#unemployment #jobs #economy #budget
The House passed a $93 billion package of jobless benefits and business tax breaks Friday after moderate Democrats fed up with deficit spending forced leaders to slice billions of additional dollars from the legislation.
The House voted, 215 to 204, to approve the measure, which would extend expanded benefits for the unemployed through November, finance thousands of summer jobs and renew for one year dozens of expired tax credits and deductions for businesses and individuals.
Republicans were virtually united in their opposition to the measure, which in its initial form would have cost nearly $200 billion and added more than $140 billion to a budget deficit already forecast to hit a record $1.5 trillion this year. But moderate Democrats lent their support to the bill only after House leaders scaled the package back, jettisoning provisions that would have extended health insurance subsidies for unemployed workers and offered additional assistance to cash-strapped state governments.
Those provisions could be reconsidered when the House returns from a 10-day Memorial Day break. But with voters complaining about out-of-control spending, many rank-and-file Democrats warned that they are unlikely to support additional aid for the jobless or other measures aimed at shoring up the economic recovery.
The Senate left town late Thursday and is not scheduled to return until June 7. Federal funding that provides up to 99 weeks of income support for more than 5.3 million jobless workers is set to expire next week.
Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) has pledged to extend jobless benefits. But Reid indicated that Senate Democrats, who are also increasingly focused on the soaring national debt, may be less inclined to support other provisions in the package.
Source: Washington Post
The GOP once again wanted the PAYGO law obeyed and have the extensions paid now.
In the US House, the GOP objections didn’t stop the extensions being extended thru the mid-term elections.
Unfortunately, the Senate left town so the extensions WILL expire on June 2nd.
To the unemployed, sorry this wasn't worked on last week so it would be completed before the recess not after.
#employment #jobs #economy
Congress goes on recess May 29 thru June 7. The current extensions end June 2. The House and Senate will most likely leave early friday. Most of Thursday is gone so that most likely means the unemployment extensions will expire on June 2nd.
Rather than dealing with the unemployment extensions on the House floor, Pelosi had the House start with H. Res. 1161: honoring the Centennial Celebration of Women at Marquette University, the first Catholic university in the world to offer co-education as part of its regular undergraduate program,
H. Res. 1372: honoring the University of Georgia Graduate School on the occasion of its centennial and
most of the day was spent on H.RES. 1404 / H.R. 5136: to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2011 for military activities of the Department of Defense, to prescribe military personnel strengths.
The House also voted on H. Con. Res. 282: providing for an adjournment or recess of the two Houses. Most democrats voted for the Memorial Day recess. Most of the republicans voted against the recess.
U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell:
“I’d like to just say a word this morning about the still-unfinished extenders package that’s about to come over from the House.
“The first thing to say is that Republicans are ready and willing right now to extend necessary benefits and to pay for them. We could get this done in no time.
Both parties could have created a standalone bill to handle the unemployment extensions through the end of the year but Pelosi and Reid didn’t want a standalone bill.
They are depending on H.R.4213 - American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010. The House passed a version of this on 12/9/9. The Senate passed a version 3/10/10. This is a massive bill that is supposed to create “jobs” but has stuff that has nothing to do with creating jobs like satellite TV fees.
Pelosi and Reid put your needed extensions in this massive bill that not even democrats can agree on.
Tier 5 may NOT be in this bill.
(CBO and JCT estimate that the legislation would increase budget deficits by about $123 billion for fiscal years 2010 and 2011, by about $141 billion over the 2010-2015 period, and by about $134 billion over the 2010-2020 period.)
For the US House, the extension were not being done on the floor but in backroom deals.
With mid-term elections in mind, the Blue Dog democrats are afraid the GOP will point to the Greece economic situation and how much HR4213 will add to the national debt. The Blue Dogs are tending to agree with the GOP that the extensions must be paid for NOW.
To those unemployed, sorry you are getting caught in the politics of whether to increase the national debt or not.
Click here for the US House floor proceeding.
#employment #jobs #economy
Congress goes on recess May 29 thru June 7. The current extensions end June 2. The House and Senate will most likely leave early friday. Most of Wednesday is gone so that leaves Thursday to get the unemployment extensions passed before they expire.
Rather than dealing with the unemployment extensions, Pelosi had the House start with H. Res. 1347: honoring the workers who perished on the Deepwater Horizon offshore oil platform,
H. Res. 1073: supporting the goals and ideals of RV Centennial Celebration Month to recognize and honor 100 years of the enjoyment of recreational vehicles in the United State,
H. Res. 1391: congratulating Israel for its accession to membership in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development,
H. Res. 1385: recognizing and honoring the courage and sacrifice of the members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and for other purposes and
H. Res. 1169: honoring the 125th anniversary of Rollins College.
Today, Pelosi had the House start at 10am and recessed at 11:30am. It started again at 5:45pm.
Both parties could have created a standalone bill to handle the unemployment extensions through the end of the year but Pelosi and Reid didn’t want a standalone bill.
They are depending on H.R.4213 - American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010. The House passed a version of this on 12/9/9. The Senate passed a version 3/10/10. This is a massive bill that is supposed to create “jobs” but has stuff that has nothing to do with creating jobs like satellite TV fees. Pelosi and Reid put your needed extensions in this massive bill that not even democrats can agree on. Tier 5 may NOT be in this bill (CBO and JCT estimate that the legislation would increase budget deficits by about $123 billion for fiscal years 2010 and 2011, by about $141 billion over the 2010-2015 period, and by about $134 billion over the 2010-2020 period.)
To those unemployed depending on the extensions, I am sorry but it doesn’t look like extensions are going voted on before they expire. Some in both parties are playing games with your unemployment extensions.
I keep wondering why the voting on the extensions didn’t start last week.
UPDATE: Seems the democrats have been doing backroom deals. They are apparently afraid of how much their bill will add to the deficit. One change - instead of extensions thru the end of the year they will be just thru the mid-term elections.
Click here for the US House floor proceeding.
#employment #jobs #economy
Congress goes on recess May 29 thru June 7. The current extensions end June 2.
Pelosi didn’t deal with the extensions last week and took last Friday off. Pelosi didn’t have the House vote on them yesterday.
She is letting the congressmen sleep in late and will start today at 10:30 am. Oops, 10:30am is for morning hour debate where the congressmen can talk about whatever they want. Noon is the real start time today.
Rather than dealing with the unemployment extensions, Pelosi at 2:30pm had the House starts with H.R.5145: Assuring Quality Care for Veterans Act,
H. Res. 1258: expressing support for designation of May 2010 as Mental Health Month,
H. Res. 1382: expressing sympathy to the families of those killed by North Korea in the sinking of the Republic of Korea Ship Cheonan, and solidarity with the Republic of Korea in the aftermath of this tragic incident (Unfinished business from previous day),
H. Res. 584: recognizing the importance of manufactured and modular housing in the United States (Unfinished business from previous day),
H. Res. 1172: recognizing the life and achievements of Will Keith Kellogg (as in the cereal company),
H. Res. 1189: commending Lance Mackey on winning a record 4th straight Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and
H . Res. 1316: celebrating Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month,
And will Pelosi and Reid create a standalone bill to handle the unemployment extensions through the end of the year? NO.
They are depending on H.R.4213 - American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010. The House passed a version of this on 12/9/9. The Senate passed a version 3/10/10. This is a massive bill that is supposed to create “jobs” but has stuff that has nothing to do with creating jobs like satellite TV fees. Pelosi and Reid put your needed extensions in this massive bill that not even democrats can agree on. Tier 5 may NOT be in this bill
Liberals are saying the GOP shouldn’t dare to insist the PAYGO law be obeyed on HR4213. Creating “jobs” is more important than NOT sticking our children with BILLIONS more in debt. One possible problem. Like other asinine massive bills from the liberals to create “jobs”, they have created few long term jobs.
(CBO and JCT estimate that the legislation would increase budget deficits by about $123 billion for fiscal years 2010 and 2011, by about $141 billion over the 2010-2015 period, and by about $134 billion over the 2010-2020 period.)
If you really need the extensions, the democrats have not been able to reconcile the House and Senate versions of HR4213 since March. Most of today (Tuesday) is gone. Pelosi will most likely have the House take most of Friday off.
Someone at the Huffy Puffy Post say Pelosi and Reid won’t bring HR4213 until Friday but Congress will be rushing to get out of town. For those of you unemployed, sorry tough luck. The recognition of a “greedy” corporate executive was more important to Pelosi than the unemployment extensions.
Click here for the US House floor proceeding.
#islamic #muslim #honorkilling
There has been a terrible development in the case of Rifqa Bary, the teenage girl who fled from her home in fear for her life after her devout Muslim father found out she had become a Christian. According to Rifqa, who is now in foster care in Ohio, she has been diagnosed with advanced uterine cancer. From what I understand, the survival rate in cases like these is only five percent.
While she was lying ill, her lawyers brought her parents to her hospital bed. She was awaiting treatment and when she saw them, whereupon she became very agitated and upset. Her parents had to be removed.
One thing that has happened as a result of this terrible development is that Rifqa has broken her silence, a silence mandated by her lawyers. For some time now, she could not talk to her friends, such as her close friend and fellow convert from Islam, Jamal Jivanjee, or to those of us who have not wavered in our support for her civil rights and religious liberty.
She reached out to Jamal, who reports that "Rifqa has already had two surgeries at this point, and she is getting ready to undergo a third surgery which will be occurring this Thursday, May 27. ... As soon as Rifqa heals from the major surgery that she will undergo this Thursday, it is expected that she will need to undergo several rounds of chemotherapy. Although she has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, the extent of her condition will be known after this Thursday's surgery."
Now Rifqa is scared, and with good reason. Says Jamal, "Her situation is very serious, and she will need the help of many people in the weeks and months ahead." Her entire legal strategy, of which I have been critical, was directed at keeping her safe and securing her immigration status. Now here we are at the end of May, and this strategy is obviously an abysmal failure: Rifqa has no immigration status.
Jamal Jivanjee explains: "Many people have thought that her eighteenth birthday would be a cause of celebration because she would be free of the immediate threat of being placed under the control of her devout Muslim parents." But instead, "Rifqa will be facing many challenges when she turns 18 on August 10." Upon her birthday in August 2010, she will be an illegal alien in need of serious chemotherapy and cancer treatment.
I ask all readers to keep Rifqa in your prayers.
Source: American Thinker
I agree. Pray for her.
#employment #jobs #economy
Congress goes on recess May 29 thru June 7. The current extensions end June 2.
Pelosi didn’t deal with it last week and took last Friday off. Pelosi had the House take this morning off.
Rather than dealing with the unemployment extensions, Pelosi had the House start with H. Res. 1258: expressing support for designation of May 2010 as Mental Health Month,
H. Res. 1382: expressing sympathy to the families of those killed by North Korea in the sinking of the Republic of Korea Ship Cheonan, and solidarity with the Republic of Korea in the aftermath of this tragic incident,
H. Res. 584: recognizing the importance of manufactured and modular housing in the United States,
H. Con. Res. 278: expressing the sense of Congress that a grateful Nation supports and salutes Sons and Daughters in Touch on its 20th Anniversary and
H.R. 3885: to carry out a pilot program on dog training therapy.
Pelosi had the House recess at 3:40pm. Maybe this evening’s session will deal with the unemployment extensions. NOPE.
And will Pelosi and Reid create a standalone bill to handle the unemployment extensions through the end of the year? NO.
They are depending on H.R.4213 - American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010. The House passed a version of this on 12/9/9. The Senate passed a version 3/10/10. Like the massive bill that was Obamacare, this is a massive bill that is supposed to create “jobs” but has stuff that has nothing to do with jobs.
If you really need the extensions, the democrats have not been able to reconcile the House and Senate versions of HR4213 since March. Most of today (Monday) is gone. Pelosi will most likely have the House take most of Friday off.
Pelosi and Reid know the GOP will want the PAYGO law obeyed and the extensions be paid for now.
But Pelosi and Reid put your needed extensions in a massive bill that not even democrats can agree on.
Also, tier 5 may NOT be in this bill.
#renewable #green #solar
On Wednesday, the President will visit the Solyndra Incorporated solar facility in Fremont, California, where he will tour their 300,000 square foot high-tech facilities and make remarks to workers on jobs and the economy. Following his remarks, the President will return to Washington, D.C.
Source: White House
PV modules for example contain substances such as glass, aluminium and semiconductor materials that can be successfully recovered and reused, either in new photovoltaic (PV) modules or other products. And despite such waste volumes being small at present, PV CYCLE, the European voluntary PV recycling initiative, says that the industry must start collection and recycling of PV panels as soon as possible, to be ready for the increase in volume over the next decade.
Source: Renewable Energy Focus.
Obama keeps pushing his “green” agenda but how green is it?
In addition to wind and solar power, Obama is pushing all electric cars.
In addition to centralizing the recharging, you have the disposal of the batteries. Like the solar panels, they are “recyclable”.
But I have read stories that the recycling costs don’t make it economically unfeasiable so the batteries will just get dumped in a landfill someplace. Same will be true with solar panels or they will sit stacked like an auto wrecking yard..
#immigration #border #azlaw
In her police mug shot, the doe-eyed cartoon heroine with the bowl haircut has a black eye, battered lip and bloody nose.
Dora the Explorer's alleged crime? "Illegal Border Crossing Resisting Arrest."
The doctored picture, one of several circulating widely in the aftermath of Arizona's controversial new immigration law, may seem harmless, ridiculous or even tasteless.
But experts say the pictures and the rhetoric surrounding them online, in newspapers and at public rallies, reveal some Americans' attitudes about race, immigrants and where some of immigration reform debate may be headed.
"Dora is kind of like a blank screen onto which people can project their thoughts and feelings about Latinos," said Erynn Masi de Casanova, a sociology professor at the University of Cincinnati. "They feel like they can say negative things because she's only a cartoon character."
Source: Huffy Puffy Post
I object to the assumption that illegal (criminal) aliens are beat up by cops even when they are resisting arrest.
How about Handy Manny and his motorcycle “adventure” across the southwest?
#obamacare #immigration #border #hcr #hci
We do not have “universal health care. We have mandatory free “health care for the universe.”
A middle-aged woman came to our local emergency room, suitcase in tow, complaining of a severe headache and diminished vision.
A CT scan of the head showed a brain tumor. The neurosurgeon on call was summoned and within days the patient had surgery to preserve her vision. An inspiring story giving tribute to the wonderful ingenuity, generosity and high standards in our country? There’s more.
This woman knew about her brain tumor and had already had an unsuccessful attempt at surgery in her home country.
She booked a flight as a tourist, and her extended family took her directly from the airport to the emergency room. None of them had the slightest intention of paying any part of her bill.
American patients, insurance subscribers and taxpayers will subsidize the hospital, albeit inadequately.
The neurosurgeon will not get paid, but will still be fully liable for any adverse outcome in our medical malpractice environment.
For foreigners, it appears that dishonesty pays. But those who are completely honest have a harder time.
Source: Montgomery Sentinel
I found this story after someone using a Montgomery County computer was reading all my latest posts on Illegal aliens.
Note: Technically, the brain tumor lady was not an illegal but there are plenty of illegal that this is why they are crossing illegally. Read the rest of the doctor's column of the doctor's opinion on illegals.
We got the asinine Obamacare because all the uninsured couldn't get quality healthcare. Clearly, this foreigner got her brain tumor fixed without health insurance.
#obamacare #immigration #border
We do not have “universal health care. We have mandatory free “health care for the universe.”
While illegal immigrants are not the only ones taking advantage of the “free” services here in the U.S., the situation attracts those who are willing lie to get something for nothing.
Hospitals near the border are particularly hard hit, especially by women who forgo prenatal care and show up at the ER in the second stage of labor. An added attraction is automatic American citizenship for the child.
Births to illegal alien mothers constitute nearly 40 percent of all births paid for by Medi-Cal. Dozens of hospitals along the border in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas have been forced to close or go bankrupt because of the unfunded federal mandate to provide free care to illegals.
The Arizona state government has passed a law making it a state offense to cross the border illegally.
It is already a federal offense. How else should Arizona respond when the federal government does not take seriously its constitutional obligation to protect the U.S. borders?
Our forefathers came to this country with only the shirts on their backs, expecting nothing but an opportunity to work in freedom.
They did not demand free services but worked alongside hardworking Americans to build their own American dream.
That was always the promise of America and we need to be vigilant lest we lose it.
Source: Montgomery Sentinel
I found this story after someone using a Montgomery County computer was reading all my latest posts on Illegal aliens.
# Guantanamo #muslim #terrorism #islamic
The House Armed Services Committee has dealt a blow to President Obama’s hopes to shutter the military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, by unanimously approving legislation that would prohibit creating a detention center inside the United States.
The administration had asked Congress to approve about $350 million to buy and renovate a nearly empty prison in Thomson, Ill. The White House plan was to empty Guantánamo and transfer its detainees to Illinois — including 48 who would be held without trial as wartime prisoners.
But late Wednesday, the House committee unanimously approved a defense bill for 2011 that bans spending money to build or modify any facility inside the United States to house Guantánamo detainees, according to a summary of the bill.
Source: NY Times
Don’t bring the Islamic terrorists for trials or to detainment on US soil.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t totally stop the closing of Gitmo.
#unemployment #economy #jobs
9:00 A.M. -
The House convened, starting a new legislative day
9:02 A.M. -
Today's prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Daniel Coughlin.
9:03 A.M. -
The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
9:04 A.M. –
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG - The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
ADJUSTMENT OF THE WHOLE NUMBER OF THE HOUSE - Under clause 5(d) of rule 20, the Chair announced to the House that, in light of the resignation of the gentleman from Indiana, Mr. Souder, the whole number of the House is 431.
The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. on May 24, 2010.
Source: US House (current day)
Now there is a useful day for your tax money. Is the Senate using your taxpayer money better by not showing up for work at all?
And if you need the unemployment extension, tough luck. Not today. Pelosi, not republicans, decided not to bring it up today.
Congress is on recess May 29 thru June 6. The House and Senate will only do a half day at most next Friday. The extension will have to be done by next Thursday or it will be the 7th or later. Current extension ends on June 2nd.
Rather than submitting a bill dealing with just the unemployment extension, the liberals announced the extensions will be part of a MASSIVE "jobs" bill they have been trying to pass since last year. It includes sections on satellite TV. It also provides that the senate MUST publish in summary the cost of all bills that don't obey the PAYGO law so it will mostly likely include the cost of this bill. Don't expect it to get passed by the recess.
The massive bill has the extensions continuing until after the mid-term election so you will be fooled into voting for the democrats..
Rush agrees with me!
#bpoilspill #oilspill #green
Rush Limbaugh picked an unlikely target to blame for the Gulf of Mexico oil spill on his show yesterday:
"When do we ask the Sierra Club to pick up the tab for this leak?" Limbaugh asked, and then proceeded to answer.
Here's his logic: The environmental group has been driving oil producers off the land to "way, way, way offshore," into more high-risk situations. According to Limbaugh, the oil companies have had no choice but to drill for oil one mile underwater.
Where he got the idea that the Sierra Club is any more for offshore drilling than onshore drilling is unclear. Basically, Limbaugh wants the Sierra Club to foot the bill for what they've always maintained is a risky business while BP vigorously fought against regulations
Source: Huffy Puffy Post
In my blog post, I blamed environment groups in general. Read the post here.
To see if Rush and I are correct, answer these four questions:
1) Is an oil spill easier and quicker to fix on land or in the water?
2) If land based drilling in the US was allowed, would big oil be drilling offshore?
3) Didn’t environmental groups pressure Congress into banning land based drilling?
4) Didn’t environmental groups pressure Congress into banning shallow water drilling?
Will environmental groups pressure Congress into banning deep water drilling?
Foreign countries are sitting just beyond our borders doing ultradeep water drilling. If you think the current oil spill is hard to fix, consider fixing an ultradeep problem. Remember Congress will have no control over their safety procedures. And the foreign oil companies could just walk away without fixing the problem.
Since wind and solar are NOT 24/7, these are supplements not replacements to oil.