No unemployment extension, more unemployment
Monday, June 28, 2010 at 9:25 am
- 5 Comments
The failure of the unemployment extension bill, which also included more federal funding for Medicaid and many more important provisions, will not only mean hundreds of thousands of people around the country will go without unemployment benefits; it will also mean hundreds of thousands more people losing their jobs.
Suzy Khimm at Mother Jones explains why:
Known as the “tax-extenders” bill, the legislation would continue unemployment benefits, support certain tax breaks, provide a boost to Medicare payments for doctors, and extend Medicaid funding to collapsing state budgets. Conservatives have raised a predictable hue and cry about increasing the deficit. Democrats, desperate to have the legislation pass, have scaled back the bill over the past weeks “from $190 billion, to $80 billion, to $55 billion, to just over $30 billion,” Arthur Delaney reports…
What’s the price of this political obstructionism? In addition to the millions of Americans who stand to lose unemployment benefits, a huge number of private and public sector employees will lose their jobs due to state budget cuts. Without federal help, states will have to pour in more money to prop up Medicaid, forcing them to make cutbacks in other parts of the budget. As a result, Moody’s chief economist estimates that 200,000 jobs could be axed without federal Medicaid support, and the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities puts the number as high as 900,000—jobs belonging to teachers, firemen, police, and social workers, among others.
Ezra Klein argues at his Washington Post blog that this is all a strategic choice by the Republicans.
The less that Democrats appear to be doing on jobs — and the fewer jobs that Democrats actually create — the better Republicans will do in November. Substantial compromises on the bill haven’t brought any new votes, and that’s in part because Republicans see no political upside in passing the legislation.
5 Comments
Comment posted June 28, 2010 @ 9:41 am
1. Ezra Klein’s an idiot.
2. Extending unemployment benefits does not create jobs.
3. The congressional republicans’ opposition to the bill isn’t because of the budget deficit, it’s because of the unrelated garbage that’s attached to the bill.
4. But it’s true that saving the jobs of the states’ and cities’ bloated bureaucracies has no upside for republicans since those people vote democrat anyway.
Comment posted June 28, 2010 @ 11:54 am
No matter how many letters, emails, petitions that people sign, some in Congress IGNORE IT ALL! … THE ONLY WAY TO CONTACT THEM IS A ‘MARCH ON WASHINGTON!’…People need to organize in the next week, or two, to make some kind of travel arrangements to go to Washington…. Bring your sleeping bag, tents, and camping cooking gear…Make plans to ride with others, go with a group chartered bus, hitchhike, or ay possible way you can get there!…WE NEED TO DO THIS NOW!… When 500,000, or 1 million people shut down the corrupt government of BIG BUSINESS BAILOUTS, WE WILL GET ASSISTANCE!.. !..We can eat at the Congressional Cafeteria, since we pay for it all!.. WE NOW HAVE NO CHOICE LEFT BUT TO ‘MARCH ON WASHINGTON!’ IT IS UP TO THE PEOPLE TO GO TO WASHINGTON, AND BE HEARD!
Comment posted June 28, 2010 @ 3:58 pm
Dennis –
I didn’t think it was possible for you to write anything dumber than your previous best – “an ideology that’s based on the simple principle that if I earn a loaf of bread, you deserve half of it”
It’s clear that I was wrong.
Comment posted June 28, 2010 @ 8:34 pm
I have worked all my life. I am 47 now. I was laid off November of 2008. These have been the toughest time in my life. I have lost my house, my job and I guess next my dignity, I am not use on depending on anyone or anything to put a roof over my families head but I did depend on my unemployment insurance to carry through these tough economic times till I could find work. I have paid into the system for over 30 years and have never asked for assistance. I knew from the start that this would not last forever but I also relied on what had been told to me about the additional tiers. I was on my second tier which ends tomorrow. Now I find out that there will be no more benefits available after this week. I like most have relentlessly looked for employment and would take anything offered to me but there is nothing. I can only wonder what all these people will do now that theirs is running out. I do know that most will then become dependent on their states to help causing even more of burden those already in financial strife. I know other will turn to crime or other immoral acts to support their families. I also know others will be so overwhelmed that they will take their own life as in the Great depression. I sit here now wondering which I will do. This is a sad day in American history and one we will all be judged on. I hope I can make the right decision but I really can’t say for I am desperate.
This is no game this is for real! I have voted Republican all my life but now that I need help from my government I get shafted by the same party I voted for…Shame on me! It will not happen in November. That is if I’m still alive. God Bless everyone even the ones that are so cruel on this blog for one day we will all answer for our words and actions.
Comment posted June 30, 2010 @ 11:33 am
Why is it so hard for Americans to help Americans? We help everybody else in the world!I wonder if the troops fighting the wars right now,ask each other what party they are before they help each other when under attack! Is this what AMERICA has come to? AMERICANS HELP AMERICANS!! That is how it should be!!!!
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