The Senate this evening took a step toward extending the filing deadline for unemployment benefits, hopping a procedural hurdle that sets the stage for final passage of the bill later this week.
The count was 60 to 34 to sidestep a filibuster by Republicans — notably Sen. Tom More…
Later today, the Senate is scheduled to hold a procedural vote on House-passed legislation extending the filing deadline for unemployment benefits through the end of the month — a proposal not to be confused with the creation of a new insurance tier. That deadline came and went April 5, pushing More…
One of the central flaws of safety net programs is that they become most necessary during recessions when states are least able to afford the influx of beneficiaries. Today, the National Employment Law Project, an advocacy group, reveals the extent of the problem as it pertains to jobless benefits, More…
With countless headlines reminding readers that jobless benefits begin expiring today, it was inevitable that each party would be slinging blame over the Senate’s failure to pass a filing extension before leaving town last month for spring break. Which is why you’ve got Senate More…
The Washington Post today runs a timely reminder that the nation’s unemployment rate will likely rise even as hundreds of thousands of jobs start being created. The reason is simple: The Labor Department equation used to crunch the jobless rate doesn’t consider those folks who’ve been so discouraged More…
From the department of irony comes this Roll Call story indicating that Senate Republicans — whose objections to a one-month extension of the filing deadline for unemployment benefits will affect hundreds of thousands of jobless folks next week — are hoping to blame Democrats for their inability to More…
With unemployment still hovering near double digits, the Christian Science Monitor this week highlights a forgotten angle in the government’s efforts to help laid-off folks weather the storm: Getting part-time work could leave them in worse shape than if they’d remained jobless.
“Many people who have been out More…
Moments ago, the Senate adjourned for a two-week-long spring recess. The last act of business was to schedule a cloture vote on a House-passed measure to extend COBRA and the filing deadline for unemployment benefits through April 30. The vote is slated for Monday, April 12 at 5:30 More…
Behind Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), the Republicans this morning have continued to block a $9.2 billion proposal to extend COBRA health benefits, delay a 21 percent cut in Medicare doctor payments, and extend the filing deadline for unemployment benefits (not to be confused with the creation of additional More…
To thousands of unemployed folks, two very different events are conspiring to pose an imminent threat to their federal benefits: (1) The deadline to file for jobless benefits arrives April 5, and (2) Congress leaves this weekend for a two-week vacation, and won’t be back to Washington until April 12. More…
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