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Dems Will Have 60 Votes for Passing the Unemployment Extension Bill Next Week

July 12, 2010 - by Donny Shaw

Apparently West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin’s chat last night with election attorneys didn’t convince him to go ahead with appointing an interim replacement for Sen. Robert Byrd [D, WV] before the legislature in his state meets on Thursday. Here’s the latest on the situation, from the AP:

West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin says he’ll make a temporary appointment to the late Robert C. Byrd’s Senate seat by Sunday.

Manchin said Monday he could announce his pick as early as Friday.

That means this entire week will go by without any Senate work on the unemployment insurance extension bill unless Sen. Ben Nelson [D, NE] or another Republican changes their position on it. It does sound pretty certain that there will be a replacement for Byrd by the beginning of next week, but, in that case, even under the best-case scenario, it will take the Senate until the end of next week to get the bill to final passage. And then the process of implementing the extension in the 50 states begins…

On the bright side, when Congress does finally get the extension done and it is signed into law (most likely during the final week of July), the bill is will allow for benefits to be paid back retroactively to everyone who has been cut off since they expired on June 2nd. By the end of July, 3.2 million unemployed Americans will have had their benefits cut off prematurely due to the Senate stalemate.

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unemployment benefits Joe Manchin Robert Byrd Ben Nelson
 

Comments

Displaying 121-150 of 289 total comments.

  • Comm_reply
    helpus 07/13/2010 5:29am
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    Yes, and I think that we all need to band together to make sure that everyone of those 15,000,000 go to vote in November. It is about time that these politicians become accountable to the people who put them in office.

  • TheDutchess 07/12/2010 5:23pm
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    Sannybeth, Where the hell have you been? The Democrats are the ones that have been trying and trying to get this thing through and all the republicans know how to do is say NO!. That’s the democrats fault? Why would you want UI to be paid for when the money that they use to fund this stupid war is not paid for and the money that they sent to Haiti and Chile is not paid for. Why do we always have to get the shit end of the stick? Why can’t those rich sons of bitches let this go through and worry about billing later? You know why? Because they are a bunch of heartless bastards. If you know like I know, you will vote out the ones that have been stopping this shit the whole entire time – The Republicans! Don’t get it twisted…..

  • dedgar 07/12/2010 5:35pm
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    What does an election have to do with appointing an interim senator? An interim senator is a temporary fill-in position … period, until the next election whether it’s a special election (in 2010) or a general election (in 2012). Appointing someone under a cloud of legal dispute is an excuse that makes no sense Manchin. Does this mean you are willing to appoint someone else if there is a special election in 3 months so you can run in the special election, or does it mean you are going to appoint yourself because you don’t want to wait 2 years and 3 months for a general election?

    It’s quite obvious Manchin cares more about himself and his future senate career, than the state of W.V. or its people. Taking into consideration the late Senator Byrd’s age, I’m sure Manchin has been planning for his demise (probably even praying for it) for quite some time. If Manchin truly wants to respect Senator Byrd, then he needs to appoint someone – NOW – who thinks and votes like Senator Byrd.

  • upsidedownflag 07/12/2010 5:35pm
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    The jerks who hurt the unemployed need to know that every one of them is a mother, a sister, a brother, a dad , a grandparent or a good friend to someone who truly knows their good character and sees their suffering and cares enough to reflect that in their voting! Our country was built on the premise that we took care of our citizens, the ones legally here!

  • dedgar 07/12/2010 5:37pm
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    Last week on Fox news, Manchin was asked if he would vote to add to the deficit. Of course he didn’t say yea or nay, but he did state that he was concerned with the federal government spending. Let’s all hope he doesn’t appoint himself (or someone like himself) or the democrats won’t be able to get anything done in congress. Never the less, there is no legitimate reason to wait on an appointment.

  • palinrocks 07/12/2010 5:46pm
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    speak my mind ok
    i see the oil leak was a non issue for this congress and presidency
    I now see a tone a money going nowhere , republicans want to open that
    money up that was suppose to give jobs,

    I hope to My God and Savior that this House Gets in check, I have many friends neighbors without a job and no money to pay bills or to continue their Medical insurance….so release that trillion of dollars for all of us AMERICANS
    Stimulas Jobs to the people where are they, not here , so cut tax’s and extend UI benefits quickly, we need help lots of it

  • Christine58 07/12/2010 5:47pm
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    Someone important should of gotten the idea by now that something needs to be done to give the unemployed the help we desparately need. These threads are growing with people needing help. I cant believe the senators cab just turn their heads and not care. Maybe we are just a number, an e-mail or a phone call, but they MUST REALIZE WE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE REAL WITH REAL NEEDS!!
    I see some bashing of the unemployed, but we are not jobless by choice.
    I see alot of name calling,but really I dont think this helps the situation.
    If the unemployed show some character and we hold our heads up as we ask for the senates cooperation, maybe that would be a better way to approach this.
    This is just my opinion, and seriously I just wish that this nightmare of waiting for the senate to do the right thing would end

  • beenblue 07/12/2010 5:52pm
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    We the people have been denied our fate by a bunch of circus monkeys,maybe I`m being to kind by calling them in politics monkeys, but as a kid I remember this pet spider monkey in a cage at a friends house and being warned DON`T GET TO CLOSE! that little shit lured me closer so he could PISS on me— I never felt so stupid, until now! You know what they say in Washington if you want a friend buy a dog. Do you understand that we the people allowed this to happen by giving our vote away and getting pissed on in return.Thomas Jefferson once said " When a person gets into politics a certain rottenness comes over them".These people want your vote or their out,CALL,WRITE,E-MAIL we are MILLIONS in one voice, we are voters of all colors,creed,and nationality,but we are united by a cause, OUR FATE WAS TAKEN FROM US!!! we did not give it away, or just merely loose it, it was taken and what it created was US. Do not go quietly into the night, do not give up, YOU ARE NOT ALONE it`s your life FIGHT

  • jgpt777 07/12/2010 6:04pm
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    I JUST WROTE TO PRESIDENT OBAMA…TO CALL GOV. JOE MACHIN’S, TO TELL HIM THAT 2.1 MILLION AMERICANS ARE WAITING FOR HIM TO DO HIS JOB.

    AND GOOD AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE BECOMMING HOMELESS, BEACAUSE OF THE DELAY.

    PLEASE WRITE OBAMA…. HE WILL CALL…AND GET THAT GUY MOVING

    http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

  • Comm_reply
    jakj1 07/12/2010 6:17pm
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    I have been doing that for weeks now and everytime I send them and email a few days later I get an email back from the White House talking about something completly different than the email I sent them. You will get a form email back from them, one that they push a button and it goes out to thousands of people. I sent them an email about the delay in passing the EU extension and I got and email back about the oil spill in the gulf! I sent an email about the Senate going on vacation without passing a EU extension and I got an email back thanking me for being concerned about Yellowstone National Park?

  • Comm_reply
    scott1018 07/12/2010 6:45pm
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    just give him this web site and ask him to read some of our comments,i mean our pleas for help and i bet he would personally go there himself and put a foot in someones ass to get this movin along. i doubt he wants his legacy to be remembered like this but it will and its not even his fought but he will get the blame for it im sure

  • Comm_reply
    Chris51 07/12/2010 10:24pm
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    Senators aren’t concerned about listening to average Americans (employed or unemployed). These Republicans and some Democrats Politicians work for BIG MONEY.
    +They won’t waste their time reading blogs, because they know what is going on.
    It does not matter to them.
    +They want the states to deal with the problem, and the state politician want to sweep the problem under the carpet. Or make their minimum wage front line employees tell the unemployed “Sorry, there is nothing the state can do for you right now. Good-bye. Click”
    +These Senators just care about getting elected in November.
    +They are listening to FreedomWorks Orginazation to get them elected. It is the FRONT FOR BIG MONEY and helps pay for Tea Party movement to get them in. +Media points out is Scott Brown, R-MA scenario (He is the wolf in sheeps clothing)
    VOTE IN NOVEMBER FOR YOUR SENATOR PICK!

  • Comm_reply
    Chris51 07/12/2010 10:27pm
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    Governer Machin (West Virginia) like most Americans. He wants to preserve the job he has(Politician), and advance his career. He is probably making decisions by listening to political power and money. Does anyone really think he or any of the SENATORS who have stood in the way of passing Unemployment Insurance Extension to the millions who need it, are losing any sleep?

    The worse SENATORS are the ones who are probably lining their pockets big time right now by being the one vote that makes completely blocks UI Bills from passing. That would probably be Senators like Jim Bunning, R-KY on the obvious ungly corrupt Senators list.

    The millions of ordinary Americans that have been forced into unemployment lines may not have very much money, or even empathy from other fellow employed Americans at this point, but you have the power of your vote in November. Take names, and make sure you make it to that appointment.

  • Comm_reply
    Chris51 07/12/2010 10:28pm
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    Tea Party favorite Sharron Angle:
    If you’ve been following the ongoing Senate campaign of Nevada hopeful Sharron Angle, you know that she’s sick and tired of the long-term unemployed taking home all of those cushy unemployment benefits. Angle’s angle is that these millions of Americans are just living large on the dole and need to have their unemployment benefits terminated so that they will be motivated to go out and get a job — one of the millions of magical jobs that exist in Sharron Angle’s mind!
    read the story at.huffingtonpost.com

  • Comm_reply
    Chris51 07/12/2010 10:28pm
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    Halliburton, the company once headed by former Republican Vice President Dick Cheney contributed $15,500 to federal candidates during June, according to a Center for Responsive Politics review of their political action committee’s most recent campaign finance filing.

    That amount represents the third largest month of donations by the PAC this election cycle.

    The giving comes at a time when the Texas-based company is weathering a political storm for its involvement on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig that exploded on April 20 and sunk in the Gulf of Mexico, causing a massive amount oil to spill into the surrounding waters. Investigations are currently underway to determine how and why the spill occurred — and who should be held responsible — by Congress and the Department of Justice. Read Full Story: on opensecrets.org

  • Comm_reply
    Chris51 07/12/2010 10:29pm
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    Top 5 Contributions from Oil&Gas Industry 2009-2010:
    1 Koch Industries $724,300 14% Dems, 86%Repubs
    2 Exxon Mobil $548,214 13% Dems, 87% Repubs
    3 Chevron Corp $516,891 18% Dems, 82% Repubs
    4 Valero Energy $467,000 17% Dems, 83% Repubs
    5 Marathon Oil $378,190 23% Dems, 76% Repubs

    Tea Party Movement benefits from millions of dollars from conservative foundations that are derived from wealthy U.S. families and their business interests. Money flowing primarily through two conservative groups: Americans for Prosperity and FreedomWorks. FreedomWorks receives substantial funding from David Koch of Koch Industries, the largest privately-held energy company in the country, which make substantial annual donations to conservative org…
    Read full story at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/30/sharron-angles-unemployme_n_631350.html

  • Comm_reply
    Chris51 07/12/2010 10:29pm
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    FreedomWorks/Tea Party movement has some big money donations, and the Oil & Gas Industry Special Interest group that contribute to 80% to Republicans, are lead in contributions by Kosh Industries.
    +Here are donation recorded for a few members of the family. This is pocket change for them. The unemployed dont have Lobbyist and Special Interest groups. This is how it appears for Democrats and millions of average Americans. NO MONEY, NO VOICE, NO CRUMBS.
    +Total individual contributions by party, 1989-2010
    The following individuals contributed at least $50,000 to federal candidates and parties during one or more election cycles while affiliated with the organization. Based on data released by the FEC on June 13, 2010
    Koch, Charles&Elizabeth Total$494,700 Soft Money $0, Demos$1,500 Repubs$298,200, Dems0% Repubs60%
    Koch, David&Julia Total$2,009,095 Soft Money$1,222,500, Demos$0 Repubs$1,911,095 Demos0% Repubs95%

  • Comm_reply
    Chris51 07/12/2010 10:30pm
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    Letter was written to Senators:
    On behalf of hundreds of thousands of FreedomWorks members nationwide, I urge you to carefully consider all aspects of H.R. 4213…

    If the bill comes to a vote as currently formulated, we encourage you to vote NO, and will track the vote on our Economic Scorecard….

    Signed FreedomWorks President and CEO
    (FreedomWorks funds Tea Party ;)

  • Comm_reply
    Chris51 07/12/2010 10:31pm
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    2010 Total contributions: $13,872,160
    Rank-Organization-Amount-%toDemsParty-%toRepubsParty
    1Koch$724,300, Dems 14% Repubs 86%
    2Exxon$548,214, Dems 13% Repubs 87%
    3Chevron$516,891, Dems 18%Repubs 82%
    4Valero$467,000, Dems 17% Repubs 83%
    5Marathon$378,190, Dems 23% Repubs 76%
    6Occidental$314,050, Dems 20% Repubs 80%
    7Williams$311,500, Dems 26% Repubs 74%
    8American Gas$250,500, Dems 43% Repubs 56%
    9Devon$230,970, Dems 12% Repubs 87%
    10Chesapeake Energy $228,480, Dems 57% Repubs 43%
    11Anadarko Petroleum $227,150, Dems 21% Repubs 79%
    12ConocoPhillips$201,947, Dems 29% Repubs 71%
    13Mewbourne$180,500, Dems 5% Repubs 95%
    14Pilot Corp$164,140, Dems 5% Repubs 95%
    15Plains Explor$154,700, Dems 23% Repubs 76%
    16 Bass Bro$145,215, Dems 40% Repubs 60%
    17 Enterprise$145,150, Dems 19% Repubs 81%
    18 Independent$144,500 Dems 25% Repubs 75%
    19 Red Apple$140,100, Dems 61% Repubs 38%
    20 Society of Indep$133,500 Dems 63% Repubs 37%

  • Comm_reply
    Chris51 07/12/2010 10:32pm
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    2006 Total contributions: $20,372,756
    Rank-Organization-Amount-%toDemsParty-%toRepubsParty
    1Koch$1,275,000, Dems 13% Repubs 86%
    2Exxon$837,932, Dems 10% Repubs 90%
    3Valero$785,652, Dems 12% Repubs 88%
    4Chevron$603,743, Dems 15% Repubs 85%
    5Occidental$480,625,Dems 25% Repubs 75%
    6Anadarko$450,650, Dems 9% Repubs 91%
    7ConocoPhillips$418,083, Dems 10% Repubs 90%
    8Independent$411,940,Dems5% Repubs95%
    9Marathon$409,803, Dems 19% Repubs 81%
    10AmericanGas$360,692, Dems30% Repubs70%
    11Sunoco$350,050, Dems 25% Repubs 75%
    12BP $279,745, Dems 35% Repubs 64%
    13Chesapeake$255,520, Dems7% Repubs 93%
    14National,$235,100, Dems 41% Repubs59%
    15Pilot$226,290, Dems 0% Repubs 100%
    16TRT$215,400, Dems 0% Repubs 100%
    17Halliburton Co $211,278, Dems7% Repubs93%
    18Bass$197,700, Dems 4% Repubs 96%
    19Williams$195,829, Dems 14% Repubs 86%
    20Benson$190,705, Dems 2% 98%

  • Comm_reply
    Chris51 07/12/2010 10:37pm
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    Oil & Gas Industry, history of strong influence in Washington. Individuals and political action committees affiliated with oil and gas companies have donated $238.7 MILLION to candidates and parties since the 1990 (Bush Senior term) election cycle, 75% of which has gone to REPUBLICANS…
    Former oilmen George Bush and Dick Cheney occupied the White House for 8 yrs, the oil and gas industry could not win support for repealing bans on drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. However, Congress voted in 2008 to lift a ban on offshore drilling… story on opensecrets.org
    Drilling bans were lifted during Bush’s last months in WhiteHouse in 2008. The After consumers & transportation industry & economy felt the pain of $1-$2 price hikes of gas, during Summer 2007. It was “the straw that broke the Camel’s backs”, PUTTING USA/AMERICANS INTO TAIL SPIN.

  • Comm_reply
    Chris51 07/12/2010 10:47pm
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    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.
    Read Full Story in the Christian Science Monitor.com

  • Comm_reply
    helpus 07/13/2010 5:31am
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    Funding problem huh?? Who is funding this war that is costing over a billion a day to fight. What exactly are we getting out of it?

  • Comm_reply
    notstupid 07/12/2010 11:08pm
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    VOTE THEM OUT. 15,000,000 UNEMPLOYED = 15,000,000 VOTES.

  • Comm_reply
    notstupid 07/12/2010 11:09pm
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    CUTTING THE BUDGET STARTS AT THE TOP. VOTE THEM OUT. 15,000,000 UNEMPLOYED = 15,000,000 VOTES.

  • dls52174 07/12/2010 6:07pm
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    At 36 years old, I have been laid off since January. This is the longest I have been jobless since I was 13! In another 2.5 weeks, my unemployment runs out. That will be the initial 26 weeks. Others have had theirs for 99. Not a day has gone by that I have not looked for a job. I am the sole supporter of my family and as a result of the failure to pass an extension, I am about to lose my home and everything else (which isn’t much after six months of no work). It must be nice to be a senator and get paid for an occasional 3 hour work day. I guess I will be applying for welfare because I don’t know how else I am going to continue to feed my family… I am petrified and the stress has brought me to the edge of my nerves!!!

  • Smalltownhoss 07/12/2010 6:08pm
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    “We the people” What does this mean to you?…“One nation Indivisible” What does this mean to you?
    We are being played like fiddles’…..The Republican’s would rather see us die, and our families go hungry. While they bail out Wall street in a matter of days’. And that money they gave wall street, was squandered off. And raises were given to CEO’s that knew the sysem they designed was destined for failure. And would even joke about it. This Disgusts me. My family is running out of food and there’s not enough Jobs’ to go around. But we can afford to be the hero of the world. Where does the buck stop? Support my cause………..I created a facebook account where we can have our voices be heard. We have power in numbers! And here is how to find the account.
    1) Facebook search “Political Betrayal”
    2) http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001347427297&v=wall&story_fbid=109617465756652&ref=notif#!/profile.php?id=100001347427297
    Here is how

  • scott1018 07/12/2010 6:32pm
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    what about the stimulous money. all this to save a third of one percent. why pick on the unemployed??? dont we have it hard enough already. my electric goes off in one week and i dont no what to do. i hate the thought of turnin criminal so my kids have electricity but im out of options.

  • ndheath 07/12/2010 7:09pm
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    Just an FYI. This is a reply from Senator Bob Corker® TN. This is how his office feels. The email has been stretched into parts to fit the character length. Part 1:

    Dear Mr. Heath,
    Thank you for taking the time to contact my office regarding your support for the unemployment benefits extension in H.R.4213. Your input is important to me, and I appreciate the time you took to share your thoughts.
    In these difficult economic times, I understand the problems being faced by many individuals who have lost their jobs. My heart goes out to Americans who are hurting because Washington can’t agree on a way to pay for an extension of unemployment benefits. I voted several times to pass and pay for an extension, but I cannot in good conscience continue voting for bills that aren’t paid for. There are a number of reasonable ways to pay for these extensions, and it is difficult for me to understand why anyone opposes doing so.

  • ndheath 07/12/2010 7:10pm
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    Part2:

    All versions of H.R.4213, both paid for and not paid for, ultimately failed. At this time, it is unclear when the Senate may consider extending unemployment benefits again. Please know that the insight and information you have given here will certainly help my staff and me more effectively look into this issue, and I thank you for your input.

    Thank you again for your letter. I hope you will continue to share your thoughts with me as I serve you in the United States Senate.

    Sincerely,

    Bob Corker
    United States Senator


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