US News 1.3 Million Unemployed Won't Get Benefits Restored The Associated Press | July 01, 2010 | 06:51 AM EDT More than 1.3 million laid-off workers won't get their unemployment benefits reinstated before Congress goes on a weeklong vacation for Independence Day. An additional 200,000 people who have been without a job for at least six months stand to lose their benefits each week, unless Congress acts. For the third time in as many weeks, Republicans in the Senate successfully filibustered a bill Wednesday night to continue providing unemployment checks to people who been laid off for long stretches. The House is slated to vote on a similar measure Thursday, though the Senate's action renders the vote a futile gesture as Congress prepares to depart Washington for its holiday recess. A little more than 1.3 million people have already lost benefits since the last extension ran out at the end of May. "It is beyond disappointing that Republicans continue to stand almost lockstep against assistance for out-of-work Americans," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. The measure, however, stands a better chance of passing after a replacement is seated for Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., who died Monday. The measure fell two votes short of the 60 needed to advance Wednesday night, but only because Reid, a supporter of the bill, voted "nay" to take a procedural step that would allow for a revote. We will vote on this measure again once there is a replacement named for the late Sen. Byrd," Reid said. Byrd's successor will be named by West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin, a Democrat. Unable to deliver more stimulus spending for President Barack Obama, Democrats in Congress had hoped to at least restore the jobless benefits. Obama has urged lawmakers to spend about $50 billion to help states pay for Medicaid programs and to avoid teacher layoffs, but Democrats in Congress have been unable to come up with the votes. Many Democrats see state aid and unemployment benefits as insurance against the economy sliding back into recession. However, many Republicans and some Democrats worry about adding to the growing national debt. Some Republicans offered to support the unemployment bill if it was paid for with unspent money from last year's massive economic recovery package. Democrats rejected the offer, saying the money was needed for jobs programs. "The only reason the unemployment extension hasn't passed is because Democrats simply refuse to pass a bill that doesn't add to the debt," said Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, said, "My concern is that the Democrats are more interested in having this issue to demagogue for political gamesmanship than they are in simply passing the benefits extension." The unemployment bill would have provided up to a total of 99 weekly unemployment checks averaging $335 to people whose 26 weeks of state-paid benefits have run out. The benefits would be available through the end of November, at a cost of $33.9 billion. The money would be borrowed, adding to the budget deficit.
Well blow me down. So the GOP opened up their lockbox and dusted off their spines. Even McCain is trying to act all conservative, LOL. Either they'll get control of Congress this November and it's back to big government republicans or voters'll be so POed that they do not and it's back to big government democrats.
Hopefully we cut spending on protecting South Korea,Saudi Arabian Interests,Israeli interests,The children of Africa and Haiti,Donations to Gaza (400M),Providing Japan with a free Military so they do not have to spend on one,rebuilding iraq, the billions we hand to Afghanistan,etc.. That would help a lot also.
America is on the precipice. If the Democrats are still in control of both houses after November, we're screwed. (The Republicans may back away from conservative discipline and we'd be screwed anyway, but if the Democrats are able to continue their evil for another 2 years, the Progressives will have won and the USA will have become a Socialist state at best... soon to be a Police state at worst. Sad.... and SCARY!)
Has it ever been different? I mean tax rates for the highest earners troughout the entire 1950's were at 90% and you couldnt even own physical gold as an American for decades. I'm sure there are plenty of other examples to be given that show personal freedom has had it's ups and downs troughout the entire existence of the US.