The federal government spent $85.8 billion on unemployment extension benefits in 2009, the Census Bureau reported yesterday. The amount is a huge 114.6 percent increase from the previous year according to the press release of the bureau.
The bureau’s press statement also mentioned that forty states recorded increases in unemployment extension benefits of over 100 percent. Twenty seven states allocated over $1 billion for unemployment benefits in 2009.
These new figures are from the Census’ Consolidated Federal Funds Report: 2009, which provides a breakdown on the distribution of federal funds according to department and agency, and by state and county. Federal Aid to States: 2009, a companion report also released on the same day, shows federal grants to state and local governments.
Overall, obligations for federal domestic spending increased by 16 percent in 2009 to $3.2 trillion, the press release mentioned. This is the largest increase since 1983. On a per capita basis, this amount translates to $10,548 per person living in America.
Unemployment extension benefits and other direct payments, e.g., housing assistance, Medicare, made up 23.6 percent of the federal spending at $762.9 billion.
In a report the Washington Post said, “the spike in federal spending has emerged as one of the nation’s most contentious political issues.” The Post said many Republicans accuse the Obama administration and its allies of being “reckless spenders” and that they are putting the country’s economic prospects in harm’s way by inflating the deficit.
Chris Edwards, an economist at Cato Institute, told the Post, “The stimulus put the nation a trillion dollars further into debt, which was bad enough, but an additional concern is that there will be efforts to extend and make permanent many of the stimulus programs.”
President Barack Obama and majority of Democrats claim that the increase in spending rescued the nation’s economy. They say struggling families were the focus of the stimulus spending through unemployment extension benefits, emergency health-care assistance, and food stamp enhancements, the Post said.
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THERE SOME OF THE NUMBERS ARE IN. BY THOSE NUMBERS IT BASICLY PROVES PEOPLE HAVE LOST THERE JOBS, WE ARE NOT ON SOME 2 YEAR VACATION ON THE GOVERMENTS DIME. AND I DO MEAN DIME…..BEFORE MY JOB LOSS 2 YEARS AGO I TOOK HOME 476.00 A WEEK. WHEN I GOT UNEMPLOYMENT IT WAS ONLY 238.00 A WEEK. IT SUCKS NOT HAVING IT LIKE I DID,BUT YOU GOTTA KEEP ON MOVING ON…JUST NOBODY IS HIRING……
yup james lee a 99er holding people hostage in maryland he wants to kill for the cause
With all the greed on the right GOP don’t you think they would have at the least taken the time to figure out that once the middle class is gone, who will buy those products they make overseas. Do they really think some one in China is going to pay 40 or 50 grand for a new Ford or Chevy or Dodge Pick up truck. Well at 7.00 a day in salary it will take about what 55 years to pay it off before you even add interest. And somehow we are no longer relative. Folks the middle class is disappearing right before our eyes. There is nothing more sad than a man that just won’t see.
They saw this coming when they decide to move all the jobs in China congress should pay for there mistakes. Now the question is are they losing money or gaining money for america by having the jobs overseas for a few pennies. Only jobs are around are 7.40 a hr labor ready there no career future there.
Republicans caused this mess, why dont they fix it? They want to stop the unemployment extensions and programs to help the poor. What do they propose to do with everyone who needs help? Do they expect us to just lay down and die?
They took our jobs away and whine about us needing the unemployment extensions. Well then create us some jobs!
President Clinton caused this mess when he repealed the Glass-Steagal Act in 1999. This directly led to the Subprime Mortgage Crisis, which is the main reason why this recession is so bad.
Obama not reinstating the Glass-Steagal Act is the main reason why so many people say his Wall Street Reform Bill is totally worthless. Basically, everything in his Wall Street Reform wouldn’t have prevented what caused this current recession. Even though Obama makes it sound like he did fix all these things.
Just a spit in the bucket compared to how much money they waste .
They complain about helping the unemployed, but had no problem helping millionaires in the bankster, industry that caused us to BE unemployed in the first place.
Our Government is so corrupt as to be dangerous to our National Security, and must be totally removed. I will listen to any suggestions on where to start. I have some of my own. This is totally out of hand. the “teabags” are bringing in Fascism in the name of GOD.
This country is way, way, out of control. The “dumbed” down have helped get us there. Time to turn it around any way possible.
No one mentions what part of thar goes back in thr form of income tax in NY only 2,400 is non taxable.
Wow, the level of ignorance and illiteracy on this and other sites of the chronic unemployed are nothing less that startling!
At a minimum learn some English grammar and spelling for heaven’s sake! No wonder you can’t find jobs, seems most of you are unable to communicate coherently.
Yet you’ve read every comment. Your attempt at arrogance is tedious and overplayed. At a minimum display some originality !
No wonder you are a bore.
Hey Michael,
I wanted to say thanks for letting me comment here.
I’ve read many intelligent responses and a lot of junk comments too. The comments that are intentionally hurtful, and designed to disrupt, are a waste of time to read.
People who insult those looking for work really don’t belong on this site if this is to be a support resource.
Diversity is good, differing opinions are fine. Abuse is not.
It’s your site to decide how to moderate, obviously. But, at this point, for me, reading offensive and negative comments posted only to attack the unemployed, adds no value.
Anyway, please keep writing. Your contribution makes a difference to so many people.
Be well.
85 billion compared to 1.5 Trillion given to banks to shell out bonuses and also trade derivative products.
Now I ask you—Why not force the too big to fail banks to fund all future unemployment benefits needed until we get some stability in the job market?
They can wire the funds over to the Fed just like the Fed wired it to them!!!