For all of you about to be denied unemployment and can't find a job, it's time to write your Congressional representatives.
The House of Representatives on Thursday voted down a measure that would have reauthorized extended unemployment insurance for another three months, leaving no clear path forward to prevent the benefits from lapsing as scheduled on Nov. 30.
Without a reauthorization, the Labor Department estimates that two million long-term unemployed will prematurely stop receiving benefits before the end of the year.
"I think it's a sad moment," said Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) after the vote. "It appalls me that the Republicans keep pitching and pitching and pitching the tax cuts for the rich and won't join in a bill to help people keep their homes and not have to live in their cars."
The bill was brought to the floor under a "suspension of the rules," meaning it required approval from two-thirds of the House. It failed 258 to 154, with mostly Democratic support. Twenty-one Republicans voted in favor and 11 Democrats voted nay.
For all those 99ers going to now be homeless (odds on), check out 2 million people about to be denied unemployment benefits.
Remember this only covers (if they were extended) 48% of the workforce. Most can't even qualify to obtain unemployment benefits due to being self-employed, temporary and so on.
If you think this is going to negatively impact the economy, the answer is yes and if you go out and buy stock in corporations that make tents, you should consider making a donation to help the homeless instead.
Got to end sometime
I think this has to be done. It will make people think long and hard about their politics and what they want from this country.
Also, I know people who are working under the table and still receiving benefits. I bet it happens a lot.
unemployment
Shouldn't the article have portrayed the republicans proposal to accomplish extension of the unemployment benefits.
at the time they did not have one
There was no alternative out there in the public. The rhetoric was the usual of "lazy bums, get a job, we can't afford it, while giving tax cuts to the rich". Obviously that didn't fly too well to the public, so now it's changed.
But in terms of someone doing something to really boost jobs, I see neither party doing a damn thing.
They could curtail offshore outsourcing as a good example and obviously, they should reduce immigration because there are simply no jobs for more people and right now, we need jobs for the people already here.