United States News
See other United States News Articles
Title: Democrats Ready To Pass Jobless-Benefits Extension, With Filibuster-Defying 60th Vote In Place
Source:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
URL Source: http://www.canadianbusiness.com/mar ... /article.jsp?content=D9H2C0I00
Published: Jul 19, 2010
Author: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Post Date: 2010-07-19 20:25:56 by Brian S
Keywords: None
Views: 5535
Comments: 11
WASHINGTON (AP) - With a new face and a 60th vote for breaking a Republican filibuster, Senate Democrats are preparing to restore jobless checks for 2.5 million people whose benefits ran out during a congressional standoff over deficit spending. President Barack Obama says, "It's time to do what's right." But first, Obama and his Democratic allies are pressing for maximum political advantage, blaming Republicans for an impasse that halted unemployment checks averaging $309 a week for those whose eligibility had expired. Obama launched a fresh salvo on Monday, demanding that the Senate act on the legislation — after a vote already had been scheduled for Tuesday — and blasting Republicans for the holdup. "The same people who didn't have any problem spending hundreds of billions of dollars on tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans are now saying we shouldn't offer relief to middle-class Americans," Obama said. Republicans say they do favor the benefits but are insisting that they be paid for with spending cuts elsewhere in the government's $3.7 trillion budget. After initially feeling heat when a lone GOP senator, Jim Bunning of Kentucky, briefly blocked a benefits extension back in February, the GOP has grown increasingly comfortable in opposing the legislation. "What the president isn't telling the American people is that many of us in the Senate are fighting to make sure our children and grandchildren aren't buried under a mountain of debt," said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah. "If we are going to extend unemployment benefits, then let's do it without adding to our record debt." Tuesday's Senate voting — with Democratic newcomer Carte Goodwin of West Virginia being sworn in just in time to cast the 60th vote to break a GOP filibuster — will cap a battle of more than four months that's featured bad blood and a shift in sentiment among key Republicans. Though the economy is said to be slowly recovering, the jobless rate remains painfully high at 9.5 percent. And Obama, putting a human face on those hard times, brought three unemployed people to the Rose Garden with him on Monday. An increasing number of people, however, have been out of work for so long that they have exhausted their eligibility for benefits, which ends at 99 weeks in most states. This measure won't help them. In Bellevue, Wash., for example, unemployment benefits ran out last week for 63-year-old Sherry Blum. She's been job hunting since August 2008. Already behind on her mortgage, the loss of her weekly benefits means she will have to sell her town house. "Unemployment (benefits) helped me stay just above water," she said. Blum plans to sell her town house, with its $1,600 monthly mortgage, and move into a small apartment. But with the housing market still ailing, that could take time. Three other homeowners in her development have taken their homes off the market recently after failing to sell them. "Hopefully my house will sell before it goes into foreclosure," she said.
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 11.
#2. To: Brian S (#0)
Where are the jobs you promised? Do something to stimulate job creation! Empty promises and rhetoric is all you and your liberal sycophants have.
WTF? Totally meaningless!
You think going from 700k jobs lost in Bush's last month to adding jobs is meaningless?
Your "graphic" was and is totally meaningless.
My "graphic" shows the trend, increasing job loss under Bush, decreasing job loss and now job gain under Obama. Keep arguing for a return to Bush.
It shows nothing but some colors and dates. Nothing else. It doesn't even provide a source or what it supposedly indicates. Liberals......pathetic!
jobs lost / gained by month, sorry I expected you to be able to figure that out. I'll dumb it down next time.
Without a credible reference, you and your graphic are meaningless leftist twaddle. What are you, a JH student?
There are no replies to Comment # 11. End Trace Mode for Comment # 11.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/LatestPresident Barack Obama says, "It's time to do what's right."
#3. To: Ibluafartsky (#2)
Where are the jobs you promised? Do something to stimulate job creation! Empty promises and rhetoric is all you and your liberal sycophants have.
#4. To: go65 (#3)
#5. To: Ibluafartsky (#4)
WTF? Totally meaningless!
#6. To: go65 (#5)
You think going from 700k jobs lost in Bush's last month to adding jobs is meaningless?
#7. To: Ibluafartsky (#6)
Your "graphic" was and is totally meaningless.
#8. To: go65 (#7)
My "graphic" shows the trend,
#9. To: Ibluafartsky (#8)
It shows nothing but some colors and dates. Nothing else. It doesn't even provide a source or what it supposedly indicates. Liberals......pathetic!
#11. To: go65 (#9)
jobs lost / gained by month,
Replies to Comment # 11.
[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]