A few weeks ago this bill was a foregone conclusion. But with solid opposition from Republicans, and a few defecting conservative Democrats, 1.2 million Americans will suddenly lose their last lifeline.
The measure would protect doctors from a steep cut in Medicare rates scheduled to take effect Friday and extend emergency unemployment benefits that support more than 5 million people. Without congressional action, an estimated 1.2 million people will stop receiving checks by the end of the month, according to independent estimates.
The package also would extend some expired tax breaks for businesses and individuals, including the hugely popular research and development tax credit. And it would raise taxes on oil companies, multinational corporations and investment partnerships.
During the past month, Democratic leaders have winnowed the overall price tag down from $200 billion and reduced its impact on the deficit by two-thirds. The House narrowly approved the package and sent it to the Senate, where Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) has been trying to add $24 billion in aid to state governments, a top Obama priority designed to avert thousands of state layoffs and prevent the 9.7 percent unemployment rate from shooting even higher.
To squeeze in that extra cash, Reid has hacked away at other pieces of the package. The latest version would protect doctors from the Medicare pay cut for six months rather than the 19 months approved by the House, for example, and it would dock $25 from the checks of all 15 million people who receive unemployment benefits, repealing a boost approved in last year's stimulus legislation.
The bill needed 60 votes for closure, but only got 56. The Democrats aren't sure what their next move is going to be.
offshore outsourcing tax incentives stopped in house bill
The House version had passed repeal on corporate tax incentives to offshore outsource your job.
If those were in the Senate version, assuredly that's the reason for the block.
did u know unemployed "lessor people"
Economix has up a post showing the claim UI causes people to be unemployed longer is just discriminatory B.S.
We're seeing this attitude towards the unemployed generally. A host of companies are refusing to hire anyone unemployed. Get this, they only want to hire people who already have a job!
These are our representatives, looking at the worker as the serf, the peasant, the commoner, with a "let them eat cake" attitude.
They don't care that the
They don't care that the unemployed workers cannot find jobs and have no way to pay their bills. Should we send our bills to Washington?
I guess that's why god made
I guess that's why god made banks. to be robbed when our government fucks us.
hell yea we should send the
hell yea we should send the bills to dc cuz they have enough money to pay for everyones bills. if the government stop using our money for parties and other things we could have enough. one plate at a dinner party probably cost more than the cost of my rent for a year. why do they have to eat out of a plate that costs thousands of dollars. im pretty sure they have dollar general stores in dc as well. they live in these big fansy houses with 15 bedrooms and 8 bathrooms and 5 living areas in which most of them are not even walked in more or less used. well my opinion is if the government stop using up all the money for silly things then it would be enough. in bennettsville sc they have been working on roads for years and they still arent complete. the boulevard has been two lanes for over a half century. why change it now. so what if you get there 20 mins later. whats the point of extending the lanes when there wont be anyone to ride on them cuz of the lack of funds. i could go on and on bout this screwed up government but why waste my time. please so explain what are we voting for cuz our votes arent counted for anything. yall are making all this money and for what, nothing. nothing is getting done. all it takes is a simple signature. we dont care you can sign donald duck at the bottom if you want. you are the government. im wondering if youall need some help because i am jobless and would love to come work for you. eveidently work is not getting done. you all dont care cuz you have your 3 and 4 houses while we are trying to get the first. you have a vacation home, summerhome, winter home, home home, and all we have is a rundown apartment. what does this goernment have to say for itself. well i can say a few things but it would be inappropiate so im going to just leave it at that. way to go government for doing the best job ever with screwing up the country. one question though, how does a country that make its own money not have any?
YOU SAID IT ALL
YOU SAID IT ALL
Unemployment
I don't believe that the "Government Officials" realize what they are about to cause. When millions of people have no income money can't be spent. And those desperate enough will become criminals. I don't know about every unemployed person but I am going to do whatever it takes to keep a roof over my childrens heads and food in their stomachs. We did not ask to be unemployed, we did not ask to be left having to come up with our own ways to defend our families. As for millions not having money, do they not know that if you have no source of income you have no money for groceries, gas, clothes, etc. If "WE THE PEOPLE" can't afford the basic things then that's money lost from the economy. Isn't this going to make things worse and not better?
Republicans kill unemployment extension
Well I have been a life long Republican, until now.. Since they like the word NO so well. I personally think I will echo that word on my November ballot...
Republican's want my vote... I'll just say NO.
I em completely convinced the Republican's have absolutely NO wish to compromise, to debate.. Because of this attitude Washington can't work for us..
No, This November when it comes to any republican at all Just Say NO... I have been watching Cspan during this and I'm truly ashamed, and dismayed at their attitudes..
Friends don't let friends vote Republican.. Just say NO..That's the only word they seem to know the meaning of
unemployment
Have been a life long republican. Not anymore. In November, I'll just say NO to the Republicans! Greedy people, have no idea what it is really like to be in our position. I have worked all my life, yes I have been unemployed before, went back to school, got loans to pay for it,worked to 2 part time jobs, no freebies for me, received a 3.56 GPA from the University of Houston and now I'm unemployed and in debt. I'm not worried, I will find a job and then in November I will vote against all Republicans and vote yes to the Democrats. I urge everyone to do the same. See how they like it, when we refuse to pay them.
Banks are in control of this country
Someone here said "I don't believe that the Government Officials realize what they are about to cause."
Do you think these people are brain dead? Of course they know exactly what they are doing. This situation is making them more rich, 10 fold and taking total control of this country. They changed the laws so they pay less taxes. They changed the laws on bank regulations which is why we are in this mess. Trillions of our tax dollars were given to the banks to bail them out without ANY accountability so they could come back and screw us like never before but they won't extend unemployment? The thanks we have received from them for bailing them out is to openly rip off the American public with their credit card scams and mortgage scams, foreclosures and lay-offs. The more poor there are, the more they earn off the poor. Middle class are their target of destruction and profit because as we go broke the penalties and fees grow. Who do you think benefits from this? They changed the bankruptcies law so there is no possible way out now and once you default you will see how fast you will owe two to three times the amount and it's TO THEM. You will be a slave to them until you die and if there is anything left then they take most of that in the "death tax". Our government and the bankers are one in the same. Until the American public figures that out it's going to keep getting worse. The only way we can stop them now is revolt and revolution. That doesn't mean bloodshed. Changes can be made without violence. Organization in numbers stops these parasites from feeding off of us.
See this movie. It tells it like it is and what is really going on:
Capitalism A Love Story