1.3 million losing unemployment benefits Saturday

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By BRADLEY KLAPPER

WASHINGTON (AP) - More than 1 million Americans are bracing for a harrowing, post-Christmas jolt as extended federal unemployment benefits come to a sudden halt this weekend, with potentially significant implications for the recovering U.S. economy. A tense political battle likely looms when Congress reconvenes in the new, midterm election year.

Nudging Congress along, a vacationing President Barack Obama called two senators proposing an extension to offer his support. From Hawaii, Obama pledged Friday to push Congress to move quickly next year to address the "urgent economic priority," the White House said.

For families dependent on cash assistance, the end of the federal government's "emergency unemployment compensation" will mean some difficult belt-tightening as enrollees lose their average monthly stipend of $1,166.

Jobless rates could drop, but analysts say the economy may suffer with less money for consumers to spend on everything from clothes to cars. Having let the "emergency" program expire as part of a budget deal, it's unclear if Congress has the appetite to start it anew.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20131227/DAAUVIGO2.html

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This Aug. 14, 2013 file photo shows job seekers checking out companies at a job fair in Miami Lakes, Fla. More than 1 million Americans are bracing for a harrowing, post-Christmas jolt as federal unemployment benefits come to a sudden halt this weekend. The development entails potentially significant implications for the recovering U.S. economy and sets up a tense battle when Congress reconvenes in the new year. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz, File)

[onehandle]

1. Just a bunch of 'lazy' 'takers!'

They were living like KINGS on 15%, maybe up to 25% of their former income.

The Randian GOP did the 'Christian' thing and cut them off.

[SummerSnow]

2. Makes me want to puke...

www.foreignassistance.gov


Hmm, but we have no problem giving Pakistan $1,162,570,00 in aid. Oh and when you go to this website keep a bucket handy.

[heaven05]

3. this is an ugly, cruel, mean culture

guided by cruel, mean, greedy and vicious people (1%) actually less than that, just used a common reference. When are people (99%) going to have enough clout to beat down the palins, robertsons, kochs, zimpigs, cruzers, ryans, NRA, profit over people mentality? When? They can stop over a million people from having a safety net because we're the hostages to their hate and incompetence. I'm just amazed at how far this country has fallen. Our 'leaders' just don't get that you can keep screwing with people like this. Hateful hateful governing system. Might just as well be what it really is, a fascist state whose direction is being guided by the corporations and banks into a totalitarian state.

[SoapBox]

4. The TeaPukers HOWLED when people lost (well, maybe lost) their crappy

junk insurance policy...

But where is that howling now, when Americans could fall over the edge and lose everything?

Jerks.

[tofuandbeer]

5. Sux. :(

[santamargarita]

6. Have I mentioned how much I hate Teabaggers

and every goddamned Republican politician dread or alive!
Fuck that servile scum!

[sarcasmo]

7. Republicans are vile human beings. The postings after the online articles

about people losing unemployment benefits are just Sick.

[Megahurtz]

8. You Should Hear

the way Republicans talk on other Forums. They are vile, cruel, and heartless. As long as they still have their piles of ill-gotten gain, they don't care. I would like to see THEM lose it all and be faced with having to start over and find a job and see how their attitudes change.