The 99ers need a Tier 5 unemployment extension now, but is Congress listening? Despite hopes that Debbie Stabenow's Americans Want to Work Act S3706 will make its way through Congress and to the President, currently this bill is not even on the Senate docket.
We are dealing with an election year and there could be many distractions along the way. One thing is certain, it cannot become law until it gets to the floor for a vote.
99 weeks are not enough for millions of unemployed Americans and so Stabenow's bill will add an additional 20 weeks. This, of course, is only a temporary measure. To combat the long-term problem, Stabenow suggests offering tax incentives to businesses who hire long-term unemployed workers.
This bill is vital for the basic survival of millions of Americans, so be sure you fight hard for S3706 if you need the Tier 5 unemployment extension.
August brought reports of a decreasing job market, increase in new claims for unemployment benefit and reports that the economy is slowing with the possibility that our country could be on the cusp of a double-dip recession. All this has left many economists asking can we afford to extend benefits to those whose benefits have run out, but can we afford not to?
Whether or not the extending unemployment benefits will help the economy is a hotly debated subject, arguments on both sides have merit, but what about the human cost of not extending their benefits, what are families to do, starve to death?
One side of the debate believe that 99 weeks of unemployment is already excessive and as it was only 26 weeks for many years and the nation survived, so why extended it now. Another argument is that extending the benefits will encourage people wait until they find that ‘perfect job’
That perfect job theory is ridiculous and flawed, when it comes to the 99er Nation. The 99ers have not had any benefits since March 2010, so it is not as though they are waiting around for the perfect job. The fact is, if jobs were available for the 99ers to take, they would not have to beg Congress for a Tier 5, a fight that so far has been ongoing 7 months.
The other side of the debate believes that extending the benefits will have a far greater impact on the economy than what is being publicized. As the unemployed are still consumers, they have bills to pay and groceries to buy, which ensures their money benefits local business thus helping to stimulate the economy.
With 5 million Americans in the 99er Nation, if you use an average UI weekly benefit of $300 dollars, that would put 1.5 Billion dollars into the American economy immediately! Anyone who cannot see the merit in implementing the Tier 5 extension now, just does not understand economics.
The debate needs to end soon and action needs to be taken, with a shrinking job market and employers seeing upwards of 8 applicants per new job offer, means the reality of a job for everyone is history and being on unemployment benefits for years has become the new reality in America. With millions of American 99ers going hungry and homeless every day, Tier 5 MUST be treated as the true humanitarian issue that it has become.
What can you do to help? Contact your Senator and every other Senator you can to demand we get this Tier 5 bill (S3706) voted on NOW. A complete list of legislators can be found at: http://joblessunite.yolasite.com/legislators-list.php
Call the White House comments line to demand the same. White House Comments Line 202-456-1111 Comment line is only open 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Monday thru Friday EST. ***REMIND the President that this is an emergency.
Do not forget the Jobs with Justice Rally in Chicago tomorrow, September 15th! Sound interesting? Give them a call at (312) 738-6161 or send an email to susanh@jwj.org! You can visit their contact page to get in touch! http://www.chicagojwj.org/contact
Or just show up! JWJ Rally Wednesday September 15th Meeting up for a press conference and rally at GOP HQ at Randolph and Wells at 4 pm. Be there!
