When the House first passed HR4213, it looked rather different than it does now. Originally called the Tax Extenders Act of 2009, as politics has raged around the issue of unemployment extension — the only part of the massive bill that’s receiving significant coverage in the media — it’s been renamed twice. It’s now the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010, a much more Democrat-approved name. It’s also been passed from the House to the Senate, back to the House, and back to the Senate as various lawmakers make their personal edits to the bill.
This latest Senate vote on unemployment extension is getting a lot of play-time because it was dramatically filibustered by the Republicans right up to the Senate’s Independence Day vacation, and millions of unemployed people suffered as a result. Now the Dems believe they can push the bill through in a hurry, and everyone will love them.
Only one problem: it may still have to go back to the House for another round of votes. Only once both the House and the Senate have both passed an identical bill can the President sign off on it and make it into law. The House has passed the bill in it’s current incarnation, but if the Senate changes anything about the bill before they vote it through, we’re in for another round of debates and changes and voting before Obama gets to rubber-stamp it.
The Republicans, then, have a couple potential avenues of attack. They can try to convince a Democrat to change his vote — a single vote is all they need to continue their filibuster and keep the bill off the floor. They can convince anyone involved to introduce a single change in the bill, and send it back around to the House for another delay.
Either way, the GOP seems to believe that if they can delay the bill until November, they’ll have a much better chance of putting it away for good — because they believe the November elections will swing the balance of power their way, especially if they can portray the Democrats as inept bunglers who can’t even get the unemployment extension bill passed. That they are responsible for that fact seems to be unimportant to their rhetoric — as long as the Democrats fail the nation’s unemployed, the GOP believes it’s doing well.
Of course, even if HR4213 does pass, it “only” helps a couple of million Americans. There are many more who have been unemployed for more than 693 days — the ’99ers — who are waiting on a much more significant change to the unemployment benefits system. The change they need, the Tier 5 addition, would add another level of unemployment benefits (as opposed to HR4213 which merely extends the old ones). Such a bill hasn’t even been introduced to the Senate yet, which means the Americans in the most need are still watching their bills (and resume rejection letters) pile up, growing ever more desperate.
At some point, someone in power will look beyond this particular Senate vote on unemployment extension and into the longer term, and they’ll do something to help the Americans who want most to help our economy grow — by paying their bills and purchasing food for their families.
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cspan.org/Watch/C-SPAN2.aspx
Watch them vote online today~~
These parastic elected are a bunch of whoremongering lowlifes ,posturing up there ,using people’s unfortunate circumstances to futher their political gain. I know what they need but decline to post as I do not want to sound threatening.We all know recall is a joke,these scum should be torn from office.
???
Where have they gotten it in their minds that we, the unemployed, will ever think that the dem’s have failed us. We are intelligent people and are well aware that it is due to the Republicans that the unemployment extension has been on hold. Come November these Republicans are in for a rude awakening.
Keep in mind the dems and the republicans are using this as a tool for their respective agendas. The Rep agreed to an extension with money from a different source. The dems did not want the money to come out of the unused stimulus money they wanted it to be added to the debt. Both are equally bad. Better take a better look at your Dem loyalty or Rep loyalty as they are all crooked. At least it went through. They did take out the $25 per week stimulus addition. Can’t have unemployed folks living too high on the hog and buying food and gas with that extra $25 a week. Besides, it’s summer and we can ride a bike to look for work. Cheap Bastards. But it seems to have passed thankfully. I just hope this economic mess gets better soon and we all get back to work.
Now I know the republicans are out of touch and reality is something they don’t see. The unemployment will pass. The other pieces may be fought over. The real fight will be in November when the republicans one by one are let go and sent back to their states unemployed and not in the power seat for all their buddies and special interest are left out in the cold crying, screaming on fox news.
See all of you in November.
The problem is Senators are elected for 6 year terms. Only 1/3 are up for re-election this November. My guess is that they are counting on people forgeting in 4-6 years what has been going on this year. Now do you see why they look so smug?
My family is on the verge of losing everything. I have lost my car…my house payment is late…how can they do this to people like me. I have worked my entire life…since I was 16 years old…I’m now a 41 year old accountant that is looking everyday for work! I’m so sick of all this politics…I have only been out of work a year…they just cut me off! I know people that have drawn for 2 years..but when it happens to me the Senate decides to play with it. I will remember all of this in November…and I am angry with ALL of them. They all want all or nothing…playing with the American peoples lives and families. How can we spend all of this money to bail out banks and car dealers…but can’t help the working Americans? I’m sorry I’m just so sick I can’t stand it any more!!!!
No unemployment? Thank the republicans! For the rest of you -When the economy stalls again – you can thank the republicans too. The republican’s weren’t worried about the deficit when that big insurance company and their friends the Wall Street execs were giving themselves bonuses with taxpayer money!!! Next election – let Congress feel the sting of the unemployment lines!!! No more raping and pillaging the middle class!!! – How many years have you paid taxes? 30? 40? Your government bails out bankers and Wall Street execs using your tax dollars – but unemployment is allowed to expire? What happened to “by the people” or “for the people”? Or are the big campaign contributors the only “people” who count to congress? They are playing games AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME while you are wondering how to feed your kids? Figure it out! Malfeasance – Failure of a public official to perform their duties!!! Next Election MAKE YOURSELF MATTER BY VOTING!!! 10% unemployment carries 10% of the vote! Use it!! Fire them all next election or recall every Congress member NOW for Malfeasance – Failure of a public official to perform their duties!!! Next Election – Lets get people elected who actually represent all the People- this current congress represents only special interest groups!
Something needs to be done! People are loosing their homes, I’ve already lost mine. Do you know what it feels like to loose the home over your childs head? My daughter loved her home, her room…where she had Strawberry Shortcake all over her wall, she would come home and throw all of her toys in the Living Room to play. Now, that has been taken away from her, and it’s not her fault. It pains me when I hear her ask, are we going back to our old house Mommy and Daddy? Or when she remembers a situations that happen in her old house, that breaks our hearts! Even now on job applications, they ask if you’ve had a bankruptcy!!! What am I to do? I’ve put in application after application, and nothing! I am a former manager of a museum, but I will take any kind of job at this point! We need the extended benefits to help us feed our children, buy them clothes, for support while their in school,to take them out from time to time. I’m not worried to much about how I look or what I have, as long as my family is taken care of, it’s alright with me. Please dont allow people to loose their homes, cars, and dignity. I’m just learning how to get my dignity back, thank God! Bless you all!
You know, I use to be a strong supporter of the Republican party, registered, donating, telling everyone why they should vote Republican. Never again. Not after what they have put my family and countless others through with their political posturing. I am smart enough to see through their refusal to help American citizens right to their grab for power. Apparently war, bailouts for big businesses, and foreign aid are all fiscally responsible, but helping the average American through one of the worst financial crisis is not.
They spout out about how we citizens wrongly feel a sense of “entitlement”. Ridiculous! They are the ones who feel a sense of entitlement! Entitled to draw (huge!)salaries paid for out of our tax monies, entitled to spend it on their pet projects (slot machines for your buddy, Sen. Brown?), entitled to spend it any way they deem fit, and deny it to the hard working citizens who, through no fault of their own, are losing everything!
My husband has been a tax paying citizen since the day he was old enough to work, and he served in the US Navy for over 10 years. Over 30% of his salary for many of those years went into Uncle Sam’s pocket (higher tax bracket, anyone?). Once he was laid off over 18 months ago, he began receiving unemployment benefits (hey guess what? you have to pay taxes on that too!).
My husband spends countless hours pouring over every job listing he can get his hands on. We have 3 kids, one with special needs and several food allergies that require an expensive diet (did you know rice bread costs almost $5 a loaf?). The local fast food restaurant offers 8-12 hours per week at minimum wage (which amounts to less than $100 per week, before Uncle Sam takes the cut he is “entitled” to…) If I had 1 cent for every job he has been turned down for this year, for reasons ranging from, “Overqualified”, “Under-qualified”, to “Sorry, but we stopped taking applications after we received 200 this morning”, I would be rich.
We are teetering on the brink of having to sell everything we own (not that that amounts to much, we might be able to make a few hundred at a yard sale), and leave our apartment to move in with my mother. We have been waiting weeks to hear back from the food stamp office to find out if we are approved (they haven’t returned any of my calls), so I can put food in my nearly empty cupboards. The bank calls several times a day to find out when we are going to make a payment on our car (no transportation, no work!). We are not being irresponsible, lazy, or any other term politicians care to label us.
I personally believe that no politician should be allowed to draw a salary larger than the average person they represent makes. If we really want to be fiscally responsible like they claim, perhaps we should lay off every senator and force them to take menial jobs at minimum wage with no health benefits to support their families, tell them to stop being lazy and feeling entitled to help when they are down. Then we could use a portion of their money (still gotta pay taxes, Senator!) to take a vacation while they wonder how they are gonna feed their kids next week!
I may not vote for many Democrats this fall (though I may vote for some), but one thing is certain: my name will no longer be listed “Republican”, not one single Republican will get my vote and I will encourage my family and friends to do the same.
Shame on you, Republicans! (and we’re not as dumb as you think we are!)
Right the money with your comment. They do not care about Americans in general!!!
What I find even more dis-tasteful is that Illegal Aliens ARE collecting food stamps and ARE in low income housing, but the Senate won’t help their own unemployed citizens.
Hi Karen,
Love your comment! You hit the nail right on the head. I am Registered as a(Dem.) Even though I sometimes vote Republican. May be we should both register Independent. Your anger and frustration is shared by millions. It’s seriously time for Americans to stop playing around and vote the right peolpe into congress. If this situation doesn’t wake them up, I don’t know what will.It’s very clear,if your not apart of congress,your job my not exist tomorrow.
GOD BLESS you and yours Karen!
Whoever wrote this article is a piece of crap!!! Your comment of it only helps a couple million people. Thats a start you idiot. Couple million-Thats alot of people!!!!!!!!
Hi, Jody. Let me introduce you to a concept called math.
There is a roughly 10% unemployment rate in America today. There are also 300 million people in America. That means that there are roughly 30 million unemployed people.
That means that the nearly-two-million helped by this bill comprise less than a tenth of the people who need help. Yes, it’s a start — but it’s JUST a start.
The amount of Americans that are waiting for Tier 5 are greater both in number and in need than those assisted by HR4213 — period — and until they are addressed by the government, as far as I’m concerned, the government is failing the People.
OpenCongress Summary
Extends the filing deadline for extended unemployment benefits, including the extra $25 per month from the stimulus bill, from June 2, 2010 to December 31, 2010. This bill would not create a new fifth tier of benefits, it would only allow eligible individuals who exhaust their current benefit tiers to enter into the next of the four tiers that expired on June 2nd.
Tier 5 is not being addressed…tiers 1-4 have already passed and the vote is for what again?
My hopes are wondering now…
Republicans are straight evil and are not true americans. They arnt even human beings, but im tired of all politicians!!!! They all have there own secret plan to help only themselves or there party! We need new young people who know what this country is today and care about people to replace these old dinosours destroying this country with. Who cares about deficit when middle class people cant eat because our poloticians are not even close to knowing the true situations out in this country!!!!
Being one of the people affected by this, I have 2 minds on it. I got cut off because I had $200 extra in my UE account after the June cut off and only because I took a temp jobe for a few weeks in January. That’s irony. I took a small job just because it was offered and overshot the cut-off.
I have luckily just begun with a small start up company working 1 day a week. Hopefully it expands until I am up to full time. On the other hand, I understand the Republican position. There are billions in Stimulus dollars that could have easily been used for this, with billions left over. Which would be like tapping a fraction of your savings rather than taking out a new credit line. Both parties are to blame. The R’s for screwing up the last decade, the D’s for screwing up the 70 uears before that, and abusing their present majority for health care and destroying any chance of bi-partisanship.
This is becoming gang warfare, where revenge is an endless cycle. For every Wall St crony on the R side, there is a union or “community organizer” crony on the D side. It’s the same power structure, just different names and goals. There is no difference between a Union and a corporation. One is a group of employers who are after money. The other is a group of employees who are after money. Heads or tails, it’s still a coin.
The answer is term limits and less federal power. What special interest group would court Congress if Congress kept to Constitutionally limited powers and no congressperson could hoard power for years? None. Because Congress was never supposed to have this much influence. It should be a job no one wants, with crap pay and no pension, rather than the easy street it has become.
Make room for me on your band wagon Tony. I have only been out of work for seven months, but in that time, I have found absolutely nothing to replace my previous forty year career. While we need the extension of benefits, what we need more, are incentives for businesses to develop and expand and become profitable, instead of being taxed out of existence. Term limits for politicos at all levels and special interest groups not able to access those in power would be a good place to start rebuilding America. “Of the people, by the people, for the people”, has been replaced with, “I’ve got mine, screw you working class voters”!
The Democrat motto ” Thank God for stupid people.” It is the Democrats who are playing politics, the Republicans do not oppose the extension, they just want it paid for and no pork added.
I have been unemployed since 12/08, and I have a lot of free time. I will be using that free time to make sure the Dems lose control of Congress come November.
Every thing the Dems have done has been a tax increase and a job killer.
Both sides are posturing in the worst way. The republicans chose the wrong issue to make a stand.
I Agree!!!
Maybe instead of using that free time to make sure the Dems lose control of Congress come November, you should go out and look for a job!
Hey EJ, do you still have your job? If so, do the initials stand for Exceptional Jerk? The only way to rectify the problems that exist in America today, is to ditch both the Dems and the Republicans, and elect some bipartisan officials who have a sense of what it takes to reverse the death spiral that the American working class citizens find themselves in today. Bail out home owners instead of banks, provide free medical care to our injured soldiers and marines instead of funding golden parachutes for big business execs. We need politicians who wake up every morning, look in the mirror, and ask themselves, “what can I do FOR my constituants today”, instead of, “what can I do TO my contituants today”.
ej, Your an idiot! its people like you that got this country in the shape it is in now. Heartless
Nothing new.Again, the working class American suffers as a result of stingy politicians and their battle for power. Could it be the U.S. Government is really anti-American? Unthinkable, but observing their actions and track record makes me wonder. Justice has tilted heavily against the American way of living in the past three decades. Tax cuts for the rich and declined income for Americans. Stimulating our enemies economy while starving us out.
Time we evaluate the actions past and present of lawmakers in this country. I think being shocked from the results would be an understatement.
I have been unemployed since 2006. I have applied to more than 600 jobs. Although I have a degree (MBA), I have been reduced to Home Health Care which is paying me below minimum wage. When I am not working or applying for jobs, I am praying. I have worked for over 40 years & always paid my own way–never did I receive a handout from the government. Now I need assistance, but it doesn’t seem like I’ll be getting that either. Foreign countries & illegal aliens get more assistance than I do. WASSUP America!
The Republicans continuously say no & the Democrats are afraid to vote in the people’s favor because they think their own jobs will be jeopardized. I’m quite sure if every politician was made to pay for their own insurance & told they will no longer get a guaranteed pension & were suddenly thrust into the unemployment realm, everything would be quite different.
Republicans say they’ll vote for the extension if a suitable way is found to pay for the extension. I recommend we cut the politicians insurance costs considerably. They have the best coverage possible so those cuts will pay for many,many UI benefits!
Boehner and the republicans are a disgrace. Keep sending money to Pakistan, Israel and every other country and to hell with your own people. We are not stupid. We see through your lies and know that you have been robbing us of our jobs. American companies employ Chinese and Mexicans. One by one they fall while the arrogant laugh..it won’t last forever.
Watch the vote live @ cspan.org/Watch/C-SPAN2.aspx It begins with Carte Goodwin’s swearing in (2:15 P.M.) and the voting for unemployment extensions is scheduled to begin at 2:30 P.M.
I will not be coming to this bias website for information any more. I urge everyone to get you news from another more credible source. Vote Democrat November !!!!
Your statement is untrue writer. This bill will help more than 2 million unemployed as each week thousands of unemployed benefits are exhausted, so they will eventually need the extension.
Hi, Pat. Let me introduce you to a concept called math.
2 million is a big number. The fact that ‘thousands’ more each week are going to benefit by the bill is totally subsumed by how big 2 million is.
There are almost 40 weeks between now and when the bill’s benefits end at the end of April. If those ‘thousands’ means ‘ten thousand’ per week, that’s a whopping 400,000 before the bill is over. That’s not even a quarter of the people that the bill has already helped. It’s certainly not enough to wave your hands and make a big deal over.
The bill was useful to some people; I’m grateful for that. But it’s too little, and it’s way too late.
Whoever wrote this doesn’t have his facts together. Reminds me of the saying “I know it’s true cuz I read it on the internet.” I would also say he drinks GOP grape kool-aid too by the gallon. So I only hope I see him one day unemployed, considering his vocation and talent level it’s going to happen sooner than later.
They are all scumbags! They care only about themselves, and the good of THEIR FAMILIES! They don’t care about us, it’s all about what the working class people can do for them!!! It’s all about padding their pockets with our hard earned money!!! They can all rot in hell!!! Let’s throw them all out on their asses, and they can see how it is to be unemployed!
None of the so called government officials care. They are not feeling the true ramifications, that the homeless, unemployed, no food, and etc. are feeling. They all think they are Gods. playing with the lives of those of us who need help the most. They want their rich supporters to get richer, to continue helping them. There is no true care or concern, as to the survival or existance of us real americans that are just trying to survive, and get by!
ALERT…Senate moves long-term jobless benefits bill forward!!!! ABOUT TIME
THEY PASSED IT THANK GOD
I am or was a 99..Thats gone along with alot of other things! I could not refinance and the house was foreclosed on. My truck was reposed out of the driveway during a yard sale. I applied everywhere my goal was and still is to apply for atleast 5 jobs a day…no one is hiring & I have a BA, give me minimum wage..anything! Unemployment ment the ability after loosing my truck and house to live in a weekly hotel and eat once or twice a day off the value menu or top ramen. After the 99 weeks ended I woke up on a park bench being raped! WHAT THE HELL! US PEASANTS DONT MATTER? We need a Tier 5!
Well it just passed but its not enough! We need a real UI extention not one that will end just in time for re-elections in NOV! A tier 5, & maybe T6 each of 28 weeks needs to be added ALSO and these UI bills to be made perm until the umeployment rate falls below 6% nation wide. We can take half of the money from the bank, auto bailouts that have been paid and also from unspent stimulus money! Those with the highest rates (Mich, AZ, Cali and NV where I live)fall below 8%. So lets face it the economy will not improve any better for another 12 months if that and there is no point in doing a vote every few weeks to extend it. Please Washington, stop playing with our lives and fund a T5 ASAP.
99er
Quit blaming the republicans!! I have been unemployed for almost two years and was cut off! If there were a straight vote on Unemployment ALONE it would have passed. There were things added on to this that are controversial between both parties and should have been left out. So thank the DEMS for adding all of that crap on…Secondly, the GOP wanted to use the part of the unused stimulus money that we were told was so urgently needed to pay for the extension but the DEMS dont want to do that. We have only used 50% of the stimulus certainlly the DEMS can compromise on something!!
When the unemployed quit whinning and occupy the steps of Washington for weeks and months, only then will they be heard. While you are on the East Coast, stop by in New York and rape a few bankers like they raped you.
Unemployment should be on it’s own separate agenda. So now come November we all go thru this again along with all the new people who have recently lost their jobs. I have been without any benefits since June 2. I was ready to start tier 2. Thank God it was approved again. I have used almost all of my savings to pay my bills. Who knows when this will kick in? Another 2 weeks or so? I did have a phone interview last week and passed a test online. Sure hope it pans out this time. The overall thing is that Congress has no worries we do and they don’t even care. I have not seen any stimulus jobs except roads being repaired. Where did all the money go or what pot is it sitting in and why. They need to post what type of stimulus plans are we waiting in the wings for? People want to work. Let’s do some research and find out what this stimulus plan does for American Citizens.
I’m just moving to Canada. I’m sick of this.
BASICALLY WHAT THE REPULICANS ARE SAYING IS THAT ITS OK TO GIVE MONEY TO KOREA, INDIA, RUSSIA, ISREAL, PAKISTAN, CHINA AND A SLEW OF OTHER COUNRTIES FOR DECADES!!!! BUT TO HELP AMERICANS FOR A LIL WHILE LONGER JUST COST TOO MUCH!??? WTF! WE ARENT TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE ON WELFARE LOOKING FOR HAND OUTS, WERE NOT TALKING ABOUT REFUGEE’S OR SOME ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT RECIEVING SOCIAL SECURITY BECAUSE THEY CANNOT SPEAK ENGLISH! WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE THAT WAS WORKING! AND LOST THIER JOB! WHAT ABOUT ALL THOSE PEOPLE THAT USED TO WORK AT CIRCUIT CITY WHEN THEY CLOSED DOWN!? THEY WAS WORKING, CURCUIT CITY SAID LOOKS LIKE WE WONT BE GETTING OUR 3 MILLION DOLLAR BOUNUSES THIS YEAR SO LETS LIQUIDATE EVERYTHING AND CLOSE DOWN ALL THE STORES AND F! ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES JUS BEFORE THE START OF SHCOOL. ALL THOSE SURVIVORS OF THE BP OIL SPILL WHEN DO YOU THINK THEY WILL HAVE ANOTHER JOB ON AN OIL REFINERY? WE CAN TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE IN OTHER COUNTRIES BUT WE CANT TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN PEOPLE!? WELL I AM A REGISTERED VOTER AND I WANT THE NAMES OF EVERY SINGLE REPUBLICAN THAT VOTED AGAINST THE BILL TO BE PASSED SO I CAN VOTE THEM OUT!
I never liked the republicans to begin with. They have always been the rich get richer and the poor stay poor. If we leave it up to them there will be no middle class at all. I have talked lately with several people who are considering leaving the united states. After all, we seem to take care of everyone else before we take care of our own. So being over there….we might get help from our government.
If they know this bill is going to pass and they drag it out another day “Just because they can” then they clearly just want to make people suffer”Just because they can”….I will NEVER vote republican. That gang mentality is spooky.
I hate to have to say this but there is very little chance that congress will pass a tier five now or ever. The fight over the recently passed unemployment extension was such a close thing and took so much time that there is little zest for trying to get a tier five. The Republicans don’t seem to care what happens to the long term unemployed or their families, all they do care about is getting their own way and scoring points with their ultra conservative base.
Could this all change by November? Yes it could but only if the polls show the Republicans have been badly hurt by their fight over unemployment benefits. Politicians only start worrying when they think they will lose their cushy job. By that time, unfortunately, there will be millions who have suffered far too long and for some of them help will come too late. What a sad comment on the state of the United States today.
All we can do in the meantime is contact our senators and representatives telling them we want a tier five now. Not only should those who are out of benefits do this but everyone who wants to help those people and their families. The more noise you make the more worried the politicians will become and maybe, just maybe, they will grow a heart and do the right thing. After all the Grinch did.
I do believe it will pass. At leaset it had better pass! Be interesting to see how the senate and every other politican against any passing of this would feel losing their homes/car/job/etc.
What has happened to the COBRA subsidy? Health insurance is almost as important as the unemployment benefits which passed but still no checks here in Georgia.
dear santa why dose my mommy cry at night and daddy seem run down why cant i
get a toy for christmas or have food to eat mommy crys cause its cold daddy lost
his job he cant pay for heat we barely eat santa why dose the grinch want me to
hurt i heard daddy say he works for congress and has no heart i ask u santa
give him a heart so… mommy wont cry and daddy wont be sad by lavender
I have always been a republican. I just changed. These people are evil. The pretense of looking out for our country died the day thier keen watchfullness over looked wall street.
Most people now know how evil republicans really are.