Blog - Senate Passes Procedural Hurdle For Extending Jobless Benefits

so does enyone have realistic idea about how long will it take for us to see a check or a dam claim form in the mail after Obama sighns it cuz im tired of hearing about 2 to 3 weeks theirs gotta be a more relistic answer?

Today, Senator Jon Kyl, speaking on the floor of the United States Senate, said “The benefits haven’t run out yet. We’re going to pass this before the benefits run out.”

How can a United States Senator be so uninformed? Doesn’t he have aides that can correct him on such an important matter? Or is he just lying to the American people?

Dear Senator Kyl, for hundreds of thousands of Unemployed Workers, their BENEFITS HAVE ALREADY RUN OUT!

Just in case he doesn’t read this thread, will someone please call his DC office and let him know the truth. His aides must be keeping him in the dark.

Senator Jon Kyl: 202-224-4521

And your not anonymous because you have pickyrose62 for a name?

If they succeed in changing how it’s PAID for. It will slow the process down considerably. Finance Committees, etc.

Kyl said “The benefits haven’t run out yet”… What is he talking about, Everyone’s benefits? My benefits ran out in September. Hundreds of thousands have ALREADY RUN OUT!

The Republicans want to “Take a little time” before passing the bill. That’s what Senator Alexander said. Call and let him know we’ve already run out of time.

Senator Lamar Alexander: 202-224-4944

Senator Kyl thinks we haven’t already exhausted benefits. LET HIM KNOW many of us have already run out.

Senator Kyl: 202-224-4521

They have said many things that show they do not think this “Emergency Unemployment Extension” is an EMERGENCY! Let then know otherwise.

Glad to see there are at least a few who do not feel they need to be anonymous. Sad there there so many that do.

Sell your car, take the bus and cancel your cable. Cable is not a neccessity. If you are not willing to give up your fancy car and luxury tv (yes, cable is a luxury) then stop complaining.

You can downsize, you’re simply choosing not to. Also, learn to spell.

And, in case anyone is wondering, I cancelled my cable a year ago. That’s $50 more in my pocket a month.

I know that’s right!!! Now add the retroactive to help out those Americans in the hole now due to the Republicans who held this bill up for a month.

so after hearing Sherod Brown talk, and Ill paraphrase him…

Unemployment insurance is an insurance polity and when those benefits expire they are expired and those who have had their benefits expire [ last month, this month, yesterday] are NOT [Note: I emphasise NOT] eligible for an extension with this unemploment extension?

Now, what is that all about ?

sell your car and take care of your family….

billiness is right. We need to focus on continuing to apply pressure any way we can on the Republicans who are sand-bagging this process. Tom Hartmann the Air America progressive talk show host has been calling out Mitch McConnell all along as the head-of-the-snake on the hold up. Let’s use what ever means we have to focus on the 13 nayes. Our voices and our votes are our only weapons right now.

Lynette 1015. many people on here have said time and time again that all 50 states are getting the extension of 14 weeks. If your state is over 8.5% your state will recieve an additional 6 weeks.

you are wrong. They extension is for all 50 states at 14 weeks. The states with an average over 8.5 % will recieve an additional 6 weeks on to of that.

We are thinking of others, why don’t you better inform yourself before you think that people are being selfish . . . you my friend are behaving like a jackass.

Why must some of you be so mean, it is true some people are not honest, but there are several thousands who are. Just like in your company or others, there are people who cheat lie or do what every they do. So yes some people will try to take advantage of the system. But for people like myself and others, who really need these monies to get by untill soemthing comes up,or going with out food. So please keep your unwanted comments to yourself.
I have already lost my house of 20 years, and my job of the same, trying to feed my family and keep them warm, not a lot to ask. So when times are hard, it shows what our country is really made of,I am not proud to ask for help, but i need to try to keep my family safe feed and warm. My story is the same as many others, i will not burden you with any more. Just try to be kind, when you make fun of the people who need help. God forbid it would ever happen to you or to your family….

This is an urgent bill and has nothing to do with ACORN or immigration or any other issue that the GOP has a bug about. You are putting partisan politics over our ability to keep a roof over our heads and eat. My benefits ran out 4 weeks ago and my rent is due on Sunday. My credit cardas are almost maxed out from paying for utility bills and food.

ACORN can be debated in an other bill that doesn’t have the urgency of this one. We need a clean bill. The Republicans are doing this just to obstruct and slow walk the bill. Nothing more. They have no sense of the big picture and they don’t put country first. They put politics, the GOP and themselves first. Very simple.

You’re as out of touch as these GOP obstructionists who are merely playing partisan politics. And you’re giving them credit they don’t deserve.

The current bill in the senate was amended 3 weeks ago. It provides 14 weeks for ALL states. It also provides an additional 6 weeks for states with unemployment rates at or above 8.5% for a total of 20 weeks.

Keep up with us.

2010 too. 2010 very important for congressional seats. We need more Dems and less obstructers

WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW TO HELP GET AN AGREEMENT… is to use your voice and CALL

They DO NOT agree on one (McConnell said “We were within one amendment of reaching an agreement”) “unrelated” amendment that Reid said was “vexatious”.

Focus on CALLING McConnell AND the two Nebraska senators that are pushing for the ACORN amendment. This is the main amendment preventing an agreement on H.R. 3548.

Senator Mitch McConnell – DC office: 202-224-2541
Senator Johanns – DC office: 202-224-4224
Senator Nelson – DC office: 202-224-6551

Ask them to add their amendment to another bill. Tell them why passing an extension NOW is important to you and your family.

I love President Obama, but I have been thinking the same thing.

You are wrong and about 4 weeks behind. The house bill was amended and the current Senate bill extends benefits for 14 weeks for all states, and an additional 6 weeks (for a total of 20) for states with rates at or above 8.5%. To repeat:

All states: total 14 weeks
States at or above 8.5%: Total 20 weeks (14 + 6)

NO! That is not why they voted against the cloture motion.

The way the bill is now… ALL STATES, ALL COUNTIES, WOULD QUALIFY! (14 weeks)

The states with 8.5% or more would get an additional 6 weeks.

The reason it is being held up is that two Nebraska Senators want to add an ACORN amendment that Majority Leader Reid will not agree to.

Focus on CALLING the two Nebraska senators that are pushing for the ACORN amendment. This is the main amendment preventing an agreement on H.R. 3548.

Senator Johanns – DC office: 202-224-4224
Senator Nelson – DC office: 202-224-6551

Ask them to add their amendment to another bill. Tell them why passing an extension NOW is important to you and your family.

It needs to be equal for ALL states, Period.

Check out http://www.bls.gov/web/laumstrk.htm

8.5% and above are the ONLY states that will be getting the extension. Dont be fools. There is a legitimate reason why there is opposition to this bill! It is unbalanced and unfair!!!

If you’re state is one of those that is below 8.5%, you’re not getting the extension.

You people are so selfish that you dont realize the millions of other people who will not get the extension if this bill is passed! How about YOU people get your heads out of YOUR asses and think of others BESIDES yourself!!!

Chew on that!

Did you people ever think that these Senators that voted against this measure believed that the bill was unfair and only focus’s on states with unemployment rates over 8.5%? Just like it was posted earlier in this blog, there are counties in some of these states that unemployment rates higher than the states unemployment rates. How is it fair that a county that has say 6.5% unemployement in one of the higher unemployment states of say 11% gets an extension but a county with an unemployment rate of 11% in a state with 6.5% unemployment rate doesnt get anything?!?

Maybe, just maybe these 13 senators see this issue and believe that it SHOULD BE ADDRESSED!!!

Why is it so hard for republicans to admit fault?At the end of the day doesnt this all come down to common sense?So is it safe to say compassion,understanding and common sense are all democratic traits?We wouldnt be in any of this mess if it wasnt for GWB and his 8 years of crime.

You said it BEST!!!!

first of all- kudos in your use of the english language and the CAPS key – very persuasive
as a junior senator from illinois, obama is part and parcel of all these messes – i don’t recall his voice in the wilderness regarding wall street excesses or the initial use of troops in iraq
doing his best??? – if iraq does have elections in january 2010, it looks more and more like a saigon ending for the u.s.
afghanistan – quit jimmy cartering and make a decision
he wanted the job – let’s see some action

i’m too lazy it look it up, but where were you when the eb progream was passed in feb?
was colorado covered?
Did you complain about people being left out?
IT WASN’T IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO USE CAPS THEN

THEY SUPPOSED TO PASS IT TODAY IM 3 WEEKS IN RETRO THATS BOUT 1100 FOR ME I ONLY GOT 600 IN THE BANK MY RENT 700 I HAD TO MAKE MY GIRL GET WELFAIR THEY GAVE HER 316 THIS MONTH PLUS 400 STAMPS SO WE GOT ABOUT 900 ALL TOGETHER AND RENT DUE ON THE 5th SO THAT GOIN LEAVE US AT 200 BUT SHE GOIN GET 316 PLUS 400 STAMPS AGAIN NEXT MONTH BUT THATS ONLY 516 AND ITS GOIN BE CABLE BILL , HEAT , LIGHTS, INTERNET, PHONE, GAS MONEY , NOT TO MENTION MY 6month old SON, IF I HAD A MONEY HUNGRY BABYMOM THAT TOOK ME TO CHILD SUPPORT ILL BE GOIN TO JAIL . I GOT 08 RANGE ROVER I MITE HAVE TO SELL IT SOON I KANT AFFORD TO DRIVE IT ANYWAY . I HAD A GREAT JOB AT A BILLION DOLLAR PRIVATE COMPANY WE WERE ALL MAKEN MONEY UNDER THE TABLE PLUS GETTING CHECKS THAT WERE BASIC BEATING THE SYSTEM UNTILL IT ALL WENT DOWN ON A BAD INVESTMENT NOW IMA BUM WITH NICE MATERIAL THINGS . KARMA

There are 11 amendments on record – S.AMDT.2668, 2695, 2698, 2699, 2700, 2701, 2702, 2703, 2704, 2705, 2706. Only 2668 is available now – changes the weeks/% as discussed.

The rest merely say "Propose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. 2668 has 13 co-sponsors. The rest (on record) have none.

Link for this information:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/L?d111:./temp/~bdal5nr:1[1-11](Amendments_For_H.R.3548)&./temp/~bdDa0n