Thursday, July 8, 2010

2010 Unemployment Extension Benefits Bill and Byrd, Pelosi, and Reid


The 2010 unemployment extension benefits bill is still the subject of mass panic.  The unemployment extension 2010 wasn't passed before the break in congress. Byrd, Pelosi, and Reid are three politicians that are mentioned in talks of the unemployment extension.  Millions of Americans have lost their unemployment benefits because the extension bill failed to pass.  The blame game as usual has been making its way through Capital Hill and several key politicians have been blamed for the failure to pass the extension.  In addition the decisions of a few other politicians are being cited in the quest for the unemployment extension.

Senator Robert Byrd from West Virginia passed away.  If he were to be replaced soon in the Senate, there would be hope that the unemployment extension would be all but passed. However, West Virginia isn't replacing him until a special election that co-incides with the mid-term elections in November.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says that the unemployment extension will create jobs by putting money in the pockets of Americans, thus creating demand.  This demand would then in turn fuel economic growth, and eventually the situation would clear itself out.

Harry Reid, the Senate Majority Leader, voted against the measure - but only so that it could be brought up again at a later date. He also turned down one Republican Senator's offer to vote for the measure in return for a compromise that included using stimulus funding to pay for the bill.

The unemployment extension fight rages on, but hopefully it's one that will be settled soon. If not, many fear what will become of the economy and the unemployed.

118 comments:

  1. They are playing with peoples lives with this dragging out. The longer it goes on, the more things will get out of hand...........Side Note, I WILL NEVER VOTE REPUBLICAN AGAIN.............go take care of the wealthy, but when riots break out, you may run overseas, but rest assured I've read that your belongings will be stolen and your houses burned....

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think anyone who is an unemployed republican should vote in November for a democrat.

    ReplyDelete
  3. GET THE MONEY TO PAY FOR THE UI EXTENSION WITH A TIER 5 FROM THE SAME PLACE YOU GET THE TRILLIONS TO FUND THE WAR, BAIL OUT THE BANKS AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES!!!!
    THIS IS AN EMERGENCY PEOPLE!
    PASS THE DAMN BILL ALREADY WITH AN ADDITIONAL TIER TO HELP ALL THE UNEMPLOYED CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I cant believe Pelosi said "unemployment puts money in peoples pockets, eventually turning the economy around". How can she contradict herself????? How about us the "99ers" are we not "people" for her? Why cant WE get an extension????

    ReplyDelete
  5. Why would you put all the blame on republicains? The democrates are playing a cat and mouse game trying to save there jobs in november over voting in the healthcare bill.The republicains have tried several time to pass the bill using stimulus money but the democrates refuse to budge.THE REPUBLICAINS EVEN TRIED MEETING THEM HALF WAY WITH A 50-50 SPLIT ON FUNDS TO PAY FOR BILL BUT IT WASNT GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE DEMOCRATES. It could of went up for vote before there vacation,it was the democrates that said no. All the republicains want to do is pass this bill without it costing all are children and grandchildren the bill to pay for it while the democrates just want to add it to the deficeit and tax us instead of taking it out of stimulus money.What was the stimulus bill for? or shall i say whom was it for? This stimulus bill was a big ripp off of the peopl,and dont forget it was the democrates who did it.Im enemployed and out of benifits and desperate,Im at the point were i want it passed and dont care who pays for it, but thats the democrates plan to make us suffer and make the republicain party look like monsters. WAKE UP PEOPLE!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Well you see how much the American citizens mean to the Senate, nothing. If they cared about their people, that would of not went on their vacations, they would of passed the bill, instead they have left people homeless, hungry, no money for gas or to pay their car insurance, so they cannot look for a job. Our government is enjoying their vacations and did not even accomadate people with homeless shelters or soup lines, this is a depression not a recession.

    ReplyDelete
  7. They don't care about anyone but the RICH who line their pockets!!!! ALL of THEM

    ReplyDelete
  8. If they do not pass another extension including a tier 5 extension we are going to be in a world of hurts because nobody will have money to buy anything. Some of us are looking for jobs, but here in Michigan there are no jobs. and who is going to hire someone over 55 anyway. Besides pasting the extension, they should make it so employees have to hire people over 55.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Both sides are to blame, they are all on vacation and if Obama can bypass the Senate for a medicare chief, why can't he bypass the Senate now to help the unemployed, think about it. It is not gonna pass probably since they are putting pressure on the governor of WV, just another scam to not help us. Oh and by the way, our children and grandchildren are already going homeless and hungry so they are already hurting.

    ReplyDelete
  10. There is no solid reasoning for not passing the extension. The unemployment extension is not a new funding nor is it the item that have broke the bank. War, banks, funding to other countries and so on is where the money has gone. There is never any pause when it comes to those items nor do we ever get the chance to vote no.
    I would like a detail description of all Senators that are voting no on the extension and how they have voted on the spending on the War/big business/ bills and have them explain how that helps the American people.
    no matter what the political science is around the Republican party taking seats is just another example how everyone keeps under estimating the American people.
    There is no way in hell these out of touch republicans will get in office again. Just remember the apology to BP, calling unemployed workers lazy, drug addicts, breeders and so on. Remember exactly what they said and how they vote.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I agree I am a 55 year old woman with 28 years experience in customer service. I am told I am not qualified but a employer will take in someone younger with no experience and train. They do not like the elder, risk to their insurance. There is age discrimation, also I think this credit check is BS too, because now so many people's credit is shot to hell, because of this economy and low paying wages of unemployment, this should be a bill too, that companies have to stop these credit checks, this is personal not criminal.

    ReplyDelete
  12. They are screwing with us...I heard last night that Obama said there were 5 people for every job out there...That is CRAP where does he get his numbers...I'm in Michigan and I went to fill out a application Tuesday and while I was there 10 more people cam in to do the same for the same job..and that was at 9am. Who knows how many hundreds of apps they got this week..I'm so mad at my ex employer, the government and the employers that will not give me a job, as of today I have submitted 160 applications...and they are saying we are just milking the system?? I don't think so...oh I could go on for days...makes me so mad!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I will tell you one thing that if this bill does not pass you will see people sleeping in tents all over this country. You will see so many vacancies because millions of people will be housed in shelters etc..diseases etc with winter coming a few months away..we give millions to other countries when they have disasters such as earthquakes, floods, tsunamis etc..well this is our disaster..but this is homegrown..shame on our government..what goes around comes around

    ReplyDelete
  14. Dont hold you breath. There not gonna pass it next week either. Maybe by the end of September.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Why September? Do they think this time without unemployment payments will force the people to get a job? WHAT JOBS?????? They are all crazy!

    ReplyDelete
  16. There gonna wait till right before the election in Novemeber and be the big Hero's come election time.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I have been unemployed for sometime now, and the lost of my benefits has impacted me beyond words. It saddens me to see what is happening in our own country and our leaders do nothing! We bailed out the banks the car mfg but we cannot help the American People. I am so tired of people who have jobs with their negative remarks about the unemployed. It is so hard to find work, and employers are receiving anywhere from 100 to 1200 applicants depending on the position.

    ReplyDelete
  18. GET WITH THE PROGRAM SENATORS.... WE ARE STARVING AND NEXT WE WILL BE HOMELESS.

    ReplyDelete
  19. whats going on ive been looking for a job every day and now i dont even have money for a water bottle

    ReplyDelete
  20. 7 months ago I was fighting in Iraq for my country. 7 Months later I'm broke and one week from becoming homeless. I sacraficed so much for my country and now they just piss on me when I get home and leave me homeless with what little belongings I have left. Our senators are the real terrorist. Democrat or Republican both parties are equally responsible for not coming to a compromise that put food on the table for millions of americans. This is not the country I watched my best friend die for! He is proly rolling over in his grave. Sad day's for all americans.

    ReplyDelete
  21. We'll be fighting in the streets
    With our children at our feet
    And the morals that they worship will be gone
    And the men who spurred us on
    Sit in judgment of all wrong
    They decide and the shotgun sings the song

    I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
    Take a bow for the new revolution
    Smile and grin at the change all around me
    Pick up my guitar and play
    Just like yesterday
    And I'll get on my knees and pray
    We don't get fooled again
    Don't get fooled again
    "LOOK-OUT WASHINGTON D.C.....CAUSE ITS COMING."

    ReplyDelete
  22. Been following this for over 2yrs.They will screw with everyone til november wait and see.Congress is very good at these games.checks ran out March 2010,dont see chance in hell for anymore.Their arrogance amazes me.This is not GD WELFARE.Just give me my ss benefits and i will shut up.Oh whats that you say? Thats right you already stole all that money too,where did it go?

    ReplyDelete
  23. Our next meal is going to be in the hands of West Virgina's Gov. Manchin? He can appoint a replacement for Bird immediately but he... he...
    wants to wait till November because he believes the people's vote is important. YOUR PEOPLE ARE STARVING...THEY NEED THIS MONEY. Appoint someone immediately and worry about nominating yourself at another time. Selfish. Selfish. Selfish.. worry about the people's vote, what a joke that is.

    ReplyDelete
  24. That is a great poem and holds many truths, I for one will not sit idlelly by and allow my fellow Americans live on the streets and go hungry, even if that means going to D.C. myself locked and loaded. Mitch McConnell, You my friend are at the top of the list and not far from me now.....Keep screwing with us and you all will be seeing major violent people headed your way...THAT IS SOMETHING YOU CAN GIVE TO THE BANKS..OR BANK ON THAT"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  25. You used to ride on the chrome horse with your diplomat
    Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat
    Ain't it hard when you discover that
    He really wasn't where it's at
    After he took from you everything he could steal.

    How does it feel
    How does it feel
    To be on your own
    With no direction home
    Like a complete unknown
    Like a rolling stone ?

    ReplyDelete
  26. they can all go straight to hell !!!! and burn the president must have some kind of power to overide this he's just as crooked as they are !!! fuck them all !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Our only hope is for the governor of West Virginia to appoint a temporary senator in till they have a special election in November

    ReplyDelete
  28. I am scared to death!!! I am a single mom been without a job for a little over a year. I look for work everyday.I dont do drugs and not big on drinking.This is worst that I have ever felt in my life.I want my kids to be proud of me. Not made to feel like we have to hide in shame. I have worked in paid taxes since 1984 and never asked anything from anyone.PS: I dont get food stamps cause I felt like there might be someone at there worse than me. ALL I WANT IS A JOB!!!!But they are not out there....Our politicians need to go without a paycheck for awhile and donate it to the Unemployed!!
    ***Screwed in ALABAMA!!!****

    ReplyDelete
  29. How long do you people want us to pay for you. If this is extended and at the end of the extension you will be in the same situation NO JOB. Then you will want it extended again and again and still keep on complaining. This tells you something. You have to get into a different profession from training or move somewhere else to find your job.

    ReplyDelete
  30. the West Virginia governor still has to appoint an interim senator till the special election like Mass did with Paul Kirk till Scott Brown got elected I'm sorry I voted for him

    ReplyDelete
  31. I am not lazy. I do not do drugs. I have paid my taxes for over 30 years. I pray & I vote.

    I lost my job last fall and have been looking desperately for a job. It is NOT that I am not looking & I did not lose my job due to wrongdoing-it was a cutback in my company.

    I am 50 years old and taking care of an ill parent who lives with me. I am out of options financially. My only income has been unemployment. I have used all credit & savings. I have an interview in 2 weeks and no money to get there. My rent is late now & utilities overdue.

    Without an unemployment extension I will lose my house, as my landlord needs the payment to pay the mortgage. The landlord will miss at least on month of rent if I have to move out because it takes time to find a new renter. My parent will have to go to a nursing home, which will cost the government (through the VA or Medicaid) much much more than the unemployment I was getting. I will be homeless as I have no other family.

    I also have medical issues that I have not had the money to address. Any care or food that I would get would have to be government or charity & those resources are extremely limited. With no home or car it becomes even more difficult to find a job. No address, no clean clothes no phone.

    I was earning over 70000 a year before this. I did not "blow" the money on luxuries. I was caring for two other ill relatives who have since passed away. It took all of my savings, but did keep them from being a "burden" on the government.

    I have been a responsible citizen and I do not want welfare. I don't like being on unemployment but I did work for 30 years and paid into the "unemployment insurance" system and paid taxes.If you paid for medical insurance and your claim was denied in spite of desperate need you would be outraged-but that is what is happening to the million plus unemployed Americans.

    I did not vote to bail out banks, automakers, or to send so many jobs overseas. I did not vote to give oil & gas companies tax breaks and incentives.

    Now that I am the one who needs help our elected officials are saying "NO".

    A very sad day in America

    ReplyDelete
  32. @edherrmann

    How do you expect people to get training for a new job when they cannot pay for a home or food?

    You are way out of touch

    ReplyDelete
  33. @edherrmann....
    Excuse me but you dont know what the heck you are talking about.I am sure most people are like me they have applied for everything. I have tried outside my field (pharmacy technician) I have appplied for janitor jobs etc etc.....I dont care what the "JOB TITLE" is. I want my own money. Thank you!!! AND I HOPE AND PRAY IT DOESN'T COME BACK TO HAUNT YOU!!!

    ReplyDelete
  34. To edherrmann:
    Treat others as you would them treat you. That's all I will say. No, I am not unemployed, but I do believe in helping others when needed. And this is a time when it is needed. So crawl back to your Republican party, that can obviously do no wrong, and count out your dollars while watching others suffer.

    ReplyDelete
  35. @edhermann
    First some of us were turned down for training.
    Second the "stimulus"money they have spent so far seems to have gone to clear inventories of washing machines, refrigerators, dishwashers, cars etc.
    Oh and don't forget the 8k for buying a new home for some people-how many illegal aliens were building those homes and sending their paychecks to Mexico? Yea that was a real stimulus to the economy.
    In real life where you evidently do not exist, there are still layoffs going on. What about all of those people along the gulf? I have seen posts from them in other stories. When it was just BP administering it they got the checks just fine. Now that there is that 20B slush fund they are being told no. That money has to be stretchec out as long as possible and mainly saved for the fishermen who are already on BP's payroll to sit at the docks.
    The suspension of drilling in the gulf is expected to cost 150K more jobs. NASA is about to lay off. And that is just the problems I have heard of so far.
    Oh and by the way if they do not get the extension passed when they get back...They go on vacation for a month starting Aug 1.

    ReplyDelete
  36. @edherrmann

    I have a real problem with all of you who bash the unemployed for wanting the extension to pass! People have been sitting on their asses for years collecting welfare checks, food stamps, and medicaid and I have to see any big protest go on to stop these programs! You are talking about people who have worked for a living and got caught up in poor government decisions! No regulations on banks! No one is on here protesting a 9 year war either! Republicans are worried about the bill that our children will pay! Give me a break! They don't give a sh*t! If they did they would not be spending trillions on a war that has put us in deep debt. A heavy price tag for our children! The stimulus money the GOP wants to use is to help in creating jobs! That would be just the like the GOP to want to use that money, then they will have something to say about the money being gone and now we can't create jobs! I agree with another poster saying Obama should have done something and should do something NOW! This senate bull has gone on long enough! Harry Reid was worried about it he was sitting in the audience at the MGM for the Cage fight for Brock Lessnar while Americans are wondering where their next meals are coming from. Sorry GOP supporters, it's a little too late for the GOP to start worrying about the deficit......NOT BUYING IT.....they should have been worried about that when they were funding a war for past NINE YEARS! Reinstated the DRAFT and watch how many Republicans will want to put an end to the war then, as their children and grandchildren may have to stand on the front lines and risk their lives! So make complaints to your local government about the long term abuse of welfare, instead of the unemployment for the working American!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Senators starting salary is $174,000 a year, they get health benefits and time off that rivals that of Europe. When they get back from their latest 10 day vacation after having one just this past Memorial Day, they go on yet another MONTH LONG hiatus! Who pays for this? We do, the taxpayer. Maybe they should take pay cuts to help pay for unemployment. They also for many years voted themselves automatic pay raises every year!! They even got their raise for 2010 but decided to reject it for 2011. Some of them say they need the high income to maintain homes in two states, I can't imagine what those homes look like. Both Democrats and Republicans are wrong in this argument. These are 100 very wealthy people making a decision that is affecting MILLIONS across the country. One Senator said in regards to not passing the legislation that "we need to live within our means"...so I guess people on unemployment making between $100-400 a week is not living within our means to him.

    ReplyDelete
  38. I understand the concern that the government as well as employed people feel that unemployment benefits may allow unemployed people to be complacent. However, I feel that their is an answer to the unemployment benefit extension and that is to not only continue with tiers of extenstions but along with it, slightly decrease the amount to be funded to the unemployed with each tier; that way we do not lose the funds cold turkey. I understand that people cannot expect to be given handouts forever, but I do think that certain needs MUST be met, such as food and shelter, both of which require money.
    It looks like the only schooling and/or training that you can count on these days is to be in politics. These people not only get to keep their high profile, high paying jobs, but they get to enjoy vacations while everyone else suffers and lives in fear. Happy 4th of July to the unemployed and underemployed... yea right.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Just called Senator Ben Nelson's office in Washington and left a message in hoping that he has a change of heart and votes YES to extend UI benefits. He has been siding with the GOP on this matter.

    Him and the replacement for the late Senator Byrd (whenever that will be) are extremely important on getting this bill passed.

    Call Ben Nelson's office at 1-202-224-6551 and give him a piece of your mind.

    I don't care how this bill gets passed as long as it gets passed soon! Getting tired of the politics of the Senate in stalling this bill.

    ReplyDelete
  40. I never even got to the Tier 3 in the unemployment. I had just finished my Tier 2 and went to call in my certification, and could not as the recorder on the other end of the phone said my benefits had been exhausted. I have worked all of my teen/adult life, and never got unemployment. Now when I really need it, they cut me off without one word about it. How nice. Now what am I suppose to do? I have so far missed 2 weeks. Not that long really, but when you are living check to check, it puts you into a 2 week behind status on all of your bills. No food, and no gas to go out job hunting, which I have been doing since I got laid off, with no avail. How in the world can I get off of unemployment, if I cannot afford to go out and find some type of employment? It is a vicious circle, and all of us are right in it.

    ReplyDelete
  41. What clueless Senator said the unemployed have to "live within ours means"?!

    They have no money to live on if they are not getting unemployment in most cases. And unemployment is only a small amount to try to keep people from needing welfare or becoming homeless!

    It costs the government less to pay unemployment and get people back to work than to pay the cost of welfare and the associated problems that occur when mass number of people become homeless!

    We need to make sure that idiot is voted out!

    ReplyDelete
  42. We need to vote out these Republicans.Washington needs a total house cleaning.Republicans are for the rich only,they always have been.Every one unemployment should vote against the current Republicans at the next election.It's the only way we can win.It's the only thing a politition understands.Republicans are blood sucking self serving takers.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Just Curious......How much do you think the unemployed get a week????? Speaking for myself is on $200.00 per wk....NOW ZERO!!!

    ReplyDelete
  44. I have contacted my Senator's office as well. I finally received an email back yesterday. When I was on another site posting comments someone else had received a response from the same senator. It was word for word. I am thinking he did not even look at it.
    I do know however that the last time they did not pass this bill I went onto his facebook page and entered several complaints. I am sure that this was seen because I was blocked on my last entry and sent to an employment site.
    My point is, stop wasting time sending complaints to their offices and start posting comments on their facebook pages. Their loyal followers are there brown-nosing they might need to see that we are not a bunch of "yes" men.

    ReplyDelete
  45. I am so disgusted with the government. I use to be proud of my country, now i am shameful. My fiancee unemployment ran out two weeks a go, and he goes to school to better himself. He looked for a job for two years. They tell you to better yourself with an education when you dont have a job. And then they take it away.. I am also on unemployment that is ending soon. I pray everyday that things will get better. Then i take a step back and look at other peoples lives whom are much worse than mine. To everyone out there who is reading this. you are in my prayers. Its pitiful that our troops risk thier lives everyday for our country.. and they get nothin in return. If they do make it home, this is what they have to look forward to.I know that the lord works in mysterious ways, and its gonna take a miracle to fix this. God bless all of you!!

    ReplyDelete
  46. Funding the unemployment extension would raise the current deficit by....wait for it.....ONE QUARTER OF ONE PERCENT!!! Better to just let people lose their homes and apply for welfare, food stamps and medicaid for their kids! That will be free, right???

    ReplyDelete
  47. I have been unemployed for over a year now and the UI benefits is the only thing that is keeping my head above water. If I lose my unemployment checks i will probably be living on the street because my girlfriend only makes 8 dollars an hour at her job and i cannot find work anywhere. The economy is not better for me or another 2,000,000 people i believe that its rediculous that the government wants to bail out banks, and pay millions, no trillions of dollars for the war but the citizens of this country get nothing how is that right? How do you legislators sleep at night knowing that there's so many good people out there worried about their livelihoods and families?

    ReplyDelete
  48. First our Federal government gives away our manufacturing base to the Chinese thus giving up our country's cash flow (low to medium wages earners tend to spend most of their money)...now they have a chance to provide cash flow to stimulate the economy (most unemployed will spend most of their money).....but n-o-o-o. No wonder our country is going broke!

    It's time for term limits!. Let's get rid of the idealists!

    ReplyDelete
  49. PLEASE ALL UNEMPLOYED!!!!

    Visit
    unemployedworkers.org sponsored by the National Employment Law Project
    (nelp.org) They are providing a letter, the names of your Congressional representatives and the direct line to send the letter. The letter is well written and you can even add your personal comments.

    Please make a point to do this, pass it along to friends, family members and include in any comments you make on other sites. Most of us don't have the money to travel to Congressional offices and wage a protest so hopefully this will work

    ReplyDelete
  50. Copy and pasted this from another site....We gotta pull all stops to get this bill through....I'm about ready to lose my UI benefits with very little work in sight.


    If anyone would like to take a pro-active approach to getting H.R. 4213 passed, call or e-mail Governor Joe Manchin of West Virginia and ask him to appoint himself as Senator of West Virginia. Governor Joe Manchin of West Virginia's number is 1-888-438-2731. His e-mail address is Governor@WVGov.org. Hearing from 15 million unemployed Americans should be enough to convince Governor Manchin to appoint himself Senator. In August of 2010, it will be less than the two years and six months Senator Robert Byrd would have had to serve out his Senate term. As such, the law in West Virginia seems to favor an appointment by the Governor of West Virginia pursuant to the current state of law. If there are any other questions, please provide them in the comment box below or use the e-mail address associated with this article.

    ReplyDelete
  51. Question for you EdHermann. Have you ever worried about your family not eating? Have you ever been in need for money so bad that you cant eat? No, I dont think you have. i think you came up with a silver spoon in your mouth and you dont have a clue what its like for the people without money. I dont do drugs, I dont drink, and I have had 52 interview at 52 different places in a years time. Still not one of them places hired me can you tell me why that is? NO again. You think because your a big shot politician then you got the right to screw millions of people of all ages. Im 28 and I have worked my ass off for everything that i have and now you want to take it all away because you cant pass a bill for the poor. Why dont you tell that to the people that are fighting in this senseless war? You just dont get it do you? You think your paying for people to slack off but i can guarantee you that 95% of unemployed America is not slackers, and jobs are scarce. I went to an interview last week and there were ten people there interviewing for the same position.

    I will never vote for any of you crooked bastards again!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  52. I think Barney Frank should pony up some of the money he made in interest with bailing out the banks and auto industry.

    ReplyDelete
  53. I have worked for over 33 years. During that time, like all of us, we paid in our taxes both state and federal. I can't for the life of me believe that we are being denied the extensions. Did we and do we not pay to have these elected officials in office? To go off and take this recess for the 4th without extending the benefits tells me that the people who are our so called senators care nothing about the citizens of the good ole USA! I hope and pray that it gets extended because if not, there is already 7 in my household and we may have to find more to live with us just to make the house payment. My family and myself needs some help, we are living in a one paycheck household and money is getting tight, we are depending on our ue to help get us through. Yes I job hunt everyday but to no avail, there are jobs out there but seems that i am to overqualified or underqualified for any of them. So tell me Senators what do we do now??????

    ReplyDelete
  54. I get a big kick out of everyone that is so worried about the deficit now that so many are unemployed. I've heard some say why should we continue to support people that are not working? Well with that in mind, maybe we should start looking at all the pensiond funds that government workers and politicians are getting at the end of the road. They retire and get paid for doing nothing at the taxpayers expense. Now I don't expect to get unemployment checks forever but if you look at history we have always helped each other out at a time of need. So if the money is not there to help people out at no fault of their own then why should we pay for people to do nothing the rest of their lives. And don't give me the arguement that I've earned it. The only thing you earned from a job is a pay check for the hours you have worked. This whole thing has been a ploy of playing with people minds for a political agenda. But here is the real question. Both parties look so ridiculous at this point which one is better than the other? I mean none of you clowns cared about a deficit when you funded two wars and bank bailouts. And we are going to get alot more return on our money with it going into our economy than those. Hell you're not even going to help out the people that went and fought in those wars that have exhausted their unemployment. How messed up is that?
    D.D.D.

    ReplyDelete
  55. If I was getting $1,000 every 2 weeks when I had a job, why in the hell would I be happy getting about $260 every week from unemployment? I would love to have a job. When times are tough pride goes out the window. Working a cleaning job or at a fast food joint would be just fine right now. I would gladly take any politician's job that feels that we don't need an extension for unemployment. Not only would I do the job a whole lot better, I would also do everything in my power to actually help my fellow American people. We are the United States of America for crying out loud! We can't take care of the world if you can't take care of home first!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  56. This crazy:
    There are no jobs, we let corp america send them over seas and now we have a minority clenaing our beaches. We want those jobs.
    There is VOC rehab but no finding and months of waits.
    The big stimulus check that we get from obama gave me 12.50 a month to much for food stamps.
    I worked and paid good taxes for 21 yrs, never asked for a damn dime and now do not ahve food in my house.
    You can Congress and the people that answer the phone say, what unemployment bill????? DOH
    Call the govenors office aand those college students who answer the phone are dumber than a box of rocks and rude, rude, rude. I had one laugh and say sorry for your lucky.
    Call the main hot line and slam them with calls.
    (202) 224-3121

    ReplyDelete
  57. I say to STOP paying out welfare checks to all of those that purposefully choose to not contribute to society, and utilize those funds to pay all of the actual hard working americans that have contributed for numerous years, and are still to this date trying to contribute. This is ludicris that the government continues to condone laziness from hundreds and thousands that just have more babies to increase their monthly income and punish those that have actually paid for that for years... Where is the logic. Help the ones that contribute and stop funding the lives of those that don't!!!

    ReplyDelete
  58. @ehderman

    There are 15 million unemployed 3 million jobs. Do the math. How far do you have to move to find a job when there are 12 million more people than jobs.

    And to those who say why blame the Republicans:

    Well, I'd probably not blame them if it wasn't for a series of facts:

    1. They had no problem with deficit spending when they voted through the first third of 110B+ war spending bill one day prior to crying defict! and voting down the unemployment extension.

    2. If traditionally they haven't always voted in unemployment extensions as emergency spending.

    3. If several of the Republican Senators hadn't implied if not said that the unemployed are "lazy, drug users, aren't really looking for work" when they know the numbers out there. And of course my favorite, the Republican Senator that said he didn't want any of those unemployed "nuts" disrupting his town meetings.

    3. If they had actually voted to close the two major offshoring tax incentive loohoples that have allowed 8 million jobs to be offshored.

    So...excuse me if even as a Republican myself, a party which used to be known as fiscal conservatives, does blame my party for this.

    ReplyDelete
  59. Just think we get to go through this again in November if this does pass. Why don't they make unemployment extensions dependent on jobs coming back and the TRUE unemploymnet numbers getting into a reasonable range. Instead of having to go through this political BS every few months. Our government is outdated and dysfunctional. It's time to storm the citadel on the hill. We need a sane alternative to the present political two party system. Not the tea baggers! Both the Democrats and the Republicans are to blame -- And Sarah Palin and the Tea Baggers are insane...

    ReplyDelete
  60. I say the only way these bastards will take notice is with an uprising.We need to organize and force those bloated political pigs from their homes, at gun point if need be. Remember we have the right to bare arms, well let us exercise that right.Maybe that is the reason they want to take our guns away so our voices will become silent.

    ReplyDelete
  61. @EdHerrman

    What a lame ass statement. I imagine you have a job right? I am 52 years old, and have worked 33 years at the same company, until they closed their doors after being in business for 130 years. They moved the operation to China. Now, I've been out of work over a year constantly applying for jobs with very little results. I did go back to school and get trained for something else, and I still can't get hired. I know it's my age, and they want experiance, training isn't enough. Now that they've cut off my unemployment, I have no idea what I'm going to do. I've drained my savings and I have no where to go, and no money even for gas to find a job. My electricity is close to being shut off also, which means I'll lose my internet and my only link to find jobs.

    Wake up buddy, It is not a hand out. I am not lazy, and have never been out of work my whole life. I thought I was secure at my job until retirement. Be careful, you might find yourself in the same boat, and then I'm sure you'll sing a different tune.

    Have a great day, and enjoy your dinner tonight.

    ReplyDelete
  62. Vote for a democrat for an unemployment check?
    You got to be kidding me! It's the friggin dems that got us into this mess. 1-1/2 years of obamanomics and this is all we got to show for trillions of dollars spent? Print Print Print Spend Spend Spend. Please Mr. Federal Reserve banker... can we borrow some more money? We want to remain slaves to you. We will sell our children and grandchildren for our own pleasures.

    ReplyDelete
  63. Vote for a democrat for an unemployment check?
    You got to be kidding me! It's the friggin dems that got us into this mess. 1-1/2 years of obamanomics and this is all we got to show for trillions of dollars spent? Print Print Print Spend Spend Spend. Please Mr. Federal Reserve banker... can we borrow some more money? We want to remain slaves to you. We will sell our children and grandchildren for our own pleasures.

    ReplyDelete
  64. Obama did not get us into this mess. This mess was a long time coming. Both Reps and Dems contributed! Obama was left with the only thing he could do to keep everything from falling completely apart. We need to get beyond blame -- but if you must and you must then put it on the idiots that got us into it. Giving loans to people who did not have the income to support them, passing NAFTA and exporting jobs, giving tax credits to companies etc. While everyone was out frenetically buying shit at WalMart and supporting the Chinese economy. Clean up your life and watch where your money and your votes are going. The people DO have the power to change this. It is still a democracy -- sort of.

    ReplyDelete
  65. Are you kidding me!!!!!!!!! A 90 year old senator dies and the bill doesn't pass. If that's the case, the entire U.S. government should be on the Dr. Phil show and Jerry Springer like a disfunctional family. The entire senate should be hauled away and thrown in jail for wreckless endangerment. Just dispicable animals. It's bad enough that it wasn't passed by Memorial day, but not passing this before the 4th of july, knowing theyare on a recess is mind boggling. They should be brought up on charges and thrown out of office.

    ReplyDelete
  66. My husband was laid off on June 1, 2009. Never did we think he would still be unemployed more than a year later. He has a Masters Degree in Education and cannot find a job as a teacher. He was on state unemployment for 26 weeks and then went to the first tier of federal emergency unemployment. In the meantime, he began substitute teaching - trying to do the right thing and get a foot in the door, not to mention make his benefits last longer (whatever he earned subbing was subtracted from his benefits each week). When he was through with his tier 1 federal unemployment he was told he was not eligible for tier 2 because it had taken him extra time to run through his benefits (BECAUSE HE WAS WORKING AND NOT SITTING ON HIS *SS) so he missed the "cut-off date" to apply for tier 2. So, the people who are trying to find work and take low paying jobs to do the right thing are being PENALIZED. I don't think the full story is being told: not everyone gets 99 weeks and the system is so damn complex you need a friggin' PhD to understand it. We are now without any benefits until Congress figures out what to do. Every time we have called the unemployment office we have gotten a different answer. It's a sad, sad state of affairs.

    ReplyDelete
  67. The Republicans want to use stimulus money that is already earmarked for other projects. They want to rob those coffers so that they can say, "See? The stimulus didn't work!" They will stop at nothing to try to make this administration fail. We all know a failed administration when we see one. We saw that in the last administration. That's why we are where we are today.
    I have written twice to the senator from my state who voted against the bills. The other senator voted for the bills. I have also written twice to Harry Reid's office. I am not from Nevada, but because he is the senate majority leader, what he does or does not do affects me.
    It's time for the nonsense to stop. It's also time for the Bush wars to come to an end. The only return we get on our investment there is body bags and maimed young people.

    ReplyDelete
  68. Hmmm.... Dems could have passed a full-year funding of UI Extension before they lost their super majority... and didn't...

    I find it interesting that New York governor can call their state congress critters back to the table until there is a budget, but Obama won't call Congress back from a recess to deal with unemployment.

    Of course that is on top of the refusal to use stimulus money to pay for this. Makes you wonder whether the Dems are just posturing to try to look like the good guys.

    Dems have the power to make some things happen and if nothing else make the Senate feel a bit of the pain of the unemployed American people. Yet, they sit there completely impotent (when they recently had a super majority), unable to stop the Senate from going on recess (when the prez can call people back during a recess), and unable to get "bi-partisan legislation passed" (when they had a bi-partisan offer on the table). If that is the level of impotence the Dem party has, then they don't have the balls to make things happen and should be voted into the unemployed that they didn't stand up for.

    ReplyDelete
  69. all this nonsense about the deficit and our " children and grandchildren" by the republicans is crap..were they worried about our children and grandchildren when they passed 33 billion to fund the war?..no..were they worried about the deficit when they voted "no" to ending the bush tax cuts for the wealthiest .05 % of people who live in this country?...no..were they worried about the debt of our " children and grandchildren" when they voted "yes" unanimously to go into 2 wars without paying for them?...of course they werent...this deficit crap is simply the platform they stand on and hope that their constituents remain ignorant to whats really going on and buy it long enough for them to try and win seats in november..to believe its anything more than that is simply ignorance to whats really going on with this situation

    ReplyDelete
  70. Here's the facts people!

    Spin it how you want but the democrats have the majority and one democrate named Ben Nelson is the deciding factor.

    http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5546894/2010_unemployment_extension_holdout.html?cat=62

    http://themoderatevoice.com/78412/ben-nelson-destroys-chance-for-unemployment-extension-before-holiday-break/

    ReplyDelete
  71. I also am going from the reps to the Dems. THIS is bullshit SCOTT BROWN YOU SUCK

    ReplyDelete
  72. Currently 4 weeks without benefits. I have drained my savings account and now will have to turn to maxing out what lil i have on credit. How much longer do they expect people to be able to survive without income???
    My unemployment each week went towards food to feed my family and gas to put into my car to get to college. Now 6 months away from graduating i have no idea what to do?!? Do i drop out in join the millions of other people applying for the lil openings that are available?? This is BS. I agree with some that THE WHOLE WHITE HOUSE NEEDS TO BE CLEANED OUT.. GET RID OF THEM ALL. DEMS AND REPS.. WE THE PEOPLE NEED TO TEACH THE GOVERNMENT A LESSON - IF YOU DO NOT DO YOUR JOB - YOU WILL NOT BE RE_ECLECTED!!!

    ReplyDelete
  73. when they dont pass it we all must march to washington and shut the goverment down for the day it would only take about 150.000 people thats nothing we can do that we have about 2 mil keep them all trapped there see how they like it no cars out no roads to pass they cant arrest every one

    ReplyDelete
  74. we all must march to washington and shut the goverment down for the day and all the roads so those pigs get stuck there and cant go home to there table full of food. als we need is 150000 people we have 2mil we can do this

    ReplyDelete
  75. You've got the story wrong.

    There will be an interim replacement for Byrd. The governor is merely waiting for a clarification by the State's Attorney General as to when the next election for a replacement for Byrd will be held. The confusion is whether to have it this year or in 2012. There will be a replacement for the seat either way.

    ReplyDelete
  76. My husband and I are lucky enough to still have our jobs and we have made ourselves a very nice life. We don‘t put anymore money into the economy than what we have to because we don’t know what Americas future holds and we need to keep every penny to help our family who is need. . My parents on the other hand have both lost their jobs and my mother is one of the 99ers. My father was bringing in around $500.00 a week and my mother was bringing in around $400.00 in unemployment. To some that may seem like a lot of money, but they give you a check based on what you were making when you had a job. Of course the unemployment did not cover the bills that they had so they had to start pulling from their savings and their 401k's. My father found a job and took it even though it paid him less than his unemployment check. He did the right thing and went to work. Like some of you say I would do anything. Well he did and that only caused them to go further into debt. My mother and father had comparable bills to their income when they had jobs. They have tried to put their house on the market, but guess what.. People are not buying homes right now. My parents have nice vehicle and at one time the payment were easy to make, but now my husband and I have been making their car payments. They can let the vehicles go back to the bank, but they would still have to make payments on whatever was left on the vehicle after it was auctioned. My parents live an hour and half away from a major city so it's harder for them to find jobs. My question to those who are against the bill is what do you think is going to happen to all the older people who no one will hire? They have spent their savings, spent their 401k's and will have lost everything. What will we do when those people are elderly and have nothing at all? Who will help them then. My husband and I don't mind helping my parents. I feel blessed that we are able to help them, but that also means that we are not able to put money away incase we lose our jobs. What will happen to us when we don't have any money when we get ready to retire? This is not just a right now problem, this is going to last forever if they don't extend unemployment. I agree with taking from welfare programs. I understand there are some people who need it, but I work in the projects (bricks) and guess what ,when their kids turn 18 the first thing they do is go to the office and apply for their own apartment when they should be applying for a job.( if they could find one.) They are also going to the welfare office to get assistance anyway they can.. Welfare was not designed to be a life long program.. If you’re on welfare and you get arrested for possession of drugs, weather it be a felony or a misdemeanor you should not be allowed to receive your welfare check . Do the same thing for the unemployment checks..
    Please think about the millions of Americans who are going to lose everything. This not only effects the people who are unemployed it affects the homeowners who are renting to people who can’t pay their rent. It effects the electric companies, water companies all the companies that wont get paid because people wont have any money.. I know it’s a little long winded, but I need those that are against this bill to understand that receiving unemployment does not equal lazy or white trash. It doesn’t mean that people who receive an unemployment check or eating fast food and drinking beer everyday. Most of the people on unemployment are trying to find jobs and can’t. They are trying to sell their belongings and downsize what they can of their lives to just keep their heads above water and as we all know, it doesn’t takes but one big wave to make a boat sink.

    ReplyDelete
  77. i will take a drug test if you can prove that you or your other comrade senators or pals will not benefit from it. that can be the only reason why you would want us to take a drug test! so that one of your pharmacuetical buddies can reap in millions while also giving you a kickback. just give me a drug kit, i hope it has pictures of senators on the bottom of it, to make it easier to piss.

    ReplyDelete
  78. All the fools that took Census jobs, lets say on the 22nd week of the 26 weeks initial claim. They finished the census job got 4 more weeks of unemploymment, and now can't go into tier 1 because of the cencus job they finished the 26 weeks too late. If they didn't take the census job they could have gone into tier 1 for 20 more weeks. Instead 6 weeks of census, 4 more weeks to get to 26, and that's it. It figures that the system is set up to screw over people that took temporary jobs. And then a 90 year old senator dies and the bill isn't passed. Talk about murphys law, this is it.

    ReplyDelete
  79. I received my last UI check on June 2nd. On the 15th of July I will be late on my credit cards for the first time in years, which will destroy my credit rating, which is vital to getting a job. I will lose everything that I have in my storage unit if I don't get my already late payment to them by August 1st. I am jobless and homeless thanks to the greed of Wall Street bankers.
    If my credit is destroyed by this and I can find no way to repair it, I will leave this country to start over somewhere else. Trying to finding a job in the U.S. right now is difficult. Trying to get a job with bad credit will be impossible. Thanks Republicans.

    ReplyDelete
  80. These career politicians sit in office making MILLIONS from sweetheart deals , ie wallstreet and spend BILLIONS lining the pockets of those very fat cats.. Out here hard working Americans, BEG for a piddly 300.00 a week so we can put food in our children's mouths, a roof over their heads..congress is out on recess, they have over 6 months of paid vacation a year- right now they're on yachts, in Europe, the Caribbean, while Americans stand in soup lines, homeless shelters. The Founders NEVER intended for these bastards to ever have this kind of power. TERM LIMITS ARE NEEDED NOW! VOTE THE INCUMBENT OUT, PERIOD! Give the government back to the people.. Not the elite. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

    ReplyDelete
  81. @7:32

    If you simply vote out all incumbents, the Republicans will once again control both houses of Congress. That's what got us to this point. Also, if you think that you're seeing gridlock now, wait until you get a Republican-controlled Congress with the Democratic White House. We need fewer Republicans who seem to like their station in the back pockets of huge corporations and big money. I, for one, am sick of their excuses at our expense. It's time for the American people to put a stop to big money getting everything that they ask for while everyone else settles for crumbs. Give the Republicans a reality check in November. Every November.

    ReplyDelete
  82. For those of you at are employed feel very lucky. After working 30 years at the same job mind you - One day we came in and they said "We were done". Too young to retire at 51. Unemployment keeps a roof over your head, lights on, water to shower, gas for your car, food to eat, internet to apply and ink for resumes mailed, Cobra medical still going, life ins, auto ins. Come on! Shame on all of you who are still lucky. It's not that much $ but enough to keep the things you have worked your entire life for going until you find a job. Walk in my shoe's, get generic e.mails from employers back if at all. Min. Wage what 12-15 hours a week if your lucky. What am I back in High School. These rich Senators have a rude awakening come the fall if they fail to help the voter's that voted them in. But wait.. lol.. they get the same salary for life anyway even if they are voted out. How convenient!

    ReplyDelete
  83. gonna be a big fire in the big house

    ReplyDelete
  84. This is a very sad state of affairs. A pox on all pols.

    ReplyDelete
  85. I lost my job in May, 2008, and have exhausted all of my UI benefits and extensions. I know there is no hope that a tier 5 will be passed and if this bill is ever passed to fund the extensions that were already voted for months ago, it will be too late for many families. My credit is shot so I can't get another job. When I become eligible for social security, the amount I will be eligible to receive will have dropped drastically (already has dropped $400.00 mo) because I haven't worked in 2 yrs. I am ashamed of our leaders from top to bottom. When Obama was elected, I felt such hope but now all I feel is despair.

    ReplyDelete
  86. Some of the unemployed posters have suggested that if the bill passes, it will pass (repubs)prior to elections so that they will get the glory....That's ludicrous, with ALL that time in between with AMERICANS STARVING, WORST CASE SCENARIO....NOT ONLY WILL THE PEOPLE NOT VOTE THE REPUBS IN, THERE WOULD BE A WAR...THAT WOULD BE ROUGHLY 6 MOS WITHOUT CHECKS...REMEMBER THE UNEMPLOYED ARE NOT STUPID ONES, THE REPUBS ARE...PLEASE!!!

    ReplyDelete
  87. No matter if the repubs try and defend themselvesfor the elections and they can't clean up the mess that they left, such a baddd!!! taste into the AMERICAN PEOPLE mouths....Its a done deal...Most AMERICANS hate the republicans after what they did to their families...It's called "TORTUEISM" AND ITS PAY BACK TIME...Watch for the results in November...You'll see..

    ReplyDelete
  88. !!! Repubs desparate to pass the blame!!! Hey everyone, Mary Matalin, republican strategist was on CNN today and she quoted "there were NO jobs" if that were the case then why is mcconnell & party of "NO" blocking the extention of benefits reasoning that there were jobs...You are certainly contradicting yourselves. The AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW THAT THERE ARE 'NO' JOBS.....Why are you really blocking the bill? Is it a possibe case of ENVY???

    ReplyDelete
  89. I never expected to be unemployed for such a long time, I usually get a job in a matter of a few weeks. One year later and after one extension I was looking and hoping for a second tier that did not happen. Single mother with a bachelor degree...had to leave my house and depend on friends for food and shelter...is this a 3rd world country? Are banks and wars more important than your own people? Where is the humanity in those who voted against this? They probably earn per hour what I received for unemployement benefits per week and I was able to survive (and be happy) on that! I am desperate, but will remain strong.

    ReplyDelete
  90. Get over it people. Unemployment was for 26 weeks. No one is entitled to anything more. If you received any extensions, wonderful, if not, oh well. The government owes no one anything. Quit whinning. There are jobs, restaurants, gas stations, retail, ect. They might not pay well but they are jobs with or without benefits. Then you work your way back into your life. Everyone needs to just take care of themselves and not expect anything from anyone.

    ReplyDelete
  91. They just don't get it, do they!! Mainstreet is suffering! I have a feeling the Republicans are really going down on this one. I can't believe how bad it is out here. There's an enormous amount of stress, hopelessness, fear and anger. The real effects of the economy are now starting to show. This was the quietest and strangest Fourth I've ever seen. Not much business going on and people weren't traveling or going out like in the past. Prices keep climbing, more jobs keep disappearing and people are walking away from their homes IN ADVANCE of potential problems. Not passing the Extension (which IS a stimulus)may well be one of the worse decisions so far. Sadly, there isn't enough local help or resources out there for the millions in trouble. OMG! I can't imagine 2011 or what the end of this year will be like. Looks like our Senate corruption has finally caught up with them and they're taking us down with them. It's too bad that we have to go first!

    ReplyDelete
  92. For those of you that keep complaining about the unemployed to go get another job...CURSE YOU!!!!...this is the beginning of your time that you will lose YOUR job and then be in our boat!!!...no money for your mortgage, food for your children, or to pay your medical bills. WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    You will find there are not enough jobs to go around and then realize that the government does not care about you either!!

    ReplyDelete
  93. THERE ARE NO JOBS OUT THERE! My local Walmart manager said he has no openings and is getting 800 applications a week. The Smith's grocery is the same. The same with the fast food businesses and gas stations. Gardeners and house cleaners are out of work and I find 20-30 business cards on my front porch every week. Companies have shortened hours and work weeks for existing employees. Small businesses are still closing and malls look like ghost towns. Hordes of people are having garage sales and no one is showing up! If you're lucky enough to snag a job when someone leaves, who cares about benefits or TOP pay! Keeping the lights on and food on the table is a blessing. Job hunting is a nightmare right now. I have top business skills and will take anything. The Government U6 formula for assessing unemployment is around 16.5% and could be more. This means I have A LOT of competition.

    ReplyDelete
  94. Hmmm... Let's see here ... I have been unemployed off and on for almost 2 years now. Notice I said OFF & ON. That would mean that I have been putting in serious effort in seeking employment. I lost all of my health benefits along with my "decent" paychecks. I had an emergency surgery (life threatening) last year that put me so far in debt, I couldn't see straight. So I had to claim Bankruptcy in order to have some sort of sanity (by the way, I didn't have a single credit card debt on my bankruptcy claim ... so I am not someone that is irresponsible with money or credit cards). I have worked my butt off since I was 14 years old (I'm 40 now), and I have always paid my bills on time and have paid my taxes on time. But now that our country is experiencing an all out Depression (thanks Bush Admin) I am now behind on my taxes (thanks to having to PAY taxes on unemployment benefits aka kicking an already dead dog), and now I will be losing what little I have been trying to survive on now because CONGRESS thinks I'm a crackhead with no motivation to work??? WOW!!! AMAZING!!! Thanks for punishing hardworking Americans with your ridiculous logic. SHAME ON YOU!!! I hope you enjoyed your Crystal & caviar last weekend while I drank a bottle of Pepto-Bismol to relieve the ulcer I now have, thanks to you! I'm sure you will all feel MUCH better when all the people that have worked so hard to pay your way (yeah, we the people that pay our taxes, pay YOUR wages) will be living in TENT CITIES all across the great US of A!!! Just remember that their is a nice warm place waiting for you at the end of your journey called life. Or you could change that karma and help all of the good people that have pride and care about our nation and our families. If mandatory drug testing is what is needed to get some financial help ... then point me to the nearest office!

    ReplyDelete
  95. For those bloggers who are lucky enough to have a job in an industry that actually thrives in an economic downturn, I am happy for your blessing. But I will say that it isn't wise to reprimand those who are desperately hurting. The winds can change at any time, and your words may come back to haunt you. Perhaps you are ill-placed on this site and need to be out shopping with your nice, smug paycheck.

    ReplyDelete
  96. Did I seriously see somewhere online yesterday that when the Senate gets back from their July 4th break next week, they will need to move quickly to get this UI impasse resolved because they are going on another recess in 2 weeks & will be on another break the whole month of August!You've got to be kidding!

    ReplyDelete
  97. It is critical to the economic recovery to get people spending money. Cutting unemployment benefits will only reduce the amount of moneyflow in the economy and may result in more layoffs driving the economy down even more and erasing any recent gains. The cost if this unemployment benefit extension seems small compared to the cost of the two wars we have been fighting overseas for the past several years. It seems that the total cost of those wars is 1 Trillion dollars. It seems to me that this has had a much greater impact on the national debt than unemployment benefits for out of work Americans.

    ReplyDelete
  98. What's the point of voting these people in or out come November? By then many of us will be homeless, hungry, and destitute. Right now they're enjoying their week-long vacation living in the lap of luxury and will continue to do so whether in office or not, while we worry and ponder. People are saying "Get off your butts and get a job, any job." but there are no jobs to be had. I've applied to them all: cashier jobs, cleaning jobs, working with the mentally challenged adults, and no one is hiring, at least they're not hiring me. I’ve sent out so many applications, I’ve lost count I even hit the payment in NYC, but most places are saying “Go online and apply”. Since 9/11 most places don’t allow you to just walk in off the streets and fill out an application. I’ve had 3 interviews in one year and two of those jobs were for part time positions. I’m a 40 year old, unemployed for over a year, female out here competing with teen-agers for jobs. "The unemployed are using their UI benefits to buy drugs and alcohol." Well if after paying for rent, utilities, food and all other necessities, if one has any money left to drink and do drugs, then may God have mercy on them. Even when and if they create jobs, many of us will never go back to what we were making before we were laid off. I'm just hoping that we can get an extension until Nov. and maybe by then companies will be hiring. The future seems bleak.

    ReplyDelete
  99. I have worked for 22 years. This is my first time on unemployment and I only got 26 weeks, I was one week over getting the extension. If Senate thinks we are milking the system and taking advantage of our benefits and it will just increase the deficit, WHY can't we take away their over inflated paychecks and add it to the unemployment benefits. They have no clue what shape people are in!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  100. REID didn't care. He was more worried about going and sitting in the front row at the PPV UFC fight!!! What a great American!

    ReplyDelete
  101. ohh yeah, on top of senators getting paid 6 figure salarys and getting insane amounts of vacation, they also get lifelong benefits, even if only a 1 term(2 years)senator, thats right lifelong benefits for 2 years of service, then have the nerve to play games with OUR money,, we have to live within our means while our money goes towards all that for them?, what a freakin joke!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  102. The person who wrote that it is the Democrats fault that the extension keeps getting voted down and that everyone keeps blaming the Republicans. I think you need to be educated in politics. Did you graduate from high school? better yet did you finish grade school? I have four words for you. YOU ARE A IDIOT. The Senate Democrats have tried numerous times to resurrect the unemployment extension bill, but the Republicans shot it down. You can't even spell REPUBLICANS correctly. IDIOT

    ReplyDelete
  103. i was laid off from work in december right before christmas, with 10 years customer service experience, medical records experience ect. i have applied at every job in my area. some up to an hour away. hopeing to find something anything. i have 4 children that if this bill doesn't pass we will all be homeless, but these words are the same as so many. however no one on capital hill doesn't care because they all get to go home to their expensive houses with their expensive cars, with their big paychecks but say this bill is a bad idea. what the heck!!!!!! fine you want us to find a job. bring the jobs back to america. stop sending them overseas for cheaper labor. I don't care if they are republican or democrat. right now they are all the same to me. selfish liars.

    ReplyDelete
  104. I had to turn to prostitution in order to cover my bills and feed my children since my unemployment ran out. I was an Executive Secretary with a US Based Automobile powerhouse (Leaving nameless). They recieved thier stimulus bill but the Republicans cant pass a Bill that will help me feed my children. I am not proud of what I have been force to become but I have to feed my children. What is even more funny is that my Top customers are the executives that I worked for and had a few Republican Dignitaries. Funny how they can ride me and pay me but they cant Pay me for typing or answering phones. TY MR and MS. REPUBLICANS

    ReplyDelete
  105. Don't like it? Stop paying taxes. If enough people did it all at once they would get the message. Imagine 10 million refusing to pay all at once, it would be glorious!

    ReplyDelete
  106. I have been phoning Senators offices for the past 2 weeks explaining my situation.
    I was laid off last November, and have just expired my FIRST 6 months of UI.
    I have 3 really good job prospects, one is actually a 6 figure salary, but none of them start until late July or early August.
    I do not have money to pay for July"s rent, and am just awaiting my eviction notice.
    I am driving without the legally required car insurance and with expired licence tags.
    So, I would like to propose a few things:
    First, if anybody gets evicted starting July 1st, let's start taking over the Senator's offices....use them to sleep in, send faxes, use the phones and their computers to find work.
    Second, when we do find work, claim 99 exemptions. I REFUSE to pay any more taxes!! Remember the old saying 'No taxation without representation'?? Well, it is VERY obvious that Americans have no representation!! "Taxation without representation is TYRANNY!!"
    Third, if this bill does not pass, everybody get your guns ready....and let BLOOD RUN IN THE STREETS!!!
    The Tree Of LIBERTY is VERY thirsty, and it's time that it be watered with the BLOOD of the TYRANTS....CONGRESS!!!
    We need to revolt and start a new revolution....NOW!!!
    Many of us don't have much, if anything to lose anymore.
    The most dangerous person is one with nothing left to lose!!
    We can afford to GIVE Pakistan $7.5 BILLION to arm and train Taliban to kill AMERICAN soldiers.....we can afford to GIVE Egypt $7 Billion, we can afford to GIVE Haitian earthquake victims over $2 BILLION dollars, we can afford to GIVE $30 MILLION to Palestinian refugees...
    We CAN AFFORD to keep the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest 1 percent of the country at a cost of $1.8 TRILLION.
    We CAN AFFORD to bail out Wall Street to the tune of $700 BILLION and buy GM, even though a huge majority told Congress NOT TO!!
    But we CAN'T AFFORD to take care of middle class AMERICANS who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own???
    And this is being decided by people that 'We the People' are paying!!!
    'We the People' are ALLOWING these people to GIVE our tax dollars away to others, but they won't help us??? With OUR OWN MONEY????
    I am absolutely ASHAMED of the Senators and to be called an American!!!
    And Senators.....you should be ASHAMED of YOURSELVES!!!
    Even more so if you consider yourself a 'christian'!!!
    Would jesus ALLOW people to be thrown out of their homes and apartments??
    Would he ALLOW them to go hungry???
    And yet FUND a 9 YEAR war, in which thousands of innocents have been killed??

    ReplyDelete
  107. I AGREE!!
    We ALL need to STOP PAYING TAXES!!!
    It's obvious that our so-called 'representatives' do NOT care about us, the people that pay them and are NOT doing their jobs 'representing' us!!
    I will be happy to stand in front of a judge and explain why I WILL NOT PAY ANYMORE TAXES!!
    "Taxation without representation is TRYANNY!!"

    ReplyDelete
  108. I've read posts on here that some people want rob members of Congress's houses, or burn them to the ground, or their offices...
    I think that is letting them off WAY too easy!!!
    Time to pull out the guns and rifles that the Supreme Court says is our Constitutional right to have and carry...
    I think most people here would agree, we need to start with Mitch McConnell, orin Hatch and Ben Nelson!!

    ReplyDelete
  109. Only marches and protests are going to get their attention.Posting comments on the internet is accomplishing nothing.when they turn on the tv and see it on the evening news.Things will start to happen.These posts have a limited audience, national news reaches everyone!!!Are we going to sit by and let them do this to us? Their comments make it crystal clear what they think of us!!Stray animals,hobos,spoiled,,lazy and drug addicts. ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS

    ReplyDelete
  110. I don't like being unemployed. I'm accepting benefits for the first time in my life. For those of you who are in favor of cutting benefits, I hope you never end up unemployed yourself. (and try living on $1200/month) If either party would do something to actually create jobs, we would not be discussing unemployment extensions at all. I guess funding two wars, a car company, an insurance company and big banks is a higher priority. This argument of reducing spending before we have huge deficits is valid but, not timely. The federal deficit has grown steadily for 40 years. Both parties in congress are responsible for what we have now. If congress cuts benefits now, the only thing that will happen is more foreclosure, more debt default, less spending and more violence and suicide.

    ReplyDelete
  111. If this continues to drag out for all the millions that are unemployed, I will resort to crime or my death, I have lost EVERYTHING I OWNED, my homes, my cars, my furniture, my pets, my nice clothes, all my jewerly, everything I had of monatary value, I sold for pennies, just to get by for food and bills and rent.
    I will do something deserate or commit suicide to end the pain of failure. I had a good life, but havent worked for a yesr, there are no jobs here, I try every day, I walk for hours to put in an application. THERE ARE NO JOBS HERE.
    THANK YOU CONGRESS FOR BAILING OUT EVERYTHING ELSE BUT REAL PEOPLE.
    may God have mercy on your soul..

    ReplyDelete
  112. I know....force retirement on those that are of retirement age...give them a lump sum for retiring. This will open several jobs for younger people. i have been unemployed since april 2008, went to school to train for a new profession that was hiring at the time only to find NO jobs because others done the same thing.

    ReplyDelete
  113. Mitch McConnell is a douchebag i voted for that asshole because i thought he would help our economic crisis, but he didnt. The only thing that has happened under his wing is more jobs were lost in his state. I got laid off in June of 2009, and i have had over 50 interviews since then. Why is it right to cut off UI if your let thousands of employers get away with denying applicants? Please let me know, and if you can tell me how dinner was last night because i didnt have one, and neither did my 4 year old.

    ReplyDelete
  114. PLEASE SIGN MY PETITION 'VOTE OUT THE REPUBLICANS IN NOVEMBER'
    http://www.change.org/petitions/view/vote_out_the_republicans_in_november

    ReplyDelete
  115. In one week I will no longer have any rent money. The republican’s weren’t worried about the deficit when that big insurance company and their friends the Wall Street execs were giving themselves bonuses with taxpayer money!!! Next election – let Congress feel the sting of the unemployment lines!!! No more raping and pillaging the middle class!!! – How many years have you paid taxes? 30? 40? Your government bails out bankers and Wall Street execs using your tax dollars – but unemployment is allowed to expire? What happened to "by the people" or "for the people"? Or are the big campaign contributors the only "people" who count to congress? They are playing games AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME while you are wondering how to feed your kids? Figure it out! Malfeasance – Failure of a public official to perform their duties!!! Next Election MAKE YOURSELF MATTER BY VOTING!!! 10% unemployment carries 10% of the vote! Use it!! Fire them all next election or recall every Congress member NOW for Malfeasance – Failure of a public official to perform their duties!!! Next Election - Lets get people elected who actually represent all the People- this current congress represents only special interest groups!


    Don’t re-elect or even better Recall your senator or congressman that voted no to extended benefits.Failur of an elected official to do their job is malfeasance.

    Here's how you do it:

    go to:
    http://www.ehow.com/how_2096900_recall-us-senator.html

    The list is as follows:

    goto:
    http://www.ehow.com/how_2096900_recall-us-senator.html

    The senators voting no are:

    Alexander (R-TN)
    Barrasso (R-WY)
    Bennett (R-UT)
    Bond (R-MO)
    Brown (R-MA)
    Brownback (R-KS)
    Bunning (R-KY)
    Burr (R-NC)
    Chambliss (R-GA)
    Coburn (R-OK)
    Cochran (R-MS)
    Collins (R-ME)
    Corker (R-TN)
    Cornyn (R-TX)
    Crapo (R-ID)

    DeMint (R-SC)
    Ensign (R-NV)
    Enzi (R-WY)
    Graham (R-SC)
    Grassley (R-IA)
    Gregg (R-NH)
    Hatch (R-UT)
    Hutchison (R-TX)
    Inhofe (R-OK)
    Isakson (R-GA)
    Johanns (R-NE)
    Kyl (R-AZ)
    LeMieux (R-FL)
    Lugar (R-IN)
    McCain (R-AZ)
    McConnell (R-KY)
    Nelson (D-NE)
    Risch (R-ID)
    Roberts (R-KS)
    Sessions (R-AL)
    Shelby (R-AL)
    Snowe (R-ME)
    Thune (R-SD)
    Vitter (R-LA)
    Voinovich (R-OH)
    Wicker (R-MS)
    Alexander (R-TN)
    Barrasso (R-WY)
    Bennett (R-UT)
    Bond (R-MO)
    Brown (R-MA)
    Brownback (R-KS)
    Bunning (R-KY)
    Burr (R-NC)
    Chambliss (R-GA)
    Coburn (R-OK)
    Cochran (R-MS)
    Collins (R-ME)
    Corker (R-TN)
    Cornyn (R-TX)
    Crapo (R-ID)
    DeMint (R-SC)
    Ensign (R-NV)
    Enzi (R-WY)
    Graham (R-SC)
    Grassley (R-IA)
    Gregg (R-NH)
    Hatch (R-UT)
    Hutchison (R-TX)
    Inhofe (R-OK)
    Isakson (R-GA)
    Johanns (R-NE)
    Kyl (R-AZ)
    LeMieux (R-FL)
    Lugar (R-IN)
    McCain (R-AZ)
    McConnell (R-KY)
    Nelson (D-NE)
    Risch (R-ID)
    Roberts (R-KS)
    Sessions (R-AL)
    Shelby (R-AL)
    Snowe (R-ME)
    Thune (R-SD)
    Vitter (R-LA)
    Voinovich (R-OH)
    Wicker (R-MS)
    Alexander(R-TN)
    Barrasso(R-WY)
    Bennett(R-UT)
    Bond(R-MO)
    Brown(R-MA)
    Brownback(R-KS)
    Bunning(R-KY)
    Burr(R-NC)
    Chambliss(R-GA)
    Coburn(R-OK)
    Cochran(R-MS)
    Collins(R-ME)
    Corker(R-TN)
    Cornryn(R-TX)
    Crapo(R-ID)
    DeMint(R-SC)
    Ensign(R-NV)
    Enzi(R-WY)
    Graham(R-SC)
    Grassley(R-IA)
    Graham(R-NH)
    Hatch(R-UT)
    Hutchison(R-TX)
    Inhofe(R-OK)
    Isakson(R-GA)
    Johanns(R-NE)
    Kyle(R-AZ)
    LeMieux(R-FL)
    Lugar(R-IN)
    McCain(R-AZ)
    McConnell(R-KY)
    Nelson(R-NE)
    Risch(R-ID)
    Roberts(R-KS)
    Sessions(R-AL)
    Shelby(R-AL)
    Snowe(R-ME)
    Thune(R-SD)
    Vitter(R-LA)
    Voinovich(R-OH)
    Wicker(R-MS)

    If one of these is your senators, and you live in the right state, start a recall or don’t re-elect!!!

    ReplyDelete
  116. These senators should all goes straight to HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I knew the government was screwed up, but this situation has reached a new low, if that's possible. You would think that after the 4th of July recess, with all the agony out there they would come in today and get this done as the Number 1 priority. The only priority they have is to not get this done. Watch CSPAN2, it's the blind leading the blind. They're talking about medicare and medicaide. The democrats don't care about this. This way they can blame the republicans. If it's done the democrats are afraid the republicans may look good. The democrats and republicans in the senate are no more than human garbage. Obama watches, as the garbage turns into a mountain of crap!!!!! Obama is as useful as tits on a boar! He's the president of NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  117. These senators should all goes straight to HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I knew the government was screwed up, but this situation has reached a new low, if that's possible. You would think that after the 4th of July recess, with all the agony out there they would come in today and get this done as the Number 1 priority. The only priority they have is to not get this done. Watch CSPAN2, it's the blind leading the blind. They're talking about medicare and medicaide. The democrats don't care about passing the unemployment extensions. This way they can blame the republicans. If it's done the democrats are afraid the republicans may look good. The democrats and republicans in the senate are no more than human garbage. Obama watches, as the garbage turns into a mountain of crap!!!!! Obama is as useful as tits on a boar! He's the president of NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  118. Someone should go into the senate with 10,000 pounds of horse shit and dump it on all their heads.

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts with Thumbnails