rssStabenow on Unemployment Insurance: ‘We Could Have Done This Three Weeks Ago’
Monday, October 26, 2009 at 5:23 pm
- 39 Comments
With 7,000 Americans exhausting their unemployment insurance (UI) each day, Senate Democrats are hoping this week to pass legislation extending those benefits nationwide — a bill that’s been held up for weeks while upper-chamber leaders haggle over a series of controversial Republican amendments. First, though, those Democrats are taking every opportunity to place the blame for the delay squarely on the shoulders of the GOP.
[buttons] In a call with reporters Monday, Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) said the GOP amendments — which include efforts to screen illegal aliens out of the job market and prevent ACORN from receiving federal funds — amount to little more than “a political agenda” intended to stall the Democrats’ policy priorities. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) charged that the Republican offerings aren’t designed to better the underlying bill, “but to make partisan political points.” And Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) couldn’t come up with a justification. “I don’t know how anyone can explain it,” she said.
GOP leaders have a defense. They argue that the Democrats’ strategy to pay for the $2.4 billion proposal by hitting employers with a surtax of $21 per worker will discourage new hires, thereby harming the same jobless folks it’s supposed to benefit. They also point out that it’s the Democratic majority that controls the floor schedule.
Yet Stabenow dismissed the notion that the Democrats could have acted more quickly to pass the UI extension, arguing that Republicans have used filibusters to stall legislation throughout the year, creating a backlog of legislation that’s slowed progress to a crawl.
“This has become a tactic,” Stabenow said. “We could have done this three weeks ago.”
And indeed they tried. On Oct. 8, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) asked GOP leaders for unanimous consent to approve the legislation, which would extend UI benefits for 14 weeks in every state, with an additional six weeks for states where unemployment rates are higher than 8.5 percent. (The House passed a similar bill last month). But Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) objected, citing the absence of a cost estimate.
Five days later, it was Stabenow who requested Republicans’ consent that the bill be passed. That time around it was Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) to object, citing no particular reason.
Meanwhile, the disagreement over how to approach the ACORN and immigration amendments continues, much to the disappointment of jobless advocates. Maurice Emsellem, policy co-director at the National Employment Law Project, estimated that 1.3 million Americans will exhaust their unemployment benefits unless Congress steps in with an extension. The frustration for advocates is compounded, Emsellem said, because “we haven’t heard any objections to the substance of the bill.”
The Senate is set to vote tomorrow to begin consideration of the proposal — a procedural move requiring 60 votes to pass. But that’s just be the start of the process. Without an agreement over the amendments, Democratic leaders will have to stage a second cloture vote in order to move to a final vote on the bill. The series of procedural steps could easily push that final vote to the end of the week.
Only the public’s ignorance of the process, some Democrats claim, is preventing a backlash against Republicans. “If the public understood what was holding up this legislation,” Shaheen said, “they would be outraged.”
“And rightly so,” she added.
39 Comments
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Comment posted October 26, 2009 @ 9:34 pm
It is important that we all put pressure on the Senators now! Tomorrow 10/27/09 is the vote. Everyone please contact Senators(especi ally Mitch McConnell (Ky), Jon Kyl (Az), Harry Reid (Nv) and John Isakson (Ga.)) and demand they pass this bill ASAP!!
Comment posted October 26, 2009 @ 9:56 pm
Facebook event created titled “Unemployed benefit extension virtual march on Washington”
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=156123314182
Holding up this unemployment extension bill is tantamount to taking a gun and shooting 7,000 American families DAILY who have lost this lifeline. More than 500,000 have had benefits expire. More than 2 million people, and by extension their families, will lose this lifeline by Christmas.
Yet the Senate continues to stall on this lifeline help. Republicans twice have blocked consideration on bogus grounds. Now they have loaded on EIGHT amendments — some highly controversial — having nothing to do with the benefits. They also object to continuing a $14 per employee per year tax for businesses already funded through 2011 to fund the benefits.
Huh?
Unemployed people have worked for years in most cases actually contributing to the benefit system intended to aid them in their hour of need. This is life and death.
WE MUST COLLECT TOGETHER IN CYBERSPACE AND IF NEEDED AT THE CAPITOL and tell these insensitive pigs they need to forget about this politics garbage and respond to our immediate needs.
Unemployment is at 10 percent nationwide, which doesn't count people whose unemployment benefits have run out — 400,000 this month, 1.4 million by December, and those who are underemployed, or working part-time when they need full-time work. The actual unemployment rate is near 20 percent. And as the Jobs Report so clearly illustrates, “employers” continue to cut jobs by the hundreds of thousands each month.
The lobbyists buy these senators left and right. Unemployed people don't have any money. What kind of nation have we become?
We must band together and collectively call out these insensitive stinking senators — who had no problem in the last month while the UE benefit bill stalled increasing staff salaries in two minutes, funding wars everywhere, giving money to other countries, enabling million dollar bonuses to bank employees and financial people who screwed the unemployed and the economy and a bunch of other stuff about crack cocaine and whatever else, including their own three-day work weeks.
WE DEMAND UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT EXTENSIONS TODAY!!!
Comment posted October 26, 2009 @ 10:05 pm
Senator Shaheen is actually wrong about the public not being outraged. Over the last week, and especially today I have been phoning EVERY Republican Senator letting them know how disgusted I am with their conduct in regard to this bill. They are acting like children and while speaking with their aides I let them know I've been a Republican for 42 years and will be re-registering this week as either a Democrat or Independent because of this bill. Watching CSPAN2 today I wanted to rip Senator McConnell's face off when the Democrats (Reid) said he would bend on 6 of the 8 amendments the Republicans tacked onto this bill but McConnell declined (wanting all 8 amendments). Freaking children! I'm ashamed of the Republican party and won't vote for another one for a very long time. We are now watching and our memories won't disappear after this bill finally passes. We know who to hold accountable for this horrible delay of a lifeline to the American people and it's not the Democrats. Watch out in 2010 because if you think you were ousted last year you ain't seen nothing yet!!!! Thank you Democrats for having hearts that aren't black and shriveled up. We better see a full Democratic Senate pass this thing as well and if not the public may make their threat a reality to take out all incumbents!
Comment posted October 26, 2009 @ 10:07 pm
Thank you Tonymoro! You articulated much better than I could and I am ready to march with the rest of the unemployed who are being tossed aside by the Republicans!
Comment posted October 26, 2009 @ 11:38 pm
I have called Sen Kyl's, Sen Hatch, Sen Cornyn, Sen Lugar, Sen McConnell offices in outrage over there cold blooded thoughtlessness in blocking this lifeline to over 400,000 laid off workers, they are so out of touch they are the worse choices to have represent americans they only represent Wall St., have voted republican since Reagan/Bush registered as an independent last week.
Comment posted October 27, 2009 @ 1:58 am
Why did Senator Hatch object to pushing through the vote for unemployment extension? He is more concerned with more important issues concerning the American public. http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/… I bet not one of you thought that anti trust issues and college football were much more important than putting food in your stomach or a roof over your head! Aren't our priorities in the wrong places???
Comment posted October 27, 2009 @ 2:37 pm
The ones that got us into this mess in the first place all still have there jobs and still getting there big bonuses while we are paying for it and they couldn’t give a sh*t less about us here. Like another here said that’s exactly what they are doing is holding this up so they don’t have to dish out the retro portion that should absolutely be due. We’re all going into poverty here, we need to band together as americans and use our rights and do something about this.
I’m praying for everyone out there as well as my family.
Comment posted October 27, 2009 @ 3:01 pm
I cannot even go out & look for a job. The front tires on my car are showing steel & the damn price of gas has gone up again. My unemployment ended in September & we’re living on my husband’s unemployment. For us, it’s feed the family or buy tires & go job hunting, pay the light bill & tell our son he more than likely wont get a birthday present next month or very very little Christmas the month after that. I hope everyone who is unemployed finds out about the red tape that is everywhere in the Senate. GOP SUCKS
Comment posted October 27, 2009 @ 10:17 am
Hey Stabenow – you SHOULD have done this three MONTHS ago!!
Comment posted October 27, 2009 @ 12:17 pm
Did all of you know that this extension will NOT be retroactive? This delay by both Dems and Rep. are a game they're playing to extend the decision so it saves them money by paying us less. Think about it. I received my last check on Sept. 8th. If they approve this on Nov. 3 and don't make it retro they won't have to pay me the 8 weeks I lost. Multiply that by the hundereds of thousands who haven't received their check in 8 weeks and you have hundreds of millions of dollars they don't have to pay us. Why is this extension not retro???? Hundreds of billions of dollars spent to save everyone but the people who deserve it, the laid off who need the most help.
“WE THE PEOPLE”
Comment posted October 27, 2009 @ 5:19 pm
They (The Senate) didn’t have any trouble passing a bill to bail out the rich. Where was the block to to read one page of the bailouts to the rich, who were employed. Where did that money come from ? thats right us tax payers, who are left hanging on a very simple bill (Extended Unemployment benefits) . Who do they think their fooling ? Wait untill they want our vote the next time around, we will see them unemployeed too. I am no longer blind. I think this Country needs an indipendent leadership. Its very clear, that the republican nor the dem. leadership, can get the job done for the people of this country. From a pissed off EX-REPUBLICAN.
Comment posted October 27, 2009 @ 5:21 pm
MY UNEMPLOYMENT RAN OUT 3-WEEKS AGO I EAT AT THE SOUP LINE WITH ABOUT A 1000 PEOPLE WHICH ABOUT 200 OF THEM BENIFIT RAN OUT! GET IT!
Comment posted October 27, 2009 @ 1:59 pm
I'm ashamed that I have voted for republicans in the past they're the party of NO! I haven't 't been able to find a job in over a year and now they're saying no to the hard working people that didn't have anything to do with this economic mess. It may be true that employers paid into the fund, but just think of all the much big raises you could of had if you knew they weren't going to take care of you when you became unemployed. I wouldn't vote for a republican if he was running for dog catcher!
Comment posted October 27, 2009 @ 2:01 pm
The GOP must not have learned anything on that last election in this country.
They must like being in a deep hole , their good at digging, keep digging your hole. When you get your bed made you can lay in it.
Comment posted October 27, 2009 @ 4:38 pm
The unemployed are victims of Dems and Repub discord. True, there are some slackers collecting benefits, but in these times there are more hardworking, educated people drawing benefits, many, like myself, who have not ever been unemployed. This must stop. I am Democrat, but I think it's time President Obama step in. I know he has been office a short time, but I am beginning to become disillusioned. I guess he is fighting the fight for healthcare which is important too since more and more people will become unemployed with no health benefits in the future.
Pingback posted October 27, 2009 @ 5:52 pm
[...] Status update courtesy of WashingtonIndependent: (…) The Senate is set to vote tomorrow to begin consideration of the proposal — a [...]
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[...] Status update courtesy of WashingtonIndependent: (…) The Senate is set to vote tomorrow to begin consideration of the proposal — a [...]
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[...] Status update courtesy of WashingtonIndependent: (…) The Senate is set to vote tomorrow to begin consideration of the proposal — a [...]
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[...] Status update courtesy of WashingtonIndependent: (…) The Senate is set to vote tomorrow to begin consideration of the proposal — a [...]
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[...] Status update courtesy of WashingtonIndependent: (…) The Senate is set to vote tomorrow to begin consideration of the proposal — a [...]
Comment posted October 27, 2009 @ 5:58 pm
Where Oh Where has my President gone? Where Oh Where can he be?
Pingback posted October 27, 2009 @ 7:25 pm
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Comment posted October 28, 2009 @ 2:37 pm
I've been out of unemployment since the middle of September. I have nothing in my kitchen to eat, and I'm about to not even have a kitchen. I sold my mothers dresser that has been in my family for over a hundred years to help par October rent and still didn't get enought to pay it all. Now November rent is comming due, and I don't have it. Thank you Congress, can I move in with you at the tax payers expense? No, I didn't think so. It may be time for the people to take back our government and give it a enema, to clean out the lazy, money hungry a-holes that are there to recieve a life off the backs of Americans. Just remember France, Congress.Let Them Eat Cake. At least where's our cake? Just remember what happened there.
Comment posted October 28, 2009 @ 9:14 pm
we will get 20 more weeks people they will just start it when the bill is passed!!! you will not get a check for the weeks before it was signed u will get the weeks u start claiming from now!! or we will all be out in no time ive been out since sept also. it starts the week the prez signs the bill
Comment posted December 15, 2009 @ 2:51 am
Only the public’s ignorance of the process, some Democrats claim, is preventing a backlash against Republicans. “If the public understood what was holding up this legislation,” Shaheen said, “they would be outraged.”
Comment posted February 27, 2010 @ 5:49 am
I am furious with the Republicans. I use to vote for the best candidate no matter if they had a D or and R bhind their name. Not anymore. I am so mad I will vote a strictly Democratic ticket from now on.They vote against anything proposed by a Democrat even if it is a good thing for America. Now they have gone too far. Blocking a vote and keeping over a million unemployed families lives in jeopardy because of some silly political game playing is not acceptable. They better get it done !
Comment posted February 27, 2010 @ 8:10 am
NTRLLY541: THEY W ILL GET THIS MOVING OF A DEADLINE PASSED! TUESDAY THEY WILL VOTE IT WILL BE EXTENDED A FEW MONTHS. BUT THIS IS ONLY FOR TIER 4″S 6 WEEKS. THEN WHAT? WE NEED A NEW TIER AND THEY ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT YET! ALMOST A MILLION OF US HAVE EXHAUSTED THAT 6 WEEKS ALREADY AND MORE AND MORE EVERY WEEK FALL OFF TIER 4. WE NEED A TIER 5 OR AT LEAST ADD MORE EEKS TO TIER 4 WHICH WOULD MAKE IT ALOT EASIER FOR THEM TO ADJUST THE COMPUTERS! THIS DEADLINE WILL BE MOVED COUNT ON IT. WITH ONLY ONE OPOSING ITS A SURE THING. THAT IDIOT FROM KENTUCKY SHULD HAVE HIS PAYCHECK TAKEN AWAY FOR A FEW MONTHS AND SEE HOW IT FEELS! SO YOU PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING INTO TIER 4 WILL BE FINE FOR 6 MORE WEEKS! THEN YOU TOO WILL BEOUT OF BENENFITS SO HIT THE PHONES, EMAIL ALL SENATORS NOW!! WE NEED A TIER 5 IMMEDIATELY THANK YOU AND LETS HOPE GOD IS WATCHING OUT FOR ALL OF US!
Comment posted February 27, 2010 @ 10:49 am
I am furious with the Republicans. I use to vote for the best candidate no matter if they had a D or and R bhind their name. Not anymore. I am so mad I will vote a strictly Democratic ticket from now on.They vote against anything proposed by a Democrat even if it is a good thing for America. Now they have gone too far. Blocking a vote and keeping over a million unemployed families lives in jeopardy because of some silly political game playing is not acceptable. They better get it done !
Comment posted February 27, 2010 @ 1:10 pm
NTRLLY541: THEY W ILL GET THIS MOVING OF A DEADLINE PASSED! TUESDAY THEY WILL VOTE IT WILL BE EXTENDED A FEW MONTHS. BUT THIS IS ONLY FOR TIER 4″S 6 WEEKS. THEN WHAT? WE NEED A NEW TIER AND THEY ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT YET! ALMOST A MILLION OF US HAVE EXHAUSTED THAT 6 WEEKS ALREADY AND MORE AND MORE EVERY WEEK FALL OFF TIER 4. WE NEED A TIER 5 OR AT LEAST ADD MORE EEKS TO TIER 4 WHICH WOULD MAKE IT ALOT EASIER FOR THEM TO ADJUST THE COMPUTERS! THIS DEADLINE WILL BE MOVED COUNT ON IT. WITH ONLY ONE OPOSING ITS A SURE THING. THAT IDIOT FROM KENTUCKY SHULD HAVE HIS PAYCHECK TAKEN AWAY FOR A FEW MONTHS AND SEE HOW IT FEELS! SO YOU PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING INTO TIER 4 WILL BE FINE FOR 6 MORE WEEKS! THEN YOU TOO WILL BEOUT OF BENENFITS SO HIT THE PHONES, EMAIL ALL SENATORS NOW!! WE NEED A TIER 5 IMMEDIATELY THANK YOU AND LETS HOPE GOD IS WATCHING OUT FOR ALL OF US!
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Comment posted September 25, 2010 @ 10:29 pm
There is not public ignorance, we do know and we are watching and we WILL react when its time to vote. That is indeed an ignorant and blid statement.
Comment posted April 20, 2011 @ 4:28 pm
Immediately post surgery the stoma prolapsed which means that the intestine was pushing out further than it should.
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