Blog - Dems Fail Again to Get 60 on the Unemployment Bill

This is criminal — and don’t tell me you didn’t see this coming. Now they want to cut funding for Medicaid? Cut services for single moms, the disabled and the unemployed, while making it easy for wealthy campaign contributors to dodge taxes? You can’t be serious! More importantly, how is this going to impact 2 1/2 million hungry children whose parents are being denied benefits. For Congress to completely disregard their needs is nothing short of child abuse. They may think parents can get food stamps while they continues this self serving bickering, but even that process takes days or weeks and what do kids eat in the mean time. Then there is the stress/trauma factor. Money concerns lead to domestic violence, increased alcohol and drug use, as well as, stress related health problems and it’s the children who suffer most. All this inhibits economic recovery. Members of Congress should hang their heads in shame – get a grip on reality – and be the solution not the problem.

I am praying for you all who are waiting on an extension!! My neighbor recently had her light cut off, as a single mom with three kids she is depending on this to pass. Why oh Why do you torment people in such a way!! Shame on you Congress!!

Hi Keriann,

I am right there with you. We have to stay positive and active.

We have all this technology its about time we use it.

There are millions of us and a congress of them.

We elected these poeple and it is quite clear that we need unemployment extented NOW.

We have 48 hours to find a clear, positive way to say that this is unacceptable and that in whatever form possible Unemployemnt Extentions need to be passed.

How dare they play with poeple’s lives like so many pieces on a chess board.

Keriann you are not alone. Keep the Positive Mind. We are all together. They have to listen to us.

All we want is to feed our children, maybe a roof over their heads, a pair of sneakers that fit and last but not least the American Dream, that no longer exists!!!! In the words of John Adams….. “Politcal wisdom does not progress substantially, yet, the wisdom of our social past is never obsolete.”

Also I just want to say to the rep. from Oklahoma, you were talking about using money that would take away from our childrens future. Well what about feeding those same children right now? If you were to ask those children if they wanted to eat, have a roof over their heads, and electricity right now or be able to pay less taxes in the future I think everyone knows what the answer would be!

If you are apart of the American unemployed or share the same views as the unemployed and want to have a peaceful march on Washington to show that we do need our unemployment or in support of unemployment, email me at unemploymentmarch@yahoo.com. This has to be done, a peaceful stand needs to take place soon to make a difference. Before a lot of Americans lose the little bit that they do have. We didn’t ask for the economy to be this way and it is not our fault that we can not find jobs all at the same time. We worked all of our lives and now that we need help, the people in congress is saying no! We are the ones that help pay for wars, national disasters, and the congressmen paychecks. Now they are telling us that they cannot pass a bill so we can feed and house our families. What is more important the “Oil Spill” or the unemployed and their children. I don’t think so, it’s time for a peaceful march, email me at unemploymentmarch@yahoo.com, to make a peaceful stand now.

Amazing!! We, middle america, are suffering due to the blatant acts of greed by the banks and wall street. It did not take much thought to use taxpayers dollars to bail them out. How about, Dear Senators, demand the banks to pay back the billions in bailout money and give to the American people that are spiraling downward at their hands. We would still have a job if they did not falsify appraisals, income, switch and bait…. sell these loans as AAA ratings to unknowing investors (our retirement plans. We lost everything, pensions, 401K, annuities, jobs and homes. But hey, the banks and wall street bought insurance, so they received a bailout, AIG for all of the defaults and foreclosures…. They rack it in…… AND HERE WE SIT!!!!!!!!!!!

i have a couple questions…
so is it set that nothing else will happen until next week?
and what is everyone’s honest opinion, do you think we will get our extensions by next week?

thanks…i’m trying to stay positive and look for some sort of piece of mind til monday

I also want to add, I appreciate the way Donny Shaw has been continously reporting on this issue. I visit this website several times a day, for updates, and find it comforting that Mr. Shaw always takes the time out to respond to questions and write articles on the topic.

Thank you!

This is unbelievable and unacceptable. I am a college graduate, from a prestigious university, and obtained a job with a great firm as an HR Supervisor. After 3 years, not once calling out, I was laid off. I have been applying to jobs for the last 6 months and have had many unsuccessful interviews. My unemployment just ran out and I am eligible for Tier 1; however, I am unable to collect because Congress won’t pass this Bill. I have no one to help me, given that everyone I know is enduring the same economic hardship. I was surviving check to check and now I am scared I won’t have a roof over my head, no running water, no light, and no food. There is a 3 month wait for a homeless shelter. Please, I am down on my hands and knees help us out. We are hard working people and you have cut our lively hood. I am scared every day. Please, please pass this Bill as soon as possible. I have already written letters to my senators and I have no idea what else to do.
-A worried citizen

How about cutting defense spending in half. Feds say the defense budget is 694 billion a year. This would be the equivalent of the 20 countrys below us all put together(China, Russia, Europe, etc.). This would be bad enough but the real defense budget, including VA hospital and veteran benefits is 1.5 trillion a year. Is this paid for? No, it is put on a credit card. If we can not win these wars in 8 years in these 2 tiny countrys we need to bring our troops home and protect the borders. We could easily still be the strongest country in the world(we would still be spending several times more then any other country). With the money saved we could help out the unemployed Americans.

It is our own fault. Reading this board makes it very clear why things are how they are. We are still so blind and fooled to think that the titles Reublican or Democrat mean anything. Wake up people and stop falling for the bullshit. They are all in bed together- get over yourself. There has never been a fiscally responsible, reliable or revolutionary Republican OR Democrat. There never will be. Anyone that high up in politics is part of the machine. The sooner the American people stop separating themselves with these stupid, labels- while your precious Republicans and Democrats laugh at your stupid ass- the sooner we will make changes. And all of this, “We will remember in November!” is bullshit. No one remember in November when people voted to put Bush in office again for another 4 years of hell. Fact: 3 mil jobs were eliminated in the US between 2001 and 2004 and were never replaced. Corporations were never penalized for outsourcing. Get real. No president is better than any other.

THROW THE TEA IN THE BAY!
Too bad I was busy working and paying taxes all these years and didn’t have time to watch our legislators at work. Too bad I was laid off even though I had more seniority than most of my coworkers. I get angrier every moment that I watch what happens while the Senators waste precious time and money. Does anyone else yell at the screen when they are telling stories about movies they saw or spending hours wishing happy birthdays? Thank goodness for the Hollywood walk of Fame because that is one of the most importaint issues today. ???!!!
It makes me mad that my senators voted down this bill. Who are they representing? Get to work for us and do your job!
FOR THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE.
WE ARE BROKE.
WE NEED HELP!

Senator’s excuse for not passing is a false statement.
Read all about it:
The funding argument is even harder to swallow. I’d be more sympathetic with these new converts to fiscal responsibility if they were as enthusiastic about paying for extending $32 billion worth of special interest tax breaks as they are about funding the unemployment extension. If I understand correctly, these lawmakers insist that Congress fund every dime of added jobless aid, which nearly all analysts agree will help boost the economy. But they feel no need to pay for continuing these special interest tax breaks, which will not.
Full Story:
http://www.csmonitor.com/Money/Tax-VOX/2010/0707/Senate-struggles-with-unemployment-benefits

These Politicians make me sick! We worked for that money our whole life, now that they sent everything overseas because of NAFTA they claim they don’t have the funds to pay us. That’s a joke. You can bet there sitting very well with plenty of money to fall back on. But somehow we don’t matter to them for that fantastic amount of money???? "I’ll trade you wadges any day.
Do you all remember that NOVEMBER we vote for some of these people… Well I don’t know about you, but I will not reelect any Incumbent… It’s time for new blood. If these people don’t give a Damn about us1 Then why should we care or re elect them? Eye for an Eye. Let see how you like drawing unemployment if you qualify? Walk in our shoes for a while, loose everything like I did, and see how you like it. Just Remember November, Pass that On. Here’s your chance to make that change they talk about.

Calling Congress has become a waste of time. We need job creation in this country and not the $10/hour – part/time so we don’t have to pay benefits jobs.
Small businesses cannot make a go of it, if they don’t have real working people to buy their goods and services. We don’t need tax incentivized small business-sponsored programs where only the bottom feeders get rich, that bleeds our services and doesn’t get our country back to work again.

I am tired of hearing about the aged workforce of the US. There is a huge, educated, innovative and productive workforce put to pasture by the reckless economic policies our country has pursued. This talented workforce needs and wants to work. Bet they could come up with something better than for-profit prisons, derivative swaps, corn ethanol…

Old fogey incubators? What do you think? What is it going to take to create jobs and a better quality of life in this country?

I understand what ur saying laughingatthehypocrites, I too hate Republican vs Democrat busy body bullshit. BUT, if we would do more than just talk about our concerns and actually increase how many of us vote, we could make a difference. Bush was put into office another 4yrs because too many are still not voting. Too many of us don’t walk the talk.

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,⁷¹ 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.

This is insanity!!! We the people vote these senators into office on their “word” that they are going to take care of our respective states and represent us, the peoples voice. But when it comes down to it they are not looking out for us! They are sitting there arguing over how this bill is going to be paid for while we sit starving and losing everything! They are acting like we are all just lazy people who don’t want to work when we have all paid into unemployment most of our lives by working! And for most of us this is the first time we have had to use it! Do they not remember that unemployment is for people who were laid off? Because if you leave a job or get fired you cannot recieve benefits! All I have to say to these so-called “representatives” of the people is – FIGURE IT OUT! I DON’T CARE HOW YOU DO IT PASS THIS BILL RIGHT NOW!!!

Guys at this point regardless of what party we represent… republican/ democrates lets stick together on this issue. I’m 54 years old and have worked since i was 14 years old. I lost my job sept. 2009 and starting collecting unemployment insurance in Dec. 2009. OK.. 6 months later i’m still unemployed and broke… If i don’t get unemployment or find a job i’m in big dodo.

Keriann, I don’t know what is going to happen next week. But I sent the Senators of Georgia my resume asking them to help me find a job. How about we all send our resumes to our senators.. I promise you I am not LAZY. I wish we all could meet them Monday morning or afternoon when the decide to back to work

GOP are determined to bloc everything the President is trying to do for the USA right now. He has a vested interest, and seems to take pride in doing the best job he can while in office.
We are in trouble as long as Republican politicians continue favoring their special interest.
How can any CEO or Owner of business get anything done if half of his managers or executives stand in his way just to be defiant.

President Obama speech on CSPAN today, while in Kansas City, MO to support a future candidate. Was right on.
If you are an unemployed American, and are thinking no one understands the difficulties of being jobless. Obama speech articulated the financial and emotional struggles well. Hat’s off to the President for saying what needed to be said.

http://cspan.org/Watch/Media/2010/07/08/HP/A/35248/Pres+Obama+Remarks+at+Fundraiser+for+Missouri+Senate+Candidate+Robin

Look at the above who support the farm subsidy give-away. We just can’t get support for anything that is meaningful to this country. Meaningful issues quickly get distorted as deficits. There is noone up there who is thinking of how people in this country can once more earn money to buy the surplus and return to a country with middle class taxpayers. If they try, they are willed impotent, labeled as running up the deficit, cramping the invisible (global) hand that is running amok or “soft on terror.”

We need statesmen. Far too many are self-interested millionaires looking
for the next vote, favor or cushy retirement. They don’t want solutions
that might impact their own greed. I call it outrageous economics. An
unemployment check won’t solve a personal budget deficit problem anymore than a government deficit. I say Quit the Drama, solve the problem and clean up the problem. Senators talking about their future penniless grandchildren sounds like a BP excuse!

They passed the “doc fix” portion of the bill today. Now let’s hope they have the common sense to separate the Unemployment Extension portion as well. THE REPUBLICANS have already stated they want to pass Unemployment Extensions. THE DEMS need to forget about attaching their GARBAGE to it so it can pass.

amen may god watch over us all . we need to get a march going and impeach conressman who are not doing their jobs. I also belief the president needs to get more involved. what has happened to our country???????????????????

Does Congress think that only Deomocrats are unemployed? Just like cancer, unemployment asks no questions and strikes members of all religions, races and all political parties.

Come election time,it is time to send these crooks home.They don’t care about the people until they need our vote,then it is off to Washington to make back door deals patting backs,then a show in front of cameras & play political games at our expense making us fools.They make close to $200k per year in the worst economy since the great depression in 2009 & 2010 they voted themselves pay raises while 16 million Americans are out of work & still losing jobs,then they get lobby money,kick-backs,golden benefits,taxpayer lavish offices,& they are out-of-touch & do not care about anyone but themselves as they are playing political games in Washington as they have time since they are rich while millions of Americans are hurting,losing their homes,& worried about feeding their families.It is time we call them,write them,& get on blogs & the media to get these people voted out of office.Next election,I will not vote for anyone currently in office,my vote is going for their opponent.

Corporations have increased their cash reserves to $1.84 TRILLION, THE HIGHEST FIGURE IN HISTORY! Big business and the banks, after an unprecedented bailout by the public treasury, are hoarding the funds (Americans pay this back on their IRS tax bill). BIG CORPORATIONS EXECUTIVES ARE MAKING BIG BONUSES AND GETTING SALARY INCREASES FOR SHOWING HUGE PROFITS. The cash reserves of major corporations have jumped 26 percent in one year, the largest percentage increase in nearly 60 years. The cash reserves of working people, and particularly the unemployed, have not been so fortunate.

REPUBLICANS bloc, the SENATE vote and defeat sevaral proposed extension of unemployment benefits for unemployed workers. Many of these same Senators rushed through a $700 BILLION bailout of Wall Street in 2008 in a matter of days, cannot bring itself to support even the most meager subsistence for the unemployed workers who are the victims, not the perpetrators, of the economic crisis.
WWW.CHANGE.ORG

I live in Calif and lost my job 13 months because the company I worked for closed down our District Office and sent our work to another state. So, I’ve been looking and putting in resume’s on a daily basis and NOTHING!! I’m on my 2nd Tier of unemployment and I was told by the EDD office last month that I would be getting money for at least 7 more months..So, now I just found out yesterday that my benefits will end in 3 weeks. WTF…I wonder how all those assholes in Congress would feel if they went without money and had to struggled. But, instead they keep giving themselves raises and get all the medical benefits plus more.