GOP not delaying HR4213. #unemployment #paygo #economy
The Senate will not approve a bill to reauthorize several expired domestic aid programs,including extended jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed, until sometime next week.
"We fully expect to have the 60 votes to be able to pass this bill by early next week," said Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).
In the meantime, at least 323,400 people who've been out of work for longer than six months will prematurely lose access to the extended unemployment benefits enacted to fight the recession. By the end of next week, Department of Labor data show that that number will reach 903,000.
"We have to remember that every day it takes for this bill to be passed and signed into law, is another day that the long-term unemployed might be going without their unemployment check," said Judy Conti, a lobbyist for the National Employment Law Project, which has been pushing for a longer reauthorization since last year. "By the time they have reached federal benefits, their savings and ability to borrow are likely exhausted, so any period without that unemployment check is extremely scary and stressful for them."
The lapse happened after deficit-wary House Democrats rebelled against the original version of the "tax extenders" bill, which was projected to add $123 billion to the federal budget deficit next year. The vote didn't happen until the end of the week -- after senators had already left town -- and several provisions were removed, including $7 billion in subsidies for COBRA health insurance premiums and $24 billion to help state pay Medicaid expenses.
There are no plans to reinsert the $7 billion COBRA subsidy. "You can't do everything," Schumer said.
Source: Huffy Puffy Post
The Blue Dog democrats know the voters are concerned about the national debt. They are more concerned about this than those that are unemployed. The GOP still want the PAYGO law obeyed but it is the democrats that are delaying the unemployment extensions.
And sorry to those that need the extensions, it seems likely that, when the Senate votes for this next week, they will have changed it. The House would then have to vote on it again.
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Why doesn't the congress vote on the unemployment extension as a stand alone bill. Then we would know who supports the hard working Americans out of work. I do agree there has to be a end to benefits, but it should be planned out to give as much time as possible for the unemployed to prepare . I am going back to school for training as a nurse because I want to work and not draw unemployment. Step up the requirements to draw unemployment by requiring re-training if you have to, but please extend at least basic benefits as soon as possible before we have a disaster.
ReplyDeleteMy 26 weeks ended on 5/30/10. I applied for welfare on 6/1/10. The more I learn about the irresponsibility of congress the sicker I get about their carelessness and lack of regard for so many innocent hard working americans. I have fallen into a deep depression and am so scared!
ReplyDeleteI sit and listen to the President talk last night. I really feel bad about whats going on with the oil spill...its a terrible thing. But I also feel bad for the thousands of people who can't find a job...and now congress won't do the extension. I'm sorry...but my son worked for 23 years of his life..he's 46 years old and now he can't find employment. He has tried so hard and now he is out of unemployment. This is a sad country when they forget about the little guys out there that need their help. Congress wake up....What if your paycheck disappeared...?
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