House Dems To Reintroduce Longshot Bill For Long-Term Unemployed

[onehandle]

Source: Huffington Post

WASHINGTON -- Democratic Reps. Barbara Lee (Calif.) and Bobby Scott (Va.) are reintroducing legislation this week to provide additional weeks of unemployment insurance benefits for "99ers," the long-term jobless who have exhausted their benefits and still haven't found work.

"The bill that I am introducing with Congressman Scott, The Emergency Unemployment Compensation Expansion Act, would ensure that these long-term unemployed workers get the long overdue assistance that they need to support their families, make ends meet and contribute to our economy," Lee said in a statement. "Our bill would add 14 weeks of emergency unemployment benefits and would make sure these benefits are retroactively available to people who have exhausted all their benefits and are still unemployed."

Given Republican hostility to additional deficit spending -- Lee's office said the cost of the extra benefits would not be offset -- the effort will likely amount to little more than a reminder that long-term unemployment persists even though much of the nation's political discourse is focused on signs of economic recovery.

The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that 1.4 million Americans have been unemployed for as long as 99 weeks. Of the 13.9 million unemployed, 43.8 percent -- or 6.2 million -- have been out of work for six months or longer.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/07/99ers-bill-barbara-lee-bobby-scott_n_819767.html

[WCGreen]

1. They should get every democrat to co-sponsor this bill because

it will never be assigned to committee...

If they do that, they can use it as a political tool against the republicans in 2012.

I know it is playing with people's lives, but it they don't do this, nothing will be done.

[babylonsister]

2. Good!! nt

[county worker]

3. We need a jobs program like the WPA and CCC in my opinion

[EvilMonsanto]

4. That's Alot of Unemployed

unemployed for as long as 99 weeks is alot of weeks
Maybe we should listen to republicans and let people starve and have states turn into tent cities
Or... Maybe Not!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. Welcome to DU, EvilMonsanto!

:hi:

[WingDinger]

15. They want Obamavilles to point to.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bread_and_roses]

7. Refresh my memory - why couldn't they do this when the had majority?

was there some reason? I honestly can't remember. The UIB system is insane - wait two weeks, employer can deny you capriciously (yes, you can appeal, but you go through a lot of misery0 - runs out while you're still out of work ... ain't the US just GREAT???????????????

[prolesunited]

8. This isn't going anywhere

Never make it through the House or Senate

[PSPS]

9. You're right, I'm afraid. We're going to have a permanent underclass now.

But look on the bright side. At least our wealthy betters won't have to pay any taxes.

[prolesunited]

10. I would really like some special program

that would allow people to get back in the workforce or gain new skills if necessary. A lot of these long-timers are older and many already have post-secondary education. Maybe give businesses a bonus for hiring within this group.

[Fearless]

11. How's that "bargain" Dems made with the GOP look now?

Thrown the baby out with the bath water they have.

[madamesilverspurs]

12. They should rename it,

something like "Abortions-didn't-happen-look-at-all-the-kids-whose-parents-can't-find-work Act". With 'abortions' the first word some republicans might at least take a look at it.

Or not.

-

[madamesilverspurs]

13. delete

[madamesilverspurs]

14. delete, computer burp

[Paulie]

16. I really need this. My brother is now selling blood plasma to pay bills

Im helping with the rent, but I'm tapping out with NSF on my accounts playing the float. He was up last December before Xmas.