Finally, someone in the United States Senate is doing something for the 99ers.
In case you missed it, Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), stated the following on the Ed Schultz Show tonight.
"I'm introducing legislation with a number of Democratic sponsors, Senator Schumer is the main co-sponsor, and this bill will do two things: Extend the unemployment insurance benefits for those who have exhausted benefits for an additional 20(twenty) weeks and secondly increase the incentive for employers to hire them." -Senator Debbie Stabenow
Here is the video of what happened on the Ed Schultz Show today:
This welcomed news for millions of unemployed Americans who have fallen through the cracks and been abandoned is very late - but it is finally here. There is finally legislation being introduced. The bill will be called the Americans Want to Work Act. The name is fitting given the number of unemployed in this country.
There are no guarantees - but the United States House of Representatives will be summoned back into session next week as a bill was passed in the United States Senate today which provides relief to cash-strapped states. Two bills which help American workers could be passed next week. One being the extremely overdue, but finally here, bill which will help the 99ers and the other bill which has passed the US Senate today which is projected to save jobs which would have been cut without action from the federal government.
More information will be posted as it develops. Please stand by Senators Stabenow and Schumer and the Americans Want to Work Act. Key Senators to contact may be Senators Snowe and Collins who have been independently-minded enough to counter the republican filibuster machine which will be certain to raise the bar on opposition.
According to DailyAdvance.com, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) says that the focus right now should be on stopping the BP oil leak. Burr has a record voting against unemployment insurance and when asked about a second stimulus for help to the struggling states and the unemployed, Burr stated: “We’re just not in a position as a federal government to create a second stimulus package,” Burr said. “I don’t think it’s the role of the federal government to come to the aid of states and bail them out.”
Burr expressed support for the various probes that are looking into what caused the disaster and whether it could have been prevented. Burr stated also that:
“It’s absolutely essential for us to understand what went wrong,” Burr said. “I can’t tell you today whether a federal regulator turned their back or a company cut some corners they shouldn’t have.”
According to the Associated Press, government officials estimate that the leak, which started six weeks ago, has now dumped anywhere from 21 million to 45 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. BP’s latest efforts to plug the leak ran into a problems and an oil slick from the disaster began approaching the Florida panhandle.
This statement comes from Burr’s trip to Edenton on Wednesday for tours of the newly renovated Cupola House and to visit local employers. He also participated in a radio interview conducted by 103.7 WTIB-FM talk show host and ChowanCounty native Henry Hinton.
If you are a 99er and/or have exhausted all benefits of unemployment assistance, continue to expect a “No” vote from the senior Senator Richard Burr. According to the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Burr’s state of North Carolina is experiencing an unprecedented 10.9% (nearly 11%) unemployment rate and the state’s unemployment fund is broke just as many others across the nation.
Here is what aired on the Ed Schultz Show thanks to the many of you out there who emailed him and let him know about the plight of the long-term unemployed.
This was a very quick exchange between Ed Schultz and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). But just this small amount of coverage is better than what the long term unemployed have not been receiving from mainstream press. This is without doubt, progress and a major leap in the right direction for those who have exhausted benefits.
Everyone, help US Unemployed Blogsite and so many others who are advocating for this keep this story alive by continuing to contact Ed Schultz. A simple thank you for starters for even covering the story to begin and ask him to please keep asking these Senators the tough questions such as: when will those who have exhausted benefits see relief?
As posted previously, it is looking more and more like that relief will be coming in the form of a second stimulus act. Congress is not going to amend $200 billion (or more) to H.R. 4213 for persons who have exhausted benefits. At the risk of a reader perhaps thinking that I am rude for saying this, I must tell you politics is something that I personally have followed for a long time - during the Clinton Administration even. This large-scale amendment has not been through the Finance Committee and they would not hold up the benefits that are scheduled to sunset on June 2, 2010 to wait on any amendment. Doing so would cause them to miss the deadline again this month and it is just not feasible that route would be taken.
Those who have exhausted benefits are making major breakthroughs in just this past week. More coverage and signals of action within this past week than in the past two months combined to be exact.
Keep up your work. Keep spreading the word about the petition at Change.org. Keep sending off the Senate and Media SOS emails and faxes. Keep calling members of Congress. There is a door that is barely hanging on one hinge and with a little more push we can knock that door down.
Not that members of the Tea Party movement will agree that there is anything "mini" about up to $300 billion dollars of deficit spending, it's being called for by the Obama Administration anyway. This news should excite each and every reader out there who is seeking additional weeks available for unemployment benefits as this is the strongest signal from the Obama Administration that the unemployed are being heard.
Today some very encouraging news emerged and since there are more than three sources reporting on it, it is definitely worth bringing to the attention of the unemployed - especially the long term unemployed who have felt abandoned in recent months.
So, if H.R. 4213 is geared to assist the existing tiers through the remainder of the year, what else can this extension referenced be other than additional weeks available to the unemployed? The second stimulus also being newly known as a "mini-stimulus" is seeming more and more like the vehicle that will be used for a possible Tier V unemployment extension or adding additional weeks to current tiers.
The testimony given Monday by Lawrence Summers, Barack Obama's Senior Economic Advisor, stated to the United States House of Representatives the following statements:
“I cannot agree with those who suggest that it somehow threatens the future to provide truly temporary, high-bang-for-the-buck jobs and growth measures,” he said. “Spurring growth, if we can achieve it, is by far the best way to improve our fiscal position.”
“The observation that the economy is again ascending does not mean that we are out of a very deep valley,” said Mr Summers.
As covered by Financial Times, Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House stated:
“We look forward to reviewing the president’s proposal and working together to do what’s right for our nation’s fiscal health and security,”
Newsweek reports that all three major economic groups that have leverage in Congress: the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute (EPI), the centrist Brookings Institution, and the conservative Heritage Foundation are all in agreement that the national unemployment rate will hover around 10% through the remainder of this year and definitely through the midterm elections.
Josh Bivens of EPI, advocates a second stimulus bill on the order of $300 billion that would extend unemployment benefits and food stamps, and subsidies for laid-off workers getting their health insurance through COBRA, plus fiscal relief to states facing recovery-killing budget cuts or tax increases.
According to the Newsweek Article, Bivens stated, "We missed our window", when referring to whether or not this action to provide tax cuts to small business to spur job creation would make an impact before the November midterm elections.
James Sherk of the Heritage Foundation states that the president should encourage private wealth creation through tax cuts and tort reform to protect corporations against the costs of battling lawsuits. But he admits that this would take a while to boost employment figures. Mr Sherk stated: "The economy moves at a slow pace." (This will be the opinion taken by the Republican party and as was noted above, reflects the conservative-leaning Heritage Foundation's assertion).
In these articles it is stated that the second stimulus proposed by the Obama Administration is necessary to avoid a double dip back into the recession and sustain any amount of growth.
If you have exhausted your benefits, you know this. You know as well as anyone that without a job available to you and without assistance from unemployment insurance the economy will sink. This is the bailout Main Street needs and according to Mr. Bivens from EPI, economists missed the mark to make a difference by about four or five months. Does this sound about right to some of you? Would it have helped to know four months ago (in early February), that your benefits would not be expiring and you could continue to pay for basic necessities that assistance through unemployment insurance can provide?
No one should be claiming a victory here. But this is some of the most encouraging news in recent months that signals to the unemployed how the Obama Administration and Democratic Leadership will address the needs of the long term unemployed who have exhausted benefits or will exhaust benefits very soon.
As we have learned today, it seems the most likely route is going to be the passage of H.R. 4213 for those who have not used the maximum amount of benefits currently available through the end of this year. And for those who have exhausted benefits or will exhaust benefits very soon, Stimulus Bill #2 is reported to cover unemployment extensions. It seems logical that the bill that will cost over $300 billion dollars is the bill that will extend out weeks of benefits.
We need this bill titled and in the finance committees as soon as possible. Obviously, the full text of the bill for the "Second Stimulus" needs to be presented and when this happens it will likely then be reported by larger media outlets. Right now it is just a proposal by the Chief Economic Advisor to the White House, Lawrence Summers.
This additional glimpse of hope is reason to keep going advocates. Keep the petitions strong and keep advocating for a Tier 5 unemployment extension so that it is quickly clear the long term unemployed are advocating for extending weeks. Keep your telephone calls, emails, and faxes going to Congress. There may very well be a form letter referencing this newly introduced measure very soon in replies.
Those who are advocating for extended weeks of unemployment benefits have came too far to let these efforts die down quite yet. Not until there is a bill on the floor. (And still even then to counter any Republican objections). We must not relent until this legislation is passed.
The Newsreel at the top is ticking both Google queries: Second Stimulus & H.R. 4213. Both of these stories should be of interest to the unemployed out there seeking information. If anyone finds any other links that are reporting a similar story in respect to unemployment benefits being in Stimulus II, please post that in the comments for other unemployed readers to see.
Thanks everyone for doing what you do and helping to make this a reality. I am hopeful that there will be a bill number to reference soon. Remember, this was just introduced on Monday. The story just broke on this today. There's much more information to find out before anyone can say they know the full story.
As more information is learned, this blog depends on contributions from its readers in comments and references from verifiable news sources. Thanks in advance for your support out there and keep your eye open for any article mentioning a Second Stimulus.
Photo: Washington Monument photographed from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, US Unemployed Blogsite
Monday, May 24, 2010 an organized effort to contact the Ed Show and inform the show that there is a desperate need for a Tier 5 Unemployment Extension. Mention the Change.org petition that was formally submitted to Congress. The full details of the formal presentation of the 99er petition is posted at WorldNewsVine at: http://worldnewsvine.com/2010/05/99ers-petition-delivered-to-washington/
For those who have not had a chance to read this article, it is the official account from Robert Grone, Editor/Owner of WorldNewsVine. Please visit that article for detailed information about the 99er petition that was submitted to the Congressional record and will be in the Library of Congress.
For those who do not know, Ed Schultz is a political commentator on a nationally syndicated radio program and also does a show on MSNBC News. He's widely respected and it's quite possible his show may have interest in the plight of the long term unemployed. Tier 5 Advocates are attempting to make an organized plea for assistance. To help participate, I plan to contact the Ed Show by all methods of contact.
So far there are 13 confirmed who have RSVP'd and 8 persons who may participate.
We realize that some of you may be on your last leg and frustration is not the word best used to describe the persons who have exhausted all benefits. Frustration passed for many a month or so ago. Please remember, our strength has always been in our numbers. It was the numbers on that Change.org petition that caused a representative from Change.org to state for the record that the 99er petition is the most popular, truly grassroots petition to Congress ever done that was created by an individual.
That alone and the increase in signatures daily is news worthy.
You may contact the Ed Show anytime this week. Telephone may be the strongest way tool we can do. Call 1-877-934-6833 (Toll Free) Call anytime during the day and all week long.
If for whatever reason you cannot call by telephone, please send an email or regular mail to the address above. Or contact the Ed Show using all methods of contact if you can! Have a prepared statement with the facts such as for when they ask why you are calling simply tell them...
H.R. 4213 does nothing for millions of jobless Americans and mention the submitted formal Change.org 99er petition to Congress and no action has been taken on this issue after months of calling, emailing, and faxing members of Congress and the President. Also please mention the millions in Texas who were excluded from federal funding on the last unemployment extension and you feel that if Congress has the money to send to the unemployed in Greece they should find the money for the unemployed in America. So many millions of lives in this country depend on a Tier 5 Unemployment Extension.
If nothing else, please feel free to copy and paste that above paragraph and send Ed Schultz an email about this. (Or anyone in the media you see fit). Feel free to customize the message above however you want and send it off. Our goal is not to necessarily have a uniform for our message but we should all keep the message on topic and to the point with factual information for the staff of the show to easily verify.
Our strength is in our numbers. If each and every one of my daily readers can please participate in this we might make a difference to MSNBC. Do not forget that MSNBC recently covered INAFJ.org. This media network does have an interest in the unemployed and the cause for a true extension of available weeks for unemployed benefits is very important. Extreme cases of poverty beckon without Congressional action.
Ask the operator to do a quick Google search on all of the persons on the Internet mentioning the need for a Tier 5 Unemployment Extension. Mention the fact there are many blogs and this need has been reported by many news outlets. Remember, you are not alone by taking this act of courage to contact the Ed Show.
Do whatever you need to do to make the case and plea for a Tier V Unemployment Extension
There are many more participating who just have not had a chance to RSVP to the event yet or who do not have a Facebook account. We have seen different names on multiple forums pledge to participate. Please readers, make some noise this week. You will also see this same organized effort on all of the unemployment blogs today because we all realize that our strength is our numbers to make an impact.
Do not forget when mentioning to the Ed Show that Tom Coburn, the Republican Senator from Oklahoma promised the long term unemployed an additional 4 weeks of assistance (totaling 103 weeks) back in March and also said that number would be extended even further. This quote was all over the Internet and MSNBC reported on this. Yet, Senator Coburn will not introduce the legislation for this and Congressional leaders are letting millions of Americans slip further into poverty. This quote is real, to the long term unemployed who still cannot find work that comment counted as a promise yet the jobless who have exhausted all tiers need this assistance as an emergency.
This man has a great message. He speaks mainly to Preisdent Obama and is stating what many others are stating - he cannot find work. He is asking the President to please visit town halls where the unemployed are or go to offices where the unemployed are needing assistance.
Main Street Needs A Bailout, Mr. President. Congress, work harder and faster. People are sinking or have already sunk bottom. We need to bail out our people now. Spread this video to as many as you can. This message is echoed by this blog and this video should be posted as a video response to any video with large hits that we can find.
Here's the link and video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7B_EY4i5bjM&feature=player_embedded
Dated May 8, 2010, MSNBC wants to hear from the long term jobless. According to MSNBC, they want information for an upcoming story on the long term unemployed.
Tier 5 Unemployment Activists, we may have the ear of a mainstream news source.
(If not, we have the opportunity to give them an ear full).
Please spread this around, MSNBC wants to hear from you!
At around 5:15 EST on a live video Facebook session with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a number of unemployed persons began voicing their concerns about the need for a Tier 5 Unemployment.
This was the answer from Kirsten Gillibrand:
Please excuse the video quality. It was a record from a ustream Facebook session and may not be the greatest in video quality. The Senator does state that she supports a Tier 5 Unemployment but offers no details as to when the extension may happen.
Please trust, the issue of when was pressed. The collective online participating crowd kept pressuring the Senator for answers of when. Comments from other participants stated replies such as: "the Senator supports the extension, why are you so concerned?" or "you need to ask NY State Legislature about that issue" or my favorite, "Are all of these people being paid to lobby for a Tier 5?"...
No one is getting paid here. It is only the collective efforts of those who can participate in these events raising awareness and asking the questions that so many are desperately seeking the answer. Hopefully, Senator Gillibrand takes this dire need of urgency seriously as HR 4213 is being debated in the coming weeks.
In case you missed today's Internet blog talk radio program, hosted by "Mr. G", along with his guests Len M. Allen, Author of "Unemployed: Life in the Wilderness", and Paladinette, the focus of the show was believing that Tier 5 can happen with determination and a peaceful protest asking Congress to act. Please click the play button on the player to listen in if you wish. (Or pause if the player auto-plays until you want to listen).
The show is certainly faith-based, however, one does not have to be a Christian to appreciate the value of the information. The information helps everyone who is frustrated with their personal situation and the inaction of government and how a positive attitude can change the effectiveness of your message. Be that in a job interview, contacting a member of Congress, or even in daily communication with your fellow citizens.
Paladinette also mentioned the effort which is going to begin on April 30, 2010 and May 3, 2010. The M-A-Y-D-A-Y S.O.S Fax Attack and On The Record are additional actions your fellow unemployed will be participating in very soon. The "On The Record" campaign is absolutely brilliant. At JoblessUnite.com there are step-by-step instructions to get your message, yes, your message directly on the record of the Senate Finance Committee. Please be professional and courteous when submitting this by US Mail. Remember, the message that you send will be on the record in the United States Senate forever.
With these efforts to get Congress to muster the "political will" to act in addition to all of the calls, emails, and online petitioning so many have done, hopefully we can all make a difference for the 500,000 (there has to be more than that number) who have lost all assistance from UI. According to articles released today by the Examiner and Gather, those who have exhausted all benefits from Unemployment Insurance need as many persons taking action as possible.
Both of these articles mention a Congressional staffer stating:
"It's not that they don't want to help," said the staffer. "But there is that calculation that you can only juggle so many legislative balls at one time. And while unemployment is important, is it more important than the Supreme Court or financial reform or immigration?"
As reported by WorldNewsVine, on Wednesday, April 14, 2010, the Senate Finance Committee headed by Senators Max Baucus (D-MT) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) are scheduled to begin hearings and report testimony on “Using Unemployment Insurance to Help Americans Get Back to Work: Creating Opportunities and Overcoming Challenges" (as titled by the Senate Finance Committee).
The persons scheduled to give testimony are Jane Oates, M. Ed., Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, United States Department of Labor, Washington D.C., Doug Holmes, JD, President, Strategic Services on Unemployment and Workers Compensation and the National Foundation for Unemployment Compensation & Workers Compensation, Washington D.C., Karen Lee, JD, President, National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) and Commissioner, Washington State Employment and Security Department, Olympia, WA., and finally Mark Sandi, Ph.D., Chief Economist and Cofounder, Moody’s Analytics, West Chester, VA.
This scheduled hearing is also posted at http://finance.senate.gov/hearings. This may be the first glimpse that the unemployed see if Congress has the political will for a Tier 5 unemployment extension. Currently, no legislation has been introduced or being debated which will add additional tiers or additional weeks of benefits for those who have exhausted their benefits.
The legislation currently being worked on, which will provide another 30-day stopgap measure for those who have not exhausted the current maximum benefit amount and extend dates of eligibility, is speculated to pass this week and be retroactive to the April 5th cutoff date.
We are all hoping that the testimony given tomorrow provides more insight as to what Congress plans to do about the millions of unemployed and the current problems which face the American workforce.
It would be a great benefit for those who have lost their benefits if Issa Decker was there tomorrow to read the petition to Congress which began nearly a month ago. The Change.org petition championed by Decker currently has about 9,000 signatures and is growing rapidly as more attention is brought to it.
We will update you on what happens tomorrow at the committee and C-SPAN should soon update their website to reflect when and which C-SPAN channel will be covering the hearing tomorrow.
For those who have exhausted all 99 available weeks, this week may set the stage for what might come ahead. The reason there have not been any posts during the Congressional break is the simple fact that there is no news of substance for those who have exhausted benefits. After careful consideration of all of the news outlets that are reporting on the issue, there are only a few notable sources that are willing to take on the cause for a Tier 5 unemployment extension.
As some may know, news sources such as World News Vine, Gather, MLive, and the Red, White, & Blue press blog have been the only sources to yet take up the cause for the need for an additional tier of benefits for those who have exhausted all available weeks. US Unemployed Blogsite applauds these sources for taking up this cause for the unemployed. If Congress is reading the content from these sources and this blog, those who have exhausted all benefits may have hope.
The Associated Press and other larger news outlets seem to be identifying the extension which is likely to happen this week as the one and only action needed from Congress. By definition, what Congress is doing this week is an extension but it is only an extension for those who have not exhausted the current maximum amount of benefits of 99 weeks. Perhaps these other news outlets are not aware of the needs for creating a Tier 5 or they are too focused on week-by-week politics to address the longstanding issue - but the reports that we have all read during the Easter recess have only addressed the current battle in Congress to extend the current tiers until the end of the year.
We will all be continuing our efforts to petition to Congress, telephone and write our representatives and the news media so that our message is heard.
Hopefully a brave member of Congress will step forward this week and address the needs of those who still cannot find work and have exhausted all available weeks of benefits. We cannot make this happen unless we remain relentless in our efforts to make our voices heard now that Congress has returned from their break.
We must not be discouraged from those who do not understand or feel that they are immune to not having a job and not being able to find a job. Over the Easter break, we have all been witnesses to those who would call this effort "new welfare" or socialism or call the unemployed "lazy bums". Those persons simply do not know what it is to be in this situation and they seemingly do not care at all about their fellow citizens who have lost employment through no fault of their own.
The unemployed need to know that there are millions of others who have their backs on this issue and we will fight until the bitter end to ensure that every person who wants a job can get a job. Until that time, we will advocate for extensions of unemployment benefits so that a laid off worker in 2008 can continue to collect 1/3 or less of what he or she made when employed so that the basic necessities can be met for those hit hardest in the Great Recession.
It is time for a miracle for the longest-term unemployed. Once again, all eyes on Congress and all voices letting them know that the unemployed will be heard.
April 12, 2010 the United States Senate will come back into session and a variety of reports indicate that Harry Reid (D-Nev) will seek cloture on the extension to extend availability of dates for the weeks currently available for EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation). The good news and the news that gives us hope that Congress will take up an additional tier for those who have exhausted benefits are the continued support from those taking action.
There have been an increased amount of media reports on the longest-term unemployed who have exhausted their benefits. Several unemployed workers have heard from their Senators that something is "in the works" (although there are no confirmed reports yet). Additionally, the increased and continued involvement of Americans who recognize the need for a Tier 5 exercising their First Amendment rights to petition to Congress remain strong after an effort that began over a month ago.
We will all continue to be looking for confirmed statements from relevant sources while the United States Senate is in recess for the Easter holiday. It is our goal at US Unemployed Blogsite to inform the public and take action and continue to provide the resources available for us to get our voices heard.
As championed by unemployed-friends.com, "The Unemployed Will Be Heard". Best wishes to everyone in these trying times and there are reasons to keep your spirits up. Although millions of Americans will be without income during this Easter break - everyone should know that the efforts of this blog will not relent until Congress takes action for those hit hardest in this recession. The unemployed and those hit hardest by this recession will not be thrown under the bus. Everyone is in our thoughts. Best wishes to all.
Until April 12th, it's going to be a long 11 days...
As everyone may know, on Friday the 26th the Senate adjourned for a two week Easter recess. Leaving a million who will expire their benefits on April 5th in addition to those who have already exhausted or will soon exhaust Tier 4 benefits.
The House of Representatives had already approved a measure that extended the deadline for filing until April 30th but it did not approve a bill that included a Tier 5 unemployment extension.
We have done all that we can do at this point but wait until the Senate returns. According to the Washington Independent, Harry Reid's office stated that when the Senate returns and votes on cloture to pass the 30 day extension for filing that it will be retroactive to the April 5th cutoff.
It may be a rough, uphill battle for the unemployed to get a Tier 5. Sen. John McCain has vowed "no cooperation for the rest of the year" and that seems to be the general consensus from the Republican party. That statement from Senator McCain begs the question, what cooperation did the republican party offer since the election of Barack Obama?
Our country desperately needs a steam-rolling majority of one party or the cooperation of both parties. Hundreds of bills which the US House have already passed are sitting stalled in the Senate. Now is not the time to hear from any Senator, "Sorry, there is no cooperation for the rest of the year".
In addition to the partisan bickering in Washington, the unemployed also are contending with bailout banks influencing policy for the unemployed and reports such as this one from the ABC-affiliate, KFSN in Fresno California:
Source Story
In the video, some unemployed in California are accused of "Milking Unemployment". The president of a staffing agency in Fresno reports that some unemployed are turning down work because they have unemployment insurance.
What do stories like this accomplish, KFSN? The majority of persons collecting unemployment are honest and are victims of this recession. They would not qualify for unemployment insurance if they were not laid off due to no fault of their own. Report more stories on that fact than the childish few who do abuse the system. There's fraud, waste, and abuse in every program from all government programs (state or federal). What's with the need to pick on the unemployed?
With stories like the one at KFSN and the lack of cooperation in the Senate, it is going to be an uphill climb for the honest unemployed who are in desperate need of an extension of benefits. As is true with most things, the greedy few can ruin the entire system. Or a more famous phrasing, "One bad apple can ruin the entire bunch".
In my opinion, I think the bigger fraud is the fact the American taxpayer is paying United States Senators (who have a salary of $147K to 194K per year) to say to the people, "We are just not going to cooperate the rest of the year". Or just flatly saying no and deliberately obstructing critical and time-sensitive legislation that will help millions of jobless Americans. This fact is something to think about when we all go to the polls this November.
We all hope that when the Senate returns from break that they do not deny the needs of the many because there are those who are undermining the system. The long-term unemployed will need to do all they can to debunk the theories of "Milking Unemployment" as these will be the talking points for those who oppose extensions for the unemployed.
Good luck to everyone and thank you for your continued support to call-in campaigns and the many online petitions to Congress. The unemployed will be heard.
When I came across this article, I was cautiously optimistic. Nasdaq.com is reporting that the House Ways & Means Committee may be trying to figure out a way to pay for an unemployment extension and COBRA subsidies. It seems at this time, there are still no definite bills yet in Congress but at least the unemployed now have two sources stating that Congress is working on an extension.
Please be cautiously optimistic about this story. Please continue to contact your representatives until Congress adds weeks to Tier 4 and/or creates a Tier 5 for the longer-term unemployed.
A bipartisan bill that would provide tax cuts for businesses that hire unemployed workers was headed for likely Senate passage Wednesday.
A positive vote would send the legislation to the White House for President Barack Obama's signature.
It would be the first of several election-year jobs bills promised by Democrats to be enacted into law, though there's plenty of skepticism that the measure will do much to boost hiring.
The bill contains about $18 billion in tax breaks and a $20 billion infusion of cash into highway and transit programs. It would exempt businesses that hire the unemployed from paying the 6.2 percent Social Security payroll tax through December and give employers an additional $1,000 credit if new workers stay on the job a full year. Taxpayers would reimburse Social Security for the lost revenue.
It would also extend highway and mass transit programs through the end of the year and pump in $20 billion in time for the spring construction season. That money would make up for lower-than-expected gasoline tax revenues.
The measure is modest compared with last year's $862 billion economic stimulus bill and the bulk of the hiring tax breaks would probably go to companies that were likely to hire new workers anyway.
Obama has promised to sign the measure into law.
In addition to the hiring tax incentives and highway funding, the bill would extend a tax break for small businesses buying new equipment and modestly expand an initiative that helps state and local governments finance infrastructure projects.
A far larger measure that would extend health insurance subsidies and jobless checks for the unemployed is in the works but hitting slow going. That measure has passed both House and Senate but is hung up as the rival chambers wrangle over how to partially finance the legislation, which also would extend a variety of tax breaks for individuals and businesses.
As a result, it may require a third temporary extension of unemployment benefits, which would otherwise expire at the end of this month.
The Senate vote also comes as a House panel is to vote on a new bill designed to help small businesses. That bill would exempt long-term investments in certain small businesses from capital gains taxes and would expand a program that subsidizes interest costs paid by local governments when they borrow for construction projects.
This story is an Associated Press news article that was just recently published. It cannot be confirmed if this could be a possible way to extend the weeks available. Please comment and let me know what you think. Also, please share any stories that you may have about what a member of Congress may have said to you this week in regards to a Tier 5 extension.
US Unemployed Blogsite is continuing the involvement of telephone and online petitioning campaigns. We will be here until the finish. We encourage our readers to please stay involved in contacting Congress and help ensure the jobs bills which are still in Congress can include a Tier 5.
This blog, unemployed-friends.com, tier5.webs.com, and the 99ers strongly encourage you to please pick up the phone and demand action from Congress. We all agree that the more voices to Congress the better. We all share the same unified message which is, "GIVE US ADDITIONAL WEEKS OR GIVE US JOBS". This will be our focus all week until we get the attention of Congress and get a bill passed.
We demand a Tier 5 or at least an extension to Tier 4 unemployment.
It is time to get involved. Join all these organizations below and please get involved. If you are already a member of these forums or if you know another campaign out there, please let us know. We want to band together in this time of need.
An extension to Tier 4 and/or the creation of a Tier 5 may not happen without your help. Please, ask your friends and family to help in this also. Anyone willing to add a voice is welcome.
IF WE ALL BAND TOGETHER WE SEND ONE POWERFUL VOICE TO CONGRESS.
The original intent of this blog was to report the news and provide resources to the unemployed. This is the best resource I can do for those who have exhausted benefits or who will in a couple of weeks. Think of the thousands in poverty right now as I type this message and I plea to my readers to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. Those without access to a computer or may be under the impression that the last extension included an additional tier.
They are counting on you to stand up and fight for this extension. Continue to call, email, or write your members of Congress or your representative in D.C.
For a list of contact information and a sample script to call by telephone,
I put this list way out in an area of Craigslist so that it should not bother anyone. It should be fairly printer-friendly. Print it out, please make some calls.
Please join these forums if you are not already a member - they will help you stay up to date and allow you to connect and share stories and vital information.
Please click the unemployed-friends.com logo and participate in "Unemployed Will Be Heard" Telephone Campaign.
