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Kentucky's senior Senator said another extension of unemployment insurance benefits will likely be passed by the U.S. Congress next week.
WLKY's Andy Alcock had a chance to ask Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell some questions.
McConnell is in Louisville this weekend. The University of Louisville alumnus will be at the Cardinals' final Freedom Hall basketball game Saturday.
For several days, Kentucky's junior Senator, Jim Bunning, one of McConnell's fellow Republicans, kept a measure extending unemployment insurance benefits for March for hundreds of thousands of Americans from coming to the floor for a vote. He expressed concerns about the federal deficit. The move drew national attention.
The move drew national attention.
"I'm embarrassed that a senator from Kentucky has put us as a government in that position," Kentucky Rep. John Yarmuth, a Democrat, said on Monday.
"That's behind us and we're looking forward," McConnell said.
Tuesday, Bunning stopped his blockade of the unemployment extension.
When the measure came to a vote on the Senate floor, he voted no. McConnell also voted no.
"Well, I thought he had a point. We ought to pay for it," McConnell said.
"We know we face longterm deficit situations, but we also know that there's a balance to be struck. When you have people hurting, someone's going to have to help feed their families," Yarmuth said.
The Senate is working on another, longer extension of unemployment insurance benefits.
"We're dealing with a bill now, a much larger bill, that I hope will also ultimately be paid for," McConnell said.
Last week, McConnell also took part in a health care summit with President Barack Obama.
As part of the summit, the president promised to include some Republican ideas in the bill being considered in the House.
"That isn't going to get our members on board. We think this bill needs to be put on the shelf and we need to start over and go step by step to work on the cost issue," McConnell said.
McConnell also accused the Democrats of arrogance for trying to push through a bill he said the American people don't want.
"The only history that will be made if they vote for it is their own history, they'll be history," McConnell said.
Yarmuth said on Monday he expects House Democrats will approve the health care bill with a rarely used tactic called reconciliation.
McConnell pointed out Democrats used that same tactic in 1993 and lost control of the Congress in 1994. He noted Republicans did it in 2005 and also lost control of Congress in the next year's election.
Showing posts with label Unemployment Insurance Fraud. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Unemployment Insurance Fraud. Show all posts
Friday, March 05, 2010
Saturday, December 12, 2009
IMPORTANT WARNING - A Scam Targets Unemployed Ohioans -
When I first came across this story I was outraged. Persons who are unemployed are already strapped for cash and stressed enough. Mostly, I only post the story and avoid personal opinion. However, this story strikes a nerve with me. I sincerely wish the individuals who are behind this scam face severe federal criminal prosecution.
Please, this is important -Guard your personal information very closely and report suspicious activity such as this or unemployment fraud to the appropriate authorities.
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) and Attorney General Richard Cordray’s office have received widespread reports of a national scheme targeting recipients of unemployment compensation benefits in Ohio. Those targeted receive fraudulent text messages on their cell phones, claiming to be from state unemployment agencies.
The fraudulent messages inform recipients that their unemployment benefits have been suspended and to call the provided phone number to reactivate. When recipients call, they are asked for personal information, including debit card numbers and personal identification numbers (PIN). At that point, unemployment benefits deposited on the debit card are accessed and withdrawn by the scam artist.
“We want to make all unemployment recipients in Ohio aware of this very real threat,” said ODJFS Director Douglas Lumpkin. “ODJFS representatives will never ask for claimants’ debit card information or their PIN numbers. Claimants should not give this information out over the phone.”
According to complaints filed with the Attorney General’s Office, several additional versions of this scam are currently circulating with similar messages that allege account problems with various credit cards issued by U.S. Bank. Recipients are encouraged to call the number and provide personal information.
Attorney General Cordray strongly urges Ohioans to disregard the message and not provide any personal information.
“This is a prime example of how a scam can mutate and adapt to changing times and trends,” Cordray said. “With the use of text messaging on the rise, it is no surprise that scammers have manipulated the system to target unsuspecting individuals. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of remaining vigilant and exercising extreme caution with personal information. In this case, disregard the message. Do not provide any personal information.”
ODJFS is working with its debit card provider, U.S. Bank, to further protect, inform and educate its customers. Anyone who receives one of these fraudulent messages should not respond. Anyone who suspects funds have been inappropriately accessed should call the customer service number provided on the back of their U.S. Bank debit card: (866) 276-5114.
In response to the many complaints received by ODJFS and the Attorney General’s Office, U.S. Bank has issued the following statement: “The safety and security of customers’ accounts and information is a top priority of U.S. Bank. We would never ask a customer to place their personal information in jeopardy by contacting them and asking them to divulge it over the phone, via e-mail or text messages. If customers have any questions or see suspicious activity on their account, they should contact the customer service number on the back of their cards.”
Cordray also urges Ohioans who have become victims of this scam or any other phishing scam to immediately report the incident to local police and contact his office at www.SpeakOutOhio.gov or by calling (800) 282-0515.
Please, this is important -Guard your personal information very closely and report suspicious activity such as this or unemployment fraud to the appropriate authorities.
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) and Attorney General Richard Cordray’s office have received widespread reports of a national scheme targeting recipients of unemployment compensation benefits in Ohio. Those targeted receive fraudulent text messages on their cell phones, claiming to be from state unemployment agencies.
The fraudulent messages inform recipients that their unemployment benefits have been suspended and to call the provided phone number to reactivate. When recipients call, they are asked for personal information, including debit card numbers and personal identification numbers (PIN). At that point, unemployment benefits deposited on the debit card are accessed and withdrawn by the scam artist.
“We want to make all unemployment recipients in Ohio aware of this very real threat,” said ODJFS Director Douglas Lumpkin. “ODJFS representatives will never ask for claimants’ debit card information or their PIN numbers. Claimants should not give this information out over the phone.”
According to complaints filed with the Attorney General’s Office, several additional versions of this scam are currently circulating with similar messages that allege account problems with various credit cards issued by U.S. Bank. Recipients are encouraged to call the number and provide personal information.
Attorney General Cordray strongly urges Ohioans to disregard the message and not provide any personal information.
“This is a prime example of how a scam can mutate and adapt to changing times and trends,” Cordray said. “With the use of text messaging on the rise, it is no surprise that scammers have manipulated the system to target unsuspecting individuals. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of remaining vigilant and exercising extreme caution with personal information. In this case, disregard the message. Do not provide any personal information.”
ODJFS is working with its debit card provider, U.S. Bank, to further protect, inform and educate its customers. Anyone who receives one of these fraudulent messages should not respond. Anyone who suspects funds have been inappropriately accessed should call the customer service number provided on the back of their U.S. Bank debit card: (866) 276-5114.
In response to the many complaints received by ODJFS and the Attorney General’s Office, U.S. Bank has issued the following statement: “The safety and security of customers’ accounts and information is a top priority of U.S. Bank. We would never ask a customer to place their personal information in jeopardy by contacting them and asking them to divulge it over the phone, via e-mail or text messages. If customers have any questions or see suspicious activity on their account, they should contact the customer service number on the back of their cards.”
Cordray also urges Ohioans who have become victims of this scam or any other phishing scam to immediately report the incident to local police and contact his office at www.SpeakOutOhio.gov or by calling (800) 282-0515.
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