Earlier today, I learned from trusted sources on the Hill that Senator Harry Reid will propose only a 15 day unemployment and COBRA extension.
Such a move is absolutely pathetic and unacceptable. 1.2 million Americans are expected to lose their unemployment benefits at the end of the month. While a 15 day extension will allow people to continue receiving aid, states will have already begun notifying hundreds of thousands that they will stop receiving aid.
Many people will be confused and not realize that they are indeed eligible for unemployment benefits. This will cause people to miss required steps for applying for unemployment like documenting applying for jobs. Others will become confused and simply not file for unemployment anymore. Thousands of people will effectively be disenfranchised from unemployment due to this weak 15 day extension of unemployment which does nothing substantial to meet the jobs crisis this country faces.
Furthermore, states will waste valuable funds sending out notices that unemployment benefits were canceled. Some states will send out notices saying they were canceled, scramble to find the funds to send out new notices that their unemployment is good again, only to scramble a third time to find funds to say its canceled again. The Senate's failure to pass a long term unemployment extension like the 6 month extension the House passed earlier this year, will mean states already broke will waste lots of money sending out confusing notices.
Meanwhile State governors are at the White House this week on their hands and knees begging for more money from the federal government. Since states by law are not allowed to go into debt, without federal aid they will have to cut essential services in order to balance their budgets. States face a $357 billion budget shortfall and local governments are facing an additional $80 billion in budget deficits.
However, Republicans in Congress have made it known that they will filibuster any request that gives more money to the states. Democratic Gov. Jack Markell of Delaware said "These solutions are being held hostage by petty bickering."
Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger speaking yesterday on ABC This Week, criticized Republicans opposed to more stimulus funds for states are engaging "in a kind of politics".
Its time for the Senate GOP to stop engaging in politics and listen to the voices of its nation's Governors - both Republican and Democrat- who are calling for more stimulus funds.
Its time that the Senate passes a real jobs bill like the $154 billion dollar jobs bill like the House did back in December. The House Jobs bill took $75 billion in money earmarked for the Wall Street bail out and instead gave the money to states that actually need the money. The House Jobs Bills also extended by six months eligibility for unemployment benefits and COBRA subsidies.
In the light of the Senate decision to pass only a 15 day extension of unemployment, we are calling on concerned citizens to join the Jobs for America Now campaign, , call yours Senators, and demand a real jobs bill similar to the House version which includes a long term extension of unemployment & COBRA benefits and desperately needed money for states.
Click here to call your Senators and join the Jobs For America Now campaign for a real unemployment extension and additional aid to states.
Follow Mike Elk on Twitter: www.twitter.com/MikeElk
It won't take much for unemployment to escalate beyond 30% real unemployment is already at 22% (www.shadowstats.com) in this country when states and local governments find themselves on the short end of the interest rate swap scam the TBTF greedmiesters pulled on them during the Bush Administration.
It would take a bit of research but it would be worth it to see exactly how many states and local governments were victimized by the same interest rate swap scam affecting Greece. Several States attorney Generals have started investigations. But the $500 billion can't be repaid without decimating budgets and onerous increases in state and local taxes.
Check out the details for what's comming:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-elk/how-big-banks-greek-style_b_476809.html
Office Locations
Home: Contact: Office Locations
Washington, D.C.
316 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Main: 202.224.4343
Fax: 202.228.1373
Map this | Directions To
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
District 4 - Ft. Wright (Main State Office)
1717 Dixie Highway
Suite 220
Ft. Wright, KY 41011
Main: 859-341-2602
Fax: 859.331.7445
Toll free: 1-800-283-8983
Map this | Directions To
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
District 1 - Hopkinsville
1100 S. Main Street
Suite 12
Hopkinsville, KY 42240
Main: 270.885.1212
Fax: 270.881.3975
Toll free: 1-800-283-8983
Map this | Directions To
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
District 2 - Owensboro
423 Frederica Street
Room 305
Owensboro, KY 42301
Main: 270.689.9085
Fax: 270.689.9158
Toll free: 1-800-283-8983
Map this | Directions To
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
District 3 - Louisville
600 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Place
Room 1072 B
Louisville, KY 40202
Main: 502.582.5341
Fax: 502.582.5344
Toll free: 1-800-283-8983
Map this | Directions To
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
District 5 - Hazard
Gorman Education Center
601 Main St., Suite 2
Hazard, KY 41701
Main: 606.435.2390
Fax: 606.435.1761
Toll free: 1-800-283-8983
Map this | Directions To
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
District 6 - Lexington
771 Corporate Dr.
Suite 105
Lexington, KY 40503
Main: 859.219.2239
Fax: 859.219.3269
Toll free: 1-800-283-8983
Map this | Directions To
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unless Congress passes another unemployment extension, the current extended unemployment benefits program will expire on February 28. Unemployed workers will start receiving notices from their state unemployment offices letting them know their benefits will end. This will happen, even though benefits may be extended when Congress returns from recess on February 22, because states are required by law to inform unemployed workers of the status of their benefits.
Even though some job creation items have been stripped from the legislation, reports indicate that the Senate will have an extension on the agenda for discussion. The legislation, if passed, would extend the federal Extended Benefits Program, the Federal Additional Compensation (extra $25 per week) benefits, and the 65% Cobra health insurance subsidy through May 31.
The National Employment Law Project is calling on Congress pass a stand-alone unemployment insurance and COBRA extension through the end of 2010. This is important, for several reasons. First of all, the current proposed extension would until run through May. Millions of workers will continue to run out of benefits throughout this year - and beyond. Secondly, when extensions aren't passed in a timely manner, it's difficult for the states to process claims, and there may be delays in benefit payments for unemployed workers who can't afford to be without a check.
Here's how to call your Senators and Representatives to ask them to pass the UI and COBRA extensions through the end of 2010.