This is a 99ers News Alert: GOP leadership takes Democrats up on their offer to meet on HR589 - And Rhonda Taylor (tireless long time 99er advocate) creates a badly needed 99ers Data Base. (see below)
According to Arthur Delaney of the Huffington Post today:
GOP Leaders Agree To Meet With Dems To Discuss Bill For Long-Term Unemployed
From the article:
WASHINGTON -- Republican leaders in the House of Representatives have agreed to meet with two Democrats to discuss longshot legislation for the long-term unemployed, the members' offices confirmed Tuesday.
Reps. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) and Bobby Scott (D-Va.) introduced legislation earlier this year to provide 14 additional weeks of unemployment benefits to Americans who've been out of work for six months or longer. Lee and Scott have spoken frequently about the struggles of so-called "99ers" -- people who still haven't found work after exhausting the maximum 99 weeks of benefits available in some states.
The Lee-Scott proposal received zero initial support from Republicans because it would add roughly $16 billion to the federal budget deficit. Lee and Scott later announced they'd be open to finding budget cuts to offset the cost of the benefits, something Democrats have generally refused to do for federal extended jobless aid typically enacted during recessions.
Given that concession, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) have agreed to meet with Lee and Scott sometime in the next few weeks to discuss possible cuts to fund the benefits.
The story goes on to say:
Cantor's office suggested he would steer the conversation toward job creation instead of just providing another 14 weeks of benefits.
"Leader Cantor looks forward to the meeting and would like to broaden the conversation to focus on ways to grow the economy, spur investment and create jobs rather than simply extending unemployment benefits in some instance beyond the maximum of 99 weeks currently permitted," a Cantor spokesman said Monday in a statement to the OC Register.
Cantor spokesman Brad Dayspring elaborated in an email to HuffPost: "The point was basically that the Leader believes that the best unemployment program in America is a job, so rather than only talking about extending benefits, we should be having a broader conversation about growing the economy, spurring investment, and allowing businesses to hire."
Lee and Scott haven't suggested what they'd be willing to cut, and House Democratic leaders have remained silent about the prospect of offsetting the cost of unemployment benefits. Last year, then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told HuffPost she considered offsetting benefits "a completely bad idea," though many conservative Democrats have said they support doing so.
The thing is though that after an entire year without any income, after the 2 previous years of unemployment, most 99ers - if they were hired today would not have the bus fare or gas money to get back and fourth to that job long enough to get that first pay check. Consequently the millions within the 99er Nation NEED SOME MONEY in order to survive long enough to get that elusive job that will be their saving grace. Congress seems in no big hurry to do either create jobs or help the 99ers survive - but good lord we certainly must help Libya, Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen and every other country that needs it.
HR589 would cost $16 Billion and help desperate, forgotten 99er families to survive. American's involvement in Libya is likely to cost far more than that and not help even 1 Jobless American.
Did you hear it? Ed Schultz is the only one in TV media news who keeps mentioning the 99ers at all these days. Last week he did so on this Wednesday show - even in the midst of covering the horrific events as they unfolded in Japan.
Well last night big Ed did it again (see video at 3:13) when, during an interview with Laura Flanders, Ed was slammed Speaker Boehner for his comment: "The United States has a moral obligation to stand with the Libyans" , even as he stands idly by and does NOTHING for the 99ers.
Finally, Rhonda Taylor of Rhode Island - prolific 99er advocate extraordinaire has created a data base for 99ers. The purpose of this is to have a way to contact as many of those in the 99er Nation for protests and gives her a geographical "map" of sorts so she will know how many busses will be needed and from what locations for the big Washington 99er convergence planned for this Spring.
Rhonda has proven herself trustworthy and since she will be administering the 99er Data Base - I have already registered and suggest all unemployed Americans do the same. We are all 99ers. Some of us are the 99ers of yesterday, others the 99ers of today and the rest of the unemployed are the 99ers of tomorrow. Don't wait for it to happen to you. Register now here.
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Even if there is an extension, many 99ers still won't get the money. I worked two temporary part-time jobs in the last year, and earned enough for a new unemployment claim at about $80 per week. So I would not get $325 a week on the old claim, even if there was an extension.
ReplyDeleteI have been evicted from my home, unable to find full time employment.I had a great job before all this ridiculous behavior from our government, creating the stupid nafta bill, what kind of moran came up with that idea? A rich buisness man, so they could use these 3rd world countries, for desparate people who will work for a bologna sandwich with no rights. Modern day slavery my fellow americans. we have been screwed by our own government. TIME FOR A REVOLUTION
ReplyDeleteWE NEED ANOTHER 14WEEKS OF BENIFITS, I HAVE INTERVIEW FOR A POSSIBLE JOB 60 MILES AWAY,IN INDIANAPOLIS,INDIANA BUT I NHAVE NO GAS IN MY CAR I HAVE BEEN BROKE FOR 4 MONTHS, HAVE BORROWED ALLL THE MONEY I POSSIBLY CAN, NOBODY HAQS ANY MORE MONEY TO LEND. HELP PASS THE HR 589 BILL NOW , NOT LATER, I ONLY NEED IT FOR A FEW WEEKS SO I CAN GET THIS JOB.
ReplyDeleteI am in Tennessee. Yes at this time we are seeing some jobs opening up. But I went online to apply and the information started by saying. If you have any gaps in your employment do not apply. Well great, I haven't worked for nearly 2 years with the exception of a temporary assignment here and there. I want a real job. How can we get employers to look at us and give us a chance. I heard that there was a program for tax credits if employers would hire the long term unemployed. Where are those jobs. I also understand that we are the strongest country and we should help others. The support we give other countries will have a long term affect on our country, but you are correct how can we spend money on space travel,aid to other countries when we have homeless, jobless, needy people in our on back yards. I didn't ask for my life to be turned upside down. I was doing really well selling Real Estate. Then the market hit bottom. Not my fault lets look at the companies that caused this horrible spiral downward. We probably gave those companies a "bailout". I really think the whole thing is a joke. I wonder if we could change places with the republicans, let them live on less than $3oo a week for a year. Maybe we should find us a "rich" republican and go live with their families until we have a job. I could continue forever on this subject. It is so wrong. Wonder what the republicans want in order to give us the help we need with another extension. Thats all it is they want one thing the Democrats want another and it becomes a standoff. Its a game to them and I'm very tired of playing. Just give us jobs.
ReplyDelete