you with some measure of reassurance.
I hope this helps everyone else like it did for me!
--Adele in KY
(ps... I did not vote for mr. mcconnell... I voted for the other guy... it was one of the closest races for senate ever in KY.. )
icebaby on Fri, 10/30/2009 - 09:59
unemployedworkers.org says all will be eligible, but will not be retroactive.
Ann on Fri, 10/30/2009 - 10:04
Good news for those of you who live in Columbia S.C!! I wish they would do this for everyone in America!! I recieved this info from another blog!
"COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - South Carolina legislators have wrapped up
work on a bill that will extend jobless benefits to workers who had
begun running out of weekly state and federal help.
The bill sent to Gov. Mark Sanford's desk Wednesday ensures at
least seven weeks of federal extended jobless benefits for South
Carolina workers who already had begun losing weekly checks.
Governor Sanford plans to sign the bill Thursday morning.
The Legislature needed to change the rules to collect the extra
benefits so that they are triggered by the state's unemployment
rate rather than the number of people drawing unemployment
benefits.
State Rep. Kenny Bingham of Cayce said workers who have missed
checks will get them retroactively.
Sanford spokesman Ben Fox said the governor would send out a
statement on his plans for the legislation later."
Ann on Fri, 10/30/2009 - 10:12
Utah and CT are included in this Legislation.
Ann on Fri, 10/30/2009 - 10:31
A second Cloture vote is scheduled to take place Monday at 5pm ET! Let's all pray that it will finally happen!
Josh Kalven on Fri, 10/30/2009 - 11:00
Yep, we confirmed this with Reid's office:
http://progressillinois.com/2009/10/30/cloture-vote-ui-scheduled
Head over there to comment. I'm going to close down this thread.
Progress Illinois' intention is to foster community and to maintain a comfortable and constructive blogging environment. While we encourage and appreciates different points of view, we do not consider it our duty to give a voice to anybody with an opinion.
Discussion on this site is moderated. All comments submitted will be automatically held for review by the editors before posting. Your comment will not appear on the site until it has been approved.
We will not publish comments that we consider:
Please leave a name or nickname when commenting, as it makes it easier for others to respond directly.