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.
Here is the story posted by newsok.com
Published March 17, 2010 | Andrew Taylor | AP
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.
Source: http://www.newsok.com/senate-poised-to-clear-jobs-bill-for-obama/article/feed/142353
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.
Showing posts with label Contact Your Representative. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Contact Your Representative. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
No New Tiers Coming From Congress This Week
It seems there is some confusion about the latest rounds of extensions this week coming from Congress. What Congress is doing this week only extends the filing dates available for those seeking the existing Tiers and EB program. This is great news for someone laid off in 2009 or this year, but for the worker laid off in 2008 or earlier on their last tier - this is very upsetting.
To restate this. 99 weeks is still the maximum benefit amount.
Will this change? If we ask Congress specifically for it, perhaps.
There is a void out there of information. Major news outlets are reporting this as an extension (which it is) - but it is more a change of enrollment dates for persons who lost their jobs within the past year.
Even unemployedworkers.org is not being clear to the public about what this action this week in Congress means for the unemployed.
Other blogs and comment sections are posting opinions and what a senator may have said off the record by telephone. But the fact remains that Congress will soon take a break in April. If extensions for the long-term unemployed are not granted before this break, it could be up to two months before the Senate even presents a bill that helps the long-term unemployed.
US Unemployed is gathering more information to see if a bill to add a tier has even been introduced. If anyone out there has any information, please post it in comments.
Keep contacting your representative and ask specifically for an additional tier of unemployment benefits.
To restate this. 99 weeks is still the maximum benefit amount.
Will this change? If we ask Congress specifically for it, perhaps.
There is a void out there of information. Major news outlets are reporting this as an extension (which it is) - but it is more a change of enrollment dates for persons who lost their jobs within the past year.
Even unemployedworkers.org is not being clear to the public about what this action this week in Congress means for the unemployed.
Other blogs and comment sections are posting opinions and what a senator may have said off the record by telephone. But the fact remains that Congress will soon take a break in April. If extensions for the long-term unemployed are not granted before this break, it could be up to two months before the Senate even presents a bill that helps the long-term unemployed.
US Unemployed is gathering more information to see if a bill to add a tier has even been introduced. If anyone out there has any information, please post it in comments.
Keep contacting your representative and ask specifically for an additional tier of unemployment benefits.
Sunday, March 07, 2010
Contact Your Representative
NELP and other organizations are useful allies to the unemployed. They often provide links to quickly contact your Congressperson. In email correspondence, they generally provide a very well scripted automated message to your representatives in Washington. This is a great service they provide and US Unemployed Blogsite strongly encourages each and every individual to use these resources.
However, we also realize how important it is that members of Congress hear exactly what we have to say. It is important to continuously remind them and their staff that the unemployed and those who advocate for them seek their attention. Partisan bickering in Washington between multi millionaires at the expense of the unemployed worker in Ohio who can barely meet his mortgage and provide food for his family must stop.
This is not a Republican or Democrat issue. This is an issue of morals and decency to show compassion to those hit hardest in this recession and provide as they seek work each and every day.
This is the section in the Constitution which states
On the eve before Congress reconvenes and has their Tuesday session. Please take a moment to write your representative(s). Let him or her know how important this extension is to you. Ask them to set aside political titles and think about the millions of Americans who have became unemployed due to no fault of their own.
Please share this post. Please contact your representative. Now included on this blog is a widget that will locate the contact information for your United States Senators and allow you to send them an email with your personal story.
However, we also realize how important it is that members of Congress hear exactly what we have to say. It is important to continuously remind them and their staff that the unemployed and those who advocate for them seek their attention. Partisan bickering in Washington between multi millionaires at the expense of the unemployed worker in Ohio who can barely meet his mortgage and provide food for his family must stop.
This is not a Republican or Democrat issue. This is an issue of morals and decency to show compassion to those hit hardest in this recession and provide as they seek work each and every day.
This is the section in the Constitution which states
"...We shall promote the general welfare."
On the eve before Congress reconvenes and has their Tuesday session. Please take a moment to write your representative(s). Let him or her know how important this extension is to you. Ask them to set aside political titles and think about the millions of Americans who have became unemployed due to no fault of their own.
Please share this post. Please contact your representative. Now included on this blog is a widget that will locate the contact information for your United States Senators and allow you to send them an email with your personal story.
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