Obama has asked his top economic advisors to look for any way — in fact, every way — to boost an economy that isn’t growing fast enough, from changes in the tax structure to the stimulating effects of the Tier 5 unemployment extension. There is one option that is off the table, however. “Some big, new stimulus plan is not in the offing,” White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said.
Experts generally agree that the economy is not set to improve noticeably in the foreseeable future, but some believe that the national unemployment numbers for August — released tomorrow — will provide some hope. Other experts believe that another great stimulus bill would have larger effects than the original, and would successfully kick-start the economy. Gibbs, however, outright defied their claims, saying instead that the President’s advisory team “is looking at a whole host” of potential “targeted measures” that would speed up the economic recovery. “This is not purely an academic exercise,” Gibbs said.
Obama’s White House seems dedicated to a small-business tax cut and an easier-to-obtain loan package — a bill that is early on the agenda when the Senate reconvenes later in September. There’s also an elephant in the room — the impending expiration of the Bush tax cuts.
If they are allowed to lapse, Obama has plans in place to support another bill which will keep the lapse from affecting the middle and lower classes. Obama has the power to veto an extension of the Bush tax cuts, but there has been little speculation as to whether he would exercise that power. If he does — or Congress simply fails to extend them — the government’s tax income would jump by more than $200 billion.
That’s one way to pay for Tier 5 — a way that comes almost entirely at the expense of the wealthy. But there are many others that have been suggested by angry ’99ers across the country.
“Now that we won’t be pouring trillions into Iraq, could we funnel a bit of that to Tier 5? Just a thought,” said ’99er Lori Chaudhry in an email to MICMN. Certainly diverting a miniscule fraction of the Department of Defense budget would do the job.
Blogger Crystal McRay at Politics and World News offered two more suggestions, calling for the Feds to “Cut out so-called “pork spending” on special interests [or] funding to foreign governments.” The amount of aid the US gives Israel (who receives more of our money every year than any other country) is less than 5% of the cost of the total estimated cost of Tier 5, so maybe that’s not such a great place to find money, but it’s not a bad start, either.
The GOP seems to believe that the only place funding for Tier 5 could come from is a tax hike — something they dread to their very cores. Their fears aside, however, diffusing the cost of Tier 5 across America’s broad taxpayer base is an attractive option from a purely mathematical point of view.
The Democrats, meanwhile, seem intent on using deficit spending to get us out of the economic hole we’re in — which would include the Tier 5 unemployment extension. That essentially means the same thing as a tax hike, except the tax hike happens in 5-20 years instead of right now. The hope is that, by then, the economy will have recovered so much that a tax hike would less problematic than it would be today.
Finally, Harry Reid, Senate Majority Leader (D, NV) has floated the idea of having ’99ers ‘pay’ for Tier 5 themselves by requiring that they work part-time for the government for the duration that they are on any Tiers past Tier 4. A creative and unique solution, but one that would potentially cause more costly bureaucracy than it could itself pay for.
No matter how the Tier 5 unemployment extension is funded, two points are inarguable: paying for it isn’t going to be simple, and it has to get done regardless.
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Republican greed almost killed our wonderful America the last 10 years. Please vote Democrat for continued change away from these non-humans. Thank you and God Bless the Democrats for supporting the little guy and America.
For your information,the Obama administration has spent more money than any administration in the history of the United States of America. Some people are still blaming Bush for all the ills of this present time. Get over it,there’s another Sheriff in town. Deal with that cry baby!!!
Obama did not have a choice after 8 years of GOP! I assume you are one the few that have a job? I assume you make more that 200,000 a year? I assume that you truly living in a fantacy world like the other GOP’ers because you sound like an ass!
Renee:
The UE rate is as of today 9.6%. That means that 90.4% HAVE JOBS! The “few” are the people who don’t have jobs.
Hang on Renee, the GOP, conservative democrats and tight-fisted independents are about to sweep back into Congress in a BIG way in November!
Oh, and it’s “fantasy” and it’s all yours.
Link? Or are these “facts” your “fantasy”.
let me educate you a bit since a lot of people dont realize how this number is calculated…that 9.6% DOES NOT include ALL of the unemployed. that is a number that is calculated by the amount of people currently receiving benefits at this time. It does dot include the millions of americans who have exhausted benefits or didnt qualify for them. once benefits are exhausted, you are non-existent to statistics. there is an estimated 15 to 20 million americans actually out of work right now. that number more than doubles when you count all that have been affected by it. All i ask from GOP followers, is to make sure you REALLY do your homework. Americans need to start paying more attention and doing more research about the current condition of the economy and congress. you will be horrified at what you find and i guarantee you will never be the same again once you learn the truth about it. we as american citizens need to start working together, otherwise things will only get worse.
I have to agree with you 100% Renee!The republicans have killed the economy!
Where did you get your head stuck for the last 8 yrs. You think an overnight miracle by Obama with constant blockage by the the Party of NO Republican will do any good to this nation. The Republican has destroyed this nation according to an economist that served republican president Reagan. Unfortunately, american has a short memory and that is a big problem that will contribute to the downfall of america.
Hess, I take YOU have a job! If so, I don’t know what you are doing on here! Even I though agree with you in saying that Obama needs to step up, this was Bush’s mess in the beginning! Now, Obama needs to do something besides hiding to help people hurting in this country. Hell, if you ask me, ALL of the ass holes need to go!
The point is if going to debate helping unemployed with how do we pay for it. Then every single thing we spend billions on should get same debate. I am angry as between pork, foreign monies we pay out, defense billions we waste etc etc no one asks how do we pay for them. If this really is about not adding to deficit then what does that mean since no debate? We don’t have enough money to pay for all we do. Then it comes down to priorities what comes first right? Long term unemployed are Americans victims of Wallstreet and Congress greed. Who have paid taxes all their life and are not a first priority then what is? There are so many areas of waste and spending not more important that should be cut out first before telling Americans sorry no money or sorry pay more taxes. I am all for paying more taxes but first congress needs to show us with more money America comes first. They never do that do they? Congress show us you are going to cut waste, foreign aid etc first then lets talk about increasing taxes. Your history is more money we give you more you waste.
I am very passionate when it comes to families, especially struggling single Mother’s having everything that they need, want and desire, particularly when it comes to housing. At the end of the day, EVERYONE should have a stable, secure, safe place to live. I pray with all of my heart that this information is helpful to you or someone you know! Please re-post!!!
With everything that has transpired with the housing market crash, jobs and UNEMPLOYMENT, a number of families/individuals have become homeless or are on the verge of becoming homeless. I have read many hurtful and disturbing posts. Personally, I don’t know how millionaire’s sleep at night; if I was one, I’d be broke from trying to help families in distress. I would do everything in my power to END the fight against hunger and homelessness.
I have searched online for apartment rentals, and during my search I’ve seen ads that said “No Bankruptcies within the last 3 years, No evictions, No Felonies, Must have good credit” (my God who has any good credit left these days). So…I thought to myself, there has to be a program(s) out there to help the people who fall into these categories. Bad things happen to Good people, I’m a living witness to that.
I was on Craigslist in the apartment section, I typed in “evictions”, not much came up. I then typed in “2nd chance” BINGO!!! It was like hitting the lottery!!! I saw one ad after another, there are a number of properties that participate in what’s know as the 2nd Chance Rental Program. If you have a broken lease, eviction, bankruptcy, bad credit and even a felony – NO VIOLENT CRIMES, there are apartment complexes out there willing to work with you! Of course they will need pertinent information from you.
I have found this program in the following states, listed under the following search terms.
Sacramento, CA – 2nd Chance; Texas – 2nd Chance; Georgia – no credit check; Illinois – no credit check & 2nd chance; Michigan – no credit check and pre-pay for an entire year. (Pre-paying rent for an entire year in my opinion is an excellent option if you have the money).
There may very well be other states offering the 2nd chance program or something similar, please go online and do your research. Craigslist – Housing – Apartments/Housing.
If there is indeed a Tier 5 Unemployment extension, at least you know that you and your family will have 20 weeks of housing, you don’t have to worry about sleeping in a vehicle or staying in a motel. *Some of the apartment complexes are offering move-in specials and free rent. This in my opinion is definitely a 2nd chance! Be sure to reach out to your local agencies/churches for rental deposit assistance. Some agencies will help with the deposit and first month’s rent. Combine that with a rental special (i.e. – 1/2 off first month’s rent or 30 days free rent) you can finally start to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Please stay strong, positive and encouraged! Keep fighting the good fight of faith. Continue to reach out for assistance (rent, utilities, clothes, shoes, food, furniture items, Christmas toys for the children – help is out there) get into an educational training program, continue to apply for jobs EVERYDAY — your prayers will be answered!
~SolitaryParent
Dems have controlled Congress for 60 of last 70 years. Under Dem control years ago they started being okay with deficits and still spending more then we take in. The only time we had a surplus since many decades ago was in the late 90′s to early 2000′s. Republican control of Congress was only change staring in 1994. In 2006 Dems got back control of congress. Guess what more huge spending and deficits growing over last 4 years ar record pace. So for those that say republicans caused are problem learn history its dems control of congress that did.
You people need to listen more and blubber less. No one wants your politics or your fake candidates blaming this group or that. Put people back to work. Private businesses, the backbone of this country create jobs.
Vote against the rip off politicians who want to privatize social security.
You gamble with your own retirement, not ours !
Where did you get your messed up facts ? Disney Land ? !
USE THE LEFTOVER TARP MONEY
I saw on news today number of homeless in NY doubled. That will be going up all over the country since Congress thinks the job fairy is going to come soon and lower UI under 7%. It must be a job fairy since nothing they have done or will do creates enough jobs to make dent in long term unemployed numbers. So keep eye out for the job fairy. He going to create jobs for the other 4 who cannot get a job when 1 job for every 5 unemployed out there. Amazing Congress after 2 years had not made a dent in unemployment % but they feel 99ers are lazy is why unemployed. Not the fact UI is high as its been for 2 years. So math says of course 99ers numbers will go up.
To put it simply all of Washington is messed up, has their wealthy heads stuck up their butpuckers and have no idea of how regular Americans live or how to repair the economy. Obama has done nothing to stimulate the economy, jobs are harder to get now than even a couple of months ago, and there is no real growth. All he has managed to do is multiply the debt several times over. Maybe if he would have been more interested in the economy and hard working Americans loosing their jobs than getting in history books for health care reform (that we can’t afford to pay for) the economy may have been better by now.
With that said the GOP is no better, infact they are even worse. Everyone agrees that at this point we are in that horrible place where there is no money, but we have to spend money to make money and get the economy going. Everyone in Washington agrees on that point. The problem is that the GOP thinks to make the money we should flood the wealthy with as much money as possible and hope that some change falls out of their pockets for the rest of us, while the Democrats (rightfully) think that giving money to unemployed Americans to pay their bills and buy merchandise will stimulate the economy. Really it shows just how out of touch the GOP is to want to extend the Bush tax cuts at a cost of more than 200 billion. First of all “trickle down economics” never worked and it is just amazing that in 2010 the GOP would still be pushing for it!! Secondly, the Bush tax cuts are called the Bush tax cuts because Bush passed them and they have been in effect all this time- if they worked the economy would have never “tanked” in the first place- what makes them think these tax cuts will get us out of the problem they helped to create??? Neither party has the collective intelligence god blessed a potato with, but at least the Democrats want to try to save the middle class from total destruction. I am convinced that the GOP isn’t going to be happy until we go back to a Feudal System where all of us lowly pesants (who can’t even legally own land) all tend to every need and want of our GOP overlords so they can become fatter and richer on our hard work.
This is an excellent summation of our sad reality!
And you see it on a micro-level: people who have money and jobs really don’t get it that some of us do not have a job and live on $1200 (or less) a month in spite of our best efforts over months/years of struggle.
They can’t grasp that no money=no food, housing, etc. because they have always had those things (so did we at one time) and take them for granted.
This is a spoiled country where there is no sympathy or empathy for those who are victims of the recession/depression. No notion of helping your neighbor in trouble in most areas. In other countries there is much more public generosity and security for citizens who get sick and can’t work or lose their jobs for some reason. Here, you are SOL and on your own, baby. It’s wrong, it’s immoral, it’s unethical. But as long as the rich hold the purse strings it “ain’t gonna change.”
Only. 67,000 private sector jobs created, when we need 300,000 a month to move ahead. Unemployment up from 9.5% to 9.6% that figure is NOT good. Another extension AND a Tier 5 is vital, or this limp economy is going to tank again.
Why can’t some people stop blaming Bush,have you forgotten who’s in charge NOW???
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NAFTA, thanks Bill Clinton. You got millions from the asian nations and that’s why your daughter had a $10 million wedding. But I had a job…right on!
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Bush, your an oil man and made millions off big business.
The last 10 years was booming and I had a job…Right on!
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Obama, your a real change man and made millions off your book and the acorn community. The economy is tanked and I don’t have a job. All the IT years of schooling, training and experience has went to waste since anything computer related can be transfered to another country for less money.
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Clinton = NAFTA
Bush = no WMD and war
Obama = depression and no jobs in America.
Now there is no reason for the Obama voters that got real change to defend your voting record or Obams drpression…it is what it is!
Our government keeps saying about 99er’s & tier 5, “where will the money come from”, I’m no politician, but shouldn’t it come from the unemployment taxes that employees and employers pay in. I know people that have worked 40+ years and never collected a dime, where is that money. Our government needs to take control of the spending like we do or need to do. Tighten the belt up, so to say. They just keep spending and then worry about where the money will come from, oh, I know, lets raise taxes!!! Get rid of some of the Senators and Representatives or at the least, cut their pay. Get them off their high horses and let them come to the real world that the true red blooded Americans live in every day. I emailed probably 30+ Senators in a bulk email letter and have yet to hear back from one single one of them, so, whats that tell you about our government? And I have not, nor do I know of anybody that has ever gotten a call or invite to talk to us about our views or opinions about any of the bills that are passed in congress. They don’t care about what we want, it’s all about special interest groups and getting their own perks!!!!!!! Yes, I am a 99er, but first and foremost I am and AMERICAN and its time that we all stick together and make our government do what we want. Or VOTE THEM OUT!!!!!! If it was or is time for their raises, I bet they get them. DAMN, must be nice to vote for your own raise!!!!!!!!!! So, come on people, stand up and be counted, don’t just vote for somebody or something because that’s what your party is suppose to vote for, vote for it because its the right thing to do. I mean come on, it’s about all of us as AMERICAN, not some stupid party, they all pay 10′s of thousands and even millions of dollars to win the positions that they are running for, ok, I call it buying your job and telling lies and making promises that you can’t keep. Yea, its all about the money and covering their asses!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for reading, Frank
We have to confront our society’s problems,in the present tense, and quit playing the ‘blame game’ from the past!
What got us here is not as important as what we do about it now!!!
The choice of how the congress should pay for the tier 5
is simple. The money that would be collected for payroll
taxes would be more than enough when you put a jobs bill credit and Tier 5 bill together.Employers need a reason
to hire the unemployed. If you gave a business a $5500.00 credit,for every employee,that they hired, they
would save 10% at the end of the year. There has to be
a reason for companies to spend the profits,in this
Country. The days of exporting jobs overseas for larger
profits has to stop. The American jobs being traded
for larger profits has to end. Let Japan China Mexico India employ people with trade commerce. America has
to support American workers Again. The 1950′s had a 3%
unemployment rate.Lets take a lesson from History !
the next MF’er that faults Obama for this is gonna get it!!!!…cause obviously you dont!!!….P.S….im white…painfully so! I agree with Jake, what got us here isnt as important as what gets…or more so doesnt get done about this!!! those of you who say quit whining obviously have no clue as to what the rest of us are going thru! my bread and butter literally depends on the economy..which obviously sucks…I run heavy equipment, so without industry development…i.e….new construction and new roads,…I sit!!! Im a single dad of a two and four year old, who being white and middle aged dont qualify for any assistance at all,…not to play the race card but being white doesnt pay now days…cause we are the payee’s…till now that is… If tier 5 doesnt come soon I fear the worst for me and mine, let alone everyone else…. Get rid of all the illegals and the the states will have jobs…and money for all of us who belong, cause I dont know bout the rest of you but im not above any job at this point…never was…P.S. I voted for Obama, And still support what he was left with to clean up… But damn do I miss Clinton!!!!…..
Gaurantee me a tier 5 and Ill gladley work for it !
Illegal, Illegal, Illigal, yada, yada, yada. Do your research and see how many immigrants on work visa’s come into this country each and every day! Thousands… Look the numbers up on the INS website or Google. There are too many people here and we cant Accommodate anymore right now. There are no jobs and they keep comming in every day. The young and lowest bidder gets the jobs in this country the we built up for 30 plus years. Lobbyists are running this country.
the lobbiest bullshit is what ruined our fine nation…I come from a family of vet’s that cant stand the country they fought and are dying for…. F congress and there way of “doing buisness” I.E. screwing us all!!!!! Boy wish I could have a vacation!!!!! Let alone one I didnt have to pay for… Oh wait I did pay for it, just didnt get to take it!!!!! thanks washington!!!! what happened to accountabiltiy?…I’ll build the guilitine!!!!!!!!!step up..come one come all!!!!!!!!!!
I agree it is not Obama he got all of the mess from bush and old daddy bush. Plus, every time he tries to extend this or create a job bill, the republicans block it. I could care less about spending, you got to spend to get someplace. HE has to spend to get things created and the republcians block everything. I mean everything. We need a Tier five and need it now. Do you think people that have ran out of benefits and lost their jobs care about the national debt NO. They are just trying to survive. IF people had some sense they would realize unemployment is not that much money but it does circulate back in the economy. So all of you on here blaming Obama cause he is half white and half black get over it people doing without are not about race just trying to eat, pay bills, and live. NOT ABOUT RACE AT ALL.
Melissa,
You are being naive, but you’re right its not Obama. But its not George Bush, its not Papa Bush, its not the politicians, its the one world corporate mafia that has bought them and dictates every thing they do.
Personally I wouldn’t care if Obama was purple if he would have reinstated a constitutional government as he did kind of promise to do in part by putting an end to the patriot act. Was he just kidding about that or was he lying to get elected? Face it, the list of lies he told to get elected is as long as he is tall.
As for spending, we have recently purchased 5 new printing presses for printing money and they, along with the old ones, run 24/7. Logic dictates that by rights, our pockets should be stuffed with worthless money. If you are like me you have just a few worthless dollars in your pocket. So where is all that money going? I’ll tell you, overseas to foreign governments like China, Japan, and the Netherlands. They are in turn using it to buy up the last of the real properties which once belonged to the American people. They hate Americans and are gladly working hand in hand with the one world corporate mafia to see us completely dispossessed and enslaved.
Come on woman, swallow the red pill, wake up out of the matrix, and find out what the hell is really going on in what used to be but will soon not be your country anymore. If you want to know the truth go to www.infowars.com and www.prisonplanet.com
Those of you on here make sure you send your support of a tier 5 to our congressman and white house and nancy peloski. Those of you on here with a job and racist, stay off. Those of you on here in support of the national debt and republicans stay off. WE are just trying to survive. It is not our fault we lost our jobs.
All of this mess stems from NAFTA. When NAFTA was signed, it was the end of America. However, Bush, and old daddy Bush never tried to help american people and now Obama has his hands full. Every time he tries to do something the rich republicans block it. REMEMBER REPUBLCIANs.
ABSOLUTELY!!!!!
The ignorance and class envy here is astounding.
Given the simply appalling, virtually non-existent written skills of the vast majority of posters to this blog and others like it, I may be starting to understand why the 99ers are having such a difficult time finding employment. Who is going to hire someone who can’t communicate accurately or effectively? In this job market, no one!
Oh, Melissa, here’s a little tidbit of knowledge for you so you can look smart – try to remember it – CLINTON (a democrap) signed NAFTA!
I know that I’ve got to get REAL, but every one of our legislators and the president knows that in order to bring our economy out of this mess, we must enact national policies that limit the amount of imported goods into this country.
Screw NAFTA and every other secret agreement into which we’ve entered abroad. Every country with whom we’re now competing globally has those policies in place to protect their economy and workers from exactly what we’re experiencing in the U.S. today.
U.S. based companies should be constrained even more than foreign-based exporters. If they can’t make enough profit selling mainly to the consumers in the countries in which they’re physically manufacturing products – well, that’s their tough luck.
BUT THEN…..I woke up from my reality break and still witness the greedy money-worshiping corporations and politicians who aren’t happy unless they’re exploiting everyone for their own financial gain while simultaneously refusing to see the need to curtail imports to null the effects of the hoards of companies who flocked to Asia to get their cheap labor while government simply turned a blind eye.
There will be retribution for their philosophy and behavior either on this earth or in the afterlife. Unfortunately the quality of life for hundreds of millions, if not billions, of innocent people will slowly be completely trashed in the process. I wish I didn’t need to get REAL though……………..
Yeah, why in the freaking world should I or anyone else in this country believe in the philosophy of, or want to see more, global trading when all it has served to do is lower the standard of living for the majority of us who aren’t wealthy and bring us ever closer to a European standard of living? Please, someone remind me again why I’m supposed to believe that global trading is a necessity!!!!!
Lets end the minimum wage and all you brilliant 99ers can get back to work and stop just sitting around and whining on our dime.
Running out of ideas already ?
Sound ideas stand the test of time. What is yours?
Locate the comments you made, and keep making, suggesting this idea. Only this time, try reading the replies.
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Fellow 99ers, below is just a partial reason to why we don’t have jobs after our many years of duty to our country.
Table 1 from the INS website shows the number of people coming in to the USA each year.
Our government allows our USA jobs to be outsourced in foreign countries while over a million people seeking American residency are allowed to come into the USA each year.
Even a complete moron can see why there are no real jobs in America today. The people we voted in to work for us only work on their own agenda’s not the American people.
PERSONS OBTAINING LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS: FISCAL YEARS 2000 TO 2008
2000 = 841,002 2001 = 1,058,902 2002 = 1,059,356 2003 =703,543 2004 = 957,883 2005 = 1,122,257 2006 = 1,122,257 2007 = 1,052, 415 2008 = 1,107,126
Take a few minuets to ponder these numbers and then let our leaders lies echo in your minds. Today’s designed depression was a plot that worked to bring down the pay scale in America. What a brilliant disguise!