Blog - UI Extension Blocked Again

While following the progress of the Unemployment Extended Benefits bills, I try to understand all sides of the story, but this was ridiculous. This bill is as important as a disaster FEMA issue, and you lack of action reminds me of how long it took to help the Hurrican Katrina victims, and how they were treated. I am one of the unemployed victims, actively seeking employment almost every day, and attending full-time school to advance my career abilities (55 yr old single woman). It appears to be an issue of only where the funds will come from, that is holding up approval. Would it be a good decision to get the monies out there for the people, then implementing a separate bill to establish where the money will come from, temporarily using funds from an area that can be changed by moving monies after a decision is made? I’m shocked to hear the items that were presented today that were made of higher importance. Taking care of people that want to work is always the best decision.

After working on getting a degree in early life and working for thirty years, do any of you know or even care what it feels like to stand in a cheese line? Or the welfare line? I doubt it!! Have any of you had to use a food stamp card? didnt think so. Make AIG pay us back instead of giving bonuses to their executives!!! It is true, you all care the rich big business guy!!! It makes me sick. When I see the Republican Senate sitting in their chair doing nothing to help the American working educated people that have kept this country going for generations. You should all be ashamed of yourselves!!!! Uneducated poor people need to be educated on your history and who you really care about (yourselves and the rich). If anything I said is not true, then prove it!! Pass the extention now!!! I see it everyday in my career, just what Georgie Bush did to help the poor.(nothing! Just like the Katrina victims, he did not care and neither do any of you)!

Melissa a Nurse in Ohio

I have unemployed relatives who have been “actively” seeking employment. I guess it is OK to bail out the banks, but blocking the passage of this bill again for Extended Benefits is ridiculous. Times have changed and the economy is falling apart. Please give the unemployed people some respect and pass this bill!! Even if the bill does pass, it will take weeks before any unemployed person will receive a check!!!!! What is wrong with this picture???

I’m not an expert, where’s the incentive for businesses to hire people if they see a future filled with additional unemployment taxes & increasing health insurance taxes – just to name two. Hypathically, let’s tax the business, you get an extention on unemployment, businesses still won’t hire people, your unemployment runs out…again…then what? Only 40% of the stimulus has been spent. Why not use that? I thought that money was to “stimulate” the economy with jobs. Doesn’t seem to be working. My husband’s company just completed a second round of layoffs yesterday. Future’s not looking so bright, is it?

With respect of Senate Bill s.1647, my question is: How does the Senate Finance Committee sleep at night while thousands of unemployed American people, through no fault of their own, have run out of their unemployment benefits, and are “patiently” awaiting an unemployment extension so they may continue to make ends meet to the best of their ability?
This country is only as strong as it’s workers, and those same workers are the backbone of this country. It’s quite obvious that this country’s leadership, through procrastination, is breaking that very same backbone!

The republicans are just playing games because their wittle feelings are hurt. Read this garbage Sen Hatch® says : http://www.rollcall.com/news/39496-1.html

They are lying about the tax on business too. The “surtax” is already paid for this year and has been in effect for years. The dems are funding it from that tax. The tax is OFSET BY TAX CREDITS !!! So businesses are not even paying that !!
When you call their offices their staff lie about it and blame democrats for the delays.

The repubs first excuse was they needed time to read the bill. NOW, The excuse repubs gave for their second delay was they wanted it to come from unused stimulus $$. You know the stimulus they objected to? That they STILL CRITICIZE for causing high deficits? NOW, their latest excuse is they want to add ammendments.They want a $8,000 tax credit for folks with multiple homes.What a surprise the repubs will hold up help for the desperate poor until they’re rich real estate tycoons get an $8,000 tax credit.VOTE OUT ALL REPUBLICANS !!!

Call Sen minority leader’s office and demand that republicans stop blocking the unemployment extension.
Senate minority leader’s office : (202)224-3135
Senator Hatch (202)224-5251

Republicans are delaying and blocking unemployment extension for families with children. Many have already lost their homes as a result of their delays. Every day delayed + more homeless American families and people going hungry. The churches are out of food and aid due to unprecedented demand and lower donations. Shame on the republicans for blocking help to these desperate families. Don’t forget this America. Just like they left Katrina victims to rot in New Orleans. How many days did bodies rot in New Orleans while the republicans were flying aound praising their crony “Brownie” for doing such a fine job?

Nothing has changed….republicans ALWAYS oppose aid to poor families and hungry children. They tried to eliminate the Childrens Health Insurance Program
They have opposed every minimum wage increase.
Ronald Reagan, their hero said:
“Unemployment insurance is a pre-paid vacation for freeloaders”
Republicans don’t care about the middle class and poor !

Well, across the pond there would be a revolution by now. But this swamp is waiting to die out complaining.

It doesn’t matter how many blogs we blog or emails we send Or letters we write, it is what it is. Those people could care less, they have an income and a job to go to everyday. To them we are nobodies. Really especially those with dark skin. If we call the news what will happen? Really what would happen? If we write Obama what will happen? What? He will send you a pre written acknowledgement, And our State senators Oh WoW, they may have agreeded to the bill, but they know just like we know its all up to Washington. I pretty much give up on Unemployment and will go back to the streets. simple as that,and I am still sending Obama my bills for next month. What is it called when people don’t vote, Yeah that’s me for now on. *&^%em all.

I dont understand I have been unemployed since 2007 I am actively looking for work in Sacramento,CA and no luck I have ran out of UI benefits and I have four kids to support. Where is the help for the struggling Americans we ran to help the banks?

I’d like to thank all the wonderful Senators who day after day turn a deaf ear to all of us unemployed out here who don’t have a dime to our names because they have chosen to play politics with a bill the house sent them called emergency unemployment HR 3548, due to the the high unemployment rate WE THE PEOPLE are having to deal with. We can’t find jobs, All across the country!From NJ to CA no work. And guess what? a lot of us have been watching real closely, watching how you deal with things like more money for your staffs or maybe a tribute to a fallen frend or something similar to that.I promious you this as I sit here hungry for the second nite in a row. We won’t forget! We know who it is, we know who you are.

Senator Hatch, do you go to sleep at night with praying to the lord? How you gonna face your lord when you have warm bed roof on top as shelter while you trying if not lready sent unemployed workers who lost income because of you and your coliques acting as cold heartless thoughtless for most needy citizens? i hope you have an answer to me even it will be lies as it’s trade mark of your party in so many occasions