POLITICS: Unemployment Extension 2010 Benefits Bill Blocked, 99ers & Tier 5 Woes

The 2010 unemployment extension benefits bill was blocked, and so far the unemployment extension has not been passed. However, there's indications that the Republicans and Democrats will be able to come to a consensus on the Bush era tax cuts, and so the unemployment extension should be the next thing on the agenda.

If the benefits are not extended and soon, there will be massive lapses in benefits, amid the holiday season. This is not good news.

In the Senate, a bill was blocked yesterday even though Senator Barbara Boxer read letters from unemployed constituents.  The bill would have had to head back to the House, but the Senate hurdle is far greater.

The benefits bill would have extended unemployment for one year.  It would not have added a 5th tier of benefits for the "99ers", or those who have been out of work for 99 weeks or more.

The job market doesn't show any signs of uptick.  The national unemployment rate went up during the month of November to a seasonally adjusted 9.8% - flirting with double digit unemployments.

The unemployed will keep their eyes trained on the unemployment extension 2010 and its passage. Hopefully the lame duck session will not pass by without an extension of benefits.

DENIED: Unemployment Extension, Tier 5, 99ers Benefits [2010]

DENIED: Unemployment Extension, Tier 5, 99ers Benefits 2010. In what has become a semi-standoff in the government, the unemployment extension was DENIED in the House. Even if the final 2010 unemployment extension measure did indeed pass in the House, it would have faced an uphill battle in the Senate.

The House of Representatives voted to extend the emergency unemployment extensions using the fast track, which would require a 2/3 majority for passage. The end vote was 258-154. The GOP stood strong and said that they would not pass a measure without corresponding budget cuts.

Americans watched as their dreams deflated. Over the holiday season, millions of Americans on the current emergency extensions will lose their benefits. As their benefits lapse, there will be a corresponding lapse in checks.

The failure of the passage of the unemployment extension in the House solidifies fears that a Tier 5 extension will never be passed. With the GOP taking over the House and having gains in the Senate, passing such a measure will be difficult.

In response to the GOP's failure to pass the unemployment extension, the House of Representatives Democrats announced they would stand firm and will not vote to extend Bush Tax Cuts to ALL Americans - only those making less than $250K per year.

What do you think of the denied unemployment extension, tier 5, and 99ers benefits 2010?

Unemployment Extension 2010

Unemployment extension 2010 is needed, and if the most recent jobs reports doesn’t tell us that then I don’t know what will. The fact remains that right now, passing another unemployment extension is the last thing on the agenda of the administration. When the Senate reconvenes, I expect the topics of discussion to quickly switch to passing the Bush Era tax cuts.

So much of the progress in the administration until the end of the year depends on the results from November 2 elections.

If the GOP dominates the polls, then expect the unemployment extension, particularly the Americans want to work act, to be pushed aside. Also expect tiers 1-4 to expire without a renewal.

The jobs reports recently released indicate that new jobless claims increased by 13,000 to 462,000 for this past week. The economy is nowhere near creating the number of jobs needed to put a dent in the 9.6% unemployment rate. The unemployment extension is needed to help the helpless survive during these hard times.

More on the unemployment extension information can be found here.

Of course, the S3706 bill proposed by Debbie Stabenow was thwarted by George Lemieux, who cited concerns about the nation’s debt for the reason for stopping the bill’s passage.

Another Unemployment Extension Update: As Lemieux Blocks Bill, 99ers Rally for Tier 5

The unemployment extension doesn’t look likely any time soon.  The tier 5 bill for the 99ers, aka Americans want to Work Act was not passed by Congress before they left. Although Senator Stabenow, the Bill’s sponsor, tried to bring the measure to the floor it was blocked by Senator LeMieux.


The republican Senator from Florida is not up for re-election, so his measure doesn’t threaten his job for now. He claims that the “spend as you go” tactics for trying to deal with the economy aren’t working.


There’s no funding source of the bill, and as such the senator claims that it is not wise to pass the legislation. The conservative Heritage Foundation has given reasons why the bill is not economically sound, including that many individuals find work right after their benefits expire.


Yeah, right. Try telling that to the millions of 99ers who have been without work for well over the 99 weeks of current benefits. 


The American 99ers Union is rallying along with the One Nation Working Together Rally at Washington, DC tomorrow.  The laundry list of wishes from ralliers includes better unemployment benefits and higher minimum wages. 


Will the turnout at the rally tomorrow inspire changes? That will be hard to tell, as the Senate will not re-convene until AFTER the mid-term elections. Hopefully, at that time the unemployment extensions measures will be passed.