Still no pay as you go
By laglen
@laglen (19759)
United States
April 15, 2010 6:17pm CST
After weeks of debate over whether the measure should be paid for, the Senate today approved an $18 billion short-term extension of unemployment and medical benefits that will affect hundreds of thousands of out-of-work Americans.
The legislation, approved 59-38, would extend through June 2 unemployment insurance for people who have been out of work for several months and have exhausted their state-paid unemployment program.
"We have a responsibility to make sure out-of-work Americans can still access the vital safety-net programs they need to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table while Congress works to pass a longer-term solution," said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont.
Action on the bill comes on the same day the Labor Department reported that first-time requests for jobless benefits rose by 24,000 to a seasonally adjusted 484,000, the highest level since late February, according to the Associated Press.
The measure also extends the COBRA program -- which allows people to continue to receive the health insurance they had from a former employer -- and delays a 21% cut in Medicare reimbursements to doctors.
The bill now heads to the House, which is expected to vote on it later tonight.
Some Republicans, including Sen. Jim Bunning of Kentucky, have opposed the legislation because the measure will add to the nation's budget deficit.
"We all want to make sure that the unemployed continue to receive these important benefits so they can make ends meet while they search for work, but we also need to make sure this spending is paid for," Bunning said in a statement.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2010/04/senate-votes-to-extend-unemployment-benefits/1
so even after ideas thrown around about how to pay for this, still no pay as you go. What do you think?
5 responses
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
16 Apr 10
I think that this country is still in a difficult economic position and, with the unemployment rate as high as it is, allowing hundreds of thousands of people to lose their benefits will hurt the country even more. I get so sick of the attitude that those who are collecting unemployment are lazy and not interested in finding a job so they need to be forced to. Surviving on half of what you were earning is no walk in the park, especially if you have a family to support. At least, with the aide of unemployment benefits, people can still buy groceries, pay their utility bills, keep a roof over their heads. What happens if they're suddenly cut off and those mythical jobs don't appear? State and county Social Services agencies become overloaded with people needing government assistance of another kind, there is less spending which translates into less sales which translates into even more jobs lost, foreclosures go up and so does homelessness. We haven't seen children begging in the streets in our lifetime but that's a very likely scenario if hundreds of thousands of Americans suddenly have nothing.
1 person likes this
@laglen (19759)
• United States
16 Apr 10
We haven't seen children begging in the streets in our lifetime but that's a very likely scenario if hundreds of thousands of Americans suddenly have nothing.
What really worries me, is that this may happen with or without extensions. I think thats what we should be looking at.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
16 Apr 10
Looking at it with the goal of hastening it or keeping it from happening at all?
1 person likes this
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
16 Apr 10
There is a quote from President Reagan that addresses this. You tax what you want to eliminate and subsidise what you want to encourage. This administration is taxing those who create jobs and subsidise those who don't work. I guess we know what they want - a population that is totally dependent on them.
1 person likes this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
16 Apr 10
You do know that Reagan had alzheimer's disease, right? 
1 person likes this
@gewcew23 (8007)
• United States
16 Apr 10
A net can catch you when falling or it can entrap you. If they just keep extending jobless benefits what is the incentive to find a job.
One other thing this jobs bill will at some point create unemployment. At some point all debt will have to be paid back. That is how it works. This 18 billion dollars will not just be paid back but with interest. The 18 billion dollars plus interest will be paid for by future generation that had no say in the spending. Kind of a taxation without representation. The taxpayer that will have to pay for this spending did not have a say in the spending they are voting for, but I am off course. My point is unless the economy increases enough over time that current tax rates can cover the spending those tax rates will have to go up. When I say up I am describing way up. Consumers will have less spending money, companies will have less sells. These less sells will generate into less employment opportunities. Which will create unemployment.
So to wrap it all up Congress will borrow money, the collateral is future generations of taxpayer, to extent jobless benefits that will increase unemployment for that same future generation.
1 person likes this
@OpinionatedLady (5965)
• United States
16 Apr 10
We unfortunately are on of the thousands of first time people getting unemployment (soon I hope) from job loss. I have to wonder though how it is that so many cannot find any type of job at all or are there too many holding out for a "great" job. We have only been looking for a week and my husband has put in many applications but when at the UC office today we heard folks talking about jobs that don't fit their needs, or don't pay enough. I think that there are some out there using these extensions to their advantage so as not to have to go back to work. Why can't someone get two jobs to make what they used to? I mean I know it's hard but that's life we can't all have 6 digit paychecks.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
16 Apr 10
Here are the latest stats on job trends from an online job search engine I'm familiar with. It only lists the 50 most populous metropolitan areas in the U.S. but it gives you a general idea. If you live in a less populated area the situation could be better or worse, depending on the industry (if any) in that location. Florida, where I am is still hanging out at the bottom...6 to 9 applicants for every available open position. :
http://www.indeed.com/jobtrends/unemployment
@BambooPanda13 (867)
• United States
16 Apr 10
I have been out of work for 2 years! I have applied to everywhere within a reasonable bus ride's distance near me and still nothing, including the gas station for a night shift, and I live in a shifty little town. I even got my pharmacy technician license, that means I am a state licensed professional and I've applied to tons of different pharmacies and pharmacy jobs and STILL nothing. Even the job agencies couldn't get me anything and they said that was because I only had 6 months of experience in the pharmacy (regardless that I did on the job training in the pharmacy and then got my state license and continue to do my required 20 hours of continuing education so I can renew my license next year), yet I can't get more experience if I don't get a job working in a pharmacy! The only good thing is I am in school, and even that is turning into having a downside as I need to switch to a different university to continue my education and just found out that the next semester I can apply for will for spring 2011 and I finish this summer! I can't be out of school for 6 months or I will have to start paying back my student loans, which I can't do since I have no job. I have exhausted my unemployment and have had to take creative measures just to make some extra money on the side for food and basics to help out. I live with my mum and I don't have a car. So yeah, some people are probably using unemployment to hold out for something better or to just take a break from working in general, but a lot of people have been trying to find jobs anywhere and still cannot find anything. I am not a slacker, and I have always done well (and still do) academically. I am state licensed as a pharmacy tech with 6 months experience doing all tasks and yet I still cannot find any work even at the local gas station where people get robbed. So not everyone is taking advantage of unemployment. I would move or try to find employment in another state, but I wouldn't even have enough money to move there. =( So yeah, thats the life and times of me lol But I know things will have to get better because eventually education and degrees will have to count for something.
1 person likes this
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
16 Apr 10
I've been with Senator Bunning on this one from the beginning. I'm not saying don't provide help to the unemployed, I'm saying find something else to cut so that you can pay for the program. The Senate said they wouldn't pass anything that wasn't paid for...that sure didn't last long.
1 person likes this
