Unemployment Benefits "Extenders" Bill: Third Time's the Charm?
A Third Version of the Unemployment Benefits "Extenders" Bill Now Rumored to Be Circulating
But now it's back to the drawing board, as the Senate struggles to find the winning combination of benefits versus offsets to attract the magical "60" votes needed to pass the bill.
Hopeful to handle at least one issue and lighten the burden of the overall bill, the "Doctor Fix" was removed and unanimously passed by both parties in the Senate last week. However, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) was not pleased and has refused to take up the doctor fix as a stand-alone issue, forcing the Senate to resume negotiations on the entire bill, doctor fix still included.
Republicans have also offered on two occasions to bifurcate the Unemployment Benefits Extension from the broader bill. They have offered to fund it for 30-days while the entire "Extenders" bill is being debated in order to prevent millions of Americans from losing their benefits in the interim. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev), however, turned down the Republicans' offer.
Nevertheless, continuing to try to move forward, word is that a third version of the Unemployment Benefits "Extenders" bill has emerged, this time phasing out Medicaid funding to further save on the overall cost of HR-4213. Most likely this newest Democrat version will also continue to cut employment benefits by $25 per week. This version is not likely final as more work will need to be done.
Republicans and moderate Democrats who previously voted "no" may continue to object to an overall bill that will still, no doubt, not be totally paid for, that will still add billions to the deficit and will still contain job-killing tax increases on families and small businesses. However, the Democrats will continue to work on the four remaining votes they feel they need for passage - that is Olympia Snowe (R-Maine); Susan Collins (R-Maine); Joe Lieberman (D-CT) and Ben Nelson (D-Neb). Time will tell if these latest changes will be enough to garner the remaining necessary votes.
If not, perhaps the Democrats could consider some of the proposals in the Thune amendment, which would fully pay for the entire Unemployment Benefits "Extenders" bill, including renewing the $25 per week FAC addition, using unallocated stimulus funds, cutting government spending, etc.
Hopefully, an agreeable bill can be voted on this week. Whatever it takes, these Senators MUST find a way to come to agreement and pass this Unemployment Benefits "Extenders" bill or millions of people will fall into permanent and often unrecoverable poverty and a second Great Depression will most certainly ensue.
Sources:
http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/domestic-taxes/104667-possible-third-extenders-bill-surfaces-on-k-street
http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/health-reform-implementation/104657-health-highlights-today
Published by S Gardner
S. Gardner is a freelance writer and researcher. She has experience as a weight loss and health counselor, a real estate agent, a small business owner and a high school history and civics teacher. She is a... View profile
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9 Comments
Post a CommentWAKE UP AMERICA WAKE UP
Sometimes I dont understand what the goverment is thinking. I dont understand much about politics but any person with a right mind would understand the american people. How about putting the politions on the other side and have them unemployed. Trying to pay bills needing money for food , gas. and verious other neccesities. I think they would be just as stressfull as we are. The government needs to sit down and rethink their reasoning. And look on the other side of things.
My husband has been unemployed since Jan. 2010 I work full time. Only make 300 to 330 a wk. His employment ran out. I totaly think the goverment is not thinking clearly. Finding a job is hard these days. He was with the company for 10yrs making good money. We have two teenage daughters that are very active in sports. We are afraid that paying rent , bills are going to be impossable. He has been looking for a job We have worked so hard to get where we are today and now it just seems endless.my pay check can not support us. Why they called of the extensions until he finds a job I will never understand. The government is going to put the american people out on the streets. We need to take care of the american people. Not the other part of the world.
IF: millions of people end up with no unemployment - an we are trying to get jobs. Georgia is one of the hardest hit. PEOPLE NEED TO ACT! We could, if we have gas, cause traffice jams in front of all the Senators homes, there is no law again too many cars on a street. Let them see what frustration is and if the police try to clear us out then they are going against the law!
HOW MUCH MONEY IS CONGRESS GIVING TO OTHER COUNTRIES FOR THEIR PEOPLE OR BUSINESSES.
STOP AND HELP THE WORKERS OF AMERICAN KEEP THEIR HOUSES AND LIVES.
Does congress want the 1930's again with millions on the street?
I'm 61 with no family and can't keep my life if I need unemployment to survive! I don't even have enough to eat in order to keep my house. I am living on $1240.00 per month plus congress wants to take away $100.00 if we keep what we have. I stay at home because of little gas money. I do nothing but send resumes and look for jobs! Would they do this to there mothers or grandmothers?
Laverne - Actually, the Republicans proposed a bill that froze government salaries, cut federal budgets by just 5% and used a small amount of unallocated stimulus money to pay for this bill and our unemployment benefits extensions. It did reduce the deficit by $68 Billion. But the Democrats rejected it. ... Troy ... I am so sorry for your situation. I am in the same boat. So sorry for all of us that are hurting, that are trying so hard to find jobs when there are none and seeing all we've worked for our whole lives slip away. Keep trying and keep praying ...
LET'S CUT SPENDING HELP THE DEFICIT BY SIGNING A PETITION TO CUT THE SALARIES OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENATIVES AND LOCAL OFFICALS PAY AND TAKE THE MONEY WE SAVE AN APPLY THAT SAVINGS TO THE REDUCE THE DEFICIT WE COULD SAVE MILLIONS OVER ONE YEARS TIME.
I have to dig deep to find this article.
Like I've said, I am 60 years old unemployed, worked for 37 years-never asked for anything. Had changed more than 10 jobs over my times.
This time around is so hard because of my age, I guess. I, like all the unemployed, need something to pass this critical time with a little dignity.
Needless to say, I am very disappointed with bias medias in their blaming game.
Try to keep politics out of this subject for a change, ha.
SURVIVAL OF OUR CITIZEN IS MORE IMPORTANT. Don't you think?
A lot of unemployed ppl are having to use their 401K to survive. But when you take out of your 401 before retirement, you are penalized 10% and another 20% taken out for taxes. The govt gets 30 percent of your 401K.