Senate To Take Up Jobless Benefit Extension

WASHINGTON (AP) -- After weeks of political haggling, the Senate agreed Tuesday to take up legislation that would give people running out of unemployment insurance benefits up to 20 more weeks of federal aid.

Senate Democrats, saying that 7,000 people a day are exhausting their benefits, called on their colleagues to move quickly to a final vote. Republicans insisted they get a chance to offer amendments on the benefit bill and other issues.

Also in play was the possibility the bill would be used as a vehicle to extend another policy that has been central to the Obama administration's efforts to revive the economy: an $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers.

The vote was 87-13 to bring the bill to the floor. Sixty votes were needed to pass that procedural hurdle.

The legislation would provide 14 weeks in extra financial aid for everyone exhausting their benefits by the end of the year, and another six weeks for those living in 27 states where the unemployment rate is at least 8.5 percent.

The White House issued a statement in support of extending benefits. "Helping unemployed workers is an effective way to boost the economy and an important part of the administration's broader efforts to move swiftly and aggressively to jump start job creation and grow our economy."

The House passed a less generous benefit extension more than a month ago, but Senate Republicans, at odds with Democrats over what amendments they can offer to the bill, have blocked Senate consideration.

As the Senate voted, Senate leaders were still trying to reach agreement on a formula to extend the homebuyer credit and whether it would be combined with the unemployment bill or brought up separately. The Senate expected to begin taking up amendments on Wednesday.

Various proposals are on the table, including one by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., that would extend the $8,000 tax credit through March 31. The value of the credit would then drop to $6,000, $4,000 and then $2,000 over the next three quarters. Another idea would extend the tax credit to home buyers who already own homes, as long as they have been in those homes for at least seven years.

Democrats are also mulling a plan to extend the ability of money-losing businesses to claim refunds on taxes paid during profitable times up to four years ago.

Republicans, meanwhile, were demanding that they be given a chance to offer amendments on federal aid to the beleaguered community activist group ACORN and on requiring that people receiving unemployment insurance be processed through E-Verify, an Internet-based system that employers use to check on the immigration status of new hires.

Democrats, in floor speeches and news conferences, have voiced frustrations at the delay. "If the American people knew that legislation to help jobless workers pay their bills and purchase necessities was being held up to score political points, they would be outraged," said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., a leader on the unemployment benefit issue.

Reid calculated that in the three weeks that action on the bill has been stalled nearly 150,000 people have lost their benefits. "To say that I am disappointed is an understatement."

The states normally provide 26 weeks of unemployment benefits, with payments of about $300 a week. Since the beginning of the recession, the federal government has chipped in with added help, and the jobless in those states hardest hit by the economic downturn are now entitled to up to 79 weeks.

Supporters of another extension point out that up to 2 million people are going to run out of benefits by the end of the year and that despite some signs of economic recovery there is still only about one job available for every six job seekers. The unemployment rate is now 9.8 and is expected to top 10 percent before companies begin rehiring.

"A positive GDP is not the answer for people who are looking for work unsuccessfully," said Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I. "They need the benefits of extended unemployment compensation."

The extended benefits would be paid for by dedicating money from the federal unemployment tax, a payroll tax companies pay for individual employees.

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unemployment extension 10/28/2009 10:16:00 AM my unemployment runs out the end of november,since the senate passed the extension yesterday,will I continue on with my benefits?
Why? 10/28/2009 11:34:00 AM Why delay the inevitable? I'm sorry that you lost your job. If you haven't found work by now, you probably won't until you decide to change careers, location or both. Simply extending the benefits only delays the inevitable. If the area doesn't support the work force, it will move, retire, or re-purpose itself. There is no other alternative. Sorry to be cold-hearted about this but that is life. I changed both my location and my career in 1996 when I was laid-off.
extension 10/28/2009 11:42:00 AM we have come this far, now how will it take to get this bill passed and into law so that people can once again start to live like human being
Who's Paying For This? 10/28/2009 11:47:00 AM This is an abomination to every tax paying person in the US. OF COURSE we need to verify the need for benefits. Only knuckle-headed representatives would just throw money down a dark hole! This is out of hand. How about the government offering some incentive for extended benefits like demanding some sort of service. Especially in light that even the government is laying off thousands. Look at city streets and parks they are a mess. It is unfortunate that folks are out of work. They should be offered a hand up not a hand out! Get busy and support legislation that creates real jobs not freebies!
Problem with congress is 10/28/2009 12:05:00 PM They continue to throw in junk when trying to pass these issues. What does one have to do with the other? I hope they extend the unemployment benefits. But I think the $8,000 for first time home buyers are biased no one helped me buy my first home. Where is my help? I want to buy another home but I don't get any incentives I lose. I also lose if I take out my 401k because I don't have a job and need money because unemployment just doesn't cut it with today’s costs of living. I think they should do this. 1) Bring back tax credits for credit cards. People would not be so quick to walk away from paying their bills if they knew they were getting a break at the end of the year. (I personally don't have any Credit cards) 2) If someone losses their job let them take their 401k with no penalties. It is their money and they need it. They can't take a loan because they aren't employed. Why punish them twice, not their fault they got laid off. 3) People who were caught using the housing credit such as the 75 IRS employee, illegal aliens, and kids. The people who approved the loans should be publically humiliated, terminated and the people should be prosecuted to the full extent of the homes taken away. Although this one hurts as I feel the government should not have said first time home buys it should be anyone who can afford it! I would like to buy a second home for my kids but they can't afford it. I don't want to sign a loan. Why shouldn't I be able to get a credit? I pay taxes even more so than the people who have taken this credit illegally. I hope someone out there is reading these pages and taking notes.
Amendments 10/28/2009 12:28:00 PM Why can't we just have a bill that extends unemployment benefits and nothing else? I am sick of putting pork od every bill. Yes, the $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers is pork. Didn't some candidate in the last election say he wanted to eliminate pork. If he won, why doesn't he come through on this bill?
people come first 10/28/2009 12:38:00 PM Some of you fail to understand, people come first, i have a job but in order for people to find a job they need money "period", allowing another extension will provoke spending and allow people to search for a job, for all you in denial of this extension should we just let people starv to death..i think not
More political BS 10/28/2009 1:30:00 PM "Sorry to be cold-hearted about this but that is life" Read: That's your life and I don't give $h!t about you.... If that were you sir, you'd be bitchin about how that Marxist, commie, socialist and whatever else name you could come up with government is out to get me by withholding my much deserved extension. It's always the someone else that must make the sacrifice. I agree with the other poster, no amendments, no first time buyer BS. If it's about extending unemployment benefits, then that's what it should be about period. This "we need to do it quickly" is being bogged down by both sides of the aisle attempting to add additional crap that has nothing to do with the supposed intent of the bill. Our country is being run by bullies who seek to serve themselves first. Meanwhile real honest to God Americans suffer the consequences and the followers of Rush and Hillary happily go along thinking they’re safe as long as they trust in their preferred political thought.
Spout off all you want if it makes you feel better but . . . 10/28/2009 2:24:00 PM It doesn't change the realities. I don't expect you to give a **** about me. I take responsibility for myself. Hey, listen, I've been laid off before too. If you just want to wallow around in self-pity, that's your perogative.
Ah, what the heck! 10/28/2009 2:32:00 PM It's only money! Spend it all! What many seem to forget is, Unemployment is NOT a gift to keep extending. It was designed for a SHORT time. PERIOD! My God, how long are we going to extnd it? Forever? Where is that money coming from. OH, WAIT! I know where it is coming from. MY POCKET! I don't get any of it. I can't buy a new house 'cause I don't qualify. I didn't buy a new car cause, unlike the rest of the folks who did, I KNOW I can't really afford it even with a $4,500 Kick-Back of my OWN damn tax money. Oh, and who pays all those bills? It sure as hell isn't the unemployed. They just get more money. I agree with the above. If you ain't found a job where you are, in the field you were in, at the wage you used to make...it ain't gonna happen. Move, change professions, change your lifestyle. When times are tough, you do what is necessary to survive. But you don't ask ME to give you my money to do it. I earned mine. Earn your own!
Democrats stalling amendments which would easily pass if offerred 10/28/2009 3:21:00 PM So, the legislation is stalled because the Dems won't allow logical amendments like let's see if they're legal immigrants/citizens before we pay unemployment to them? And cutting off all money to Acorn is a no-brainer, too. What are the Dems afraid of? The taxpaying people's will?
Unemployed 10/28/2009 7:28:00 PM Myself and my husband have both become unemployed in the past 2 years. I would be eligible for the latest extension, but my husband, as many of you are suggesting has gone to school, and changed careers...he found a job within 2 months of finishing school. I will personally be starting a 9 month program to do the same for myself. Sure, this extension will help the unemployed, but I also feel that we need to be proactive for ourselves and do as others have suggested, go to school or relocate when you find that you are unable to find a job in your current field. There are many trade school programs that offer job placement assistance, take advantage and help yourself.
extension of unemployment benefits a good idea 10/28/2009 7:48:00 PM Those who oppose unemployment extensions either have never been laid off, are being paid (or already have) lots of money, and don't have any idea how difficult things are out there looking for a job. Extending the benefits is the right thing to do, and in the meantime we should eliminate offshoring and bringing in cheaper labor from other countries - there is plenty of talent in the USA and none is needed from abroad.
Options 10/29/2009 12:27:00 PM What a bunch of unadulterated whiners!! How about a constructive suggestion like being able to dip into one's 401(k)? I believe that those that have been unemployed for a year, have little hope that they will find a job anytime soon unless they have teaching or health care skills. How about assigning people on extended unemployment pay to jobs for which they qualify that are currently going undone because of state and local budget cuts? Habitat-for-Humanity or vocational training institutions - possibly in other countries - might be able to use these talented people. For the unskilled, picking up trash, mowing/trimming common areas, planting trees and plants, helping out at the city zoo, or sitting with a recovering wounded vet or the terminally ill, centralized child care, etc. This will give the unemployed a sense of accomplishment and personal pride, at least until the economy starts to pick back up.
Financial industry was hit the hardest. 10/29/2009 8:18:00 PM Perhaps a good alternative might be to employ all the unemployed financial folks as part of a new IRS audit tsk force. It would be legitimate work for them and the revenue they generate could end up making it a self supporting venture.
Unemployment Bullying 10/30/2009 11:52:00 PM There are too many hoops, trails and trials to go through at the expense of unemployed knowing that the corporation does not have the money to hire the people it made to be unemployed and did not use the talent when it had control to bring in new business to grow the corporation. Incompetence in large corporations leads to the downfall of all in the job flow path. Where are the American values that were built by good work ethic and dependable employees? Take your job to the next level always!
Democratic Stimulus 11/2/2009 1:31:00 PM Extending unemployment benefits is not an economic recovery plan, despite what the Dems, and some noodle-headed readers to this thread, believe. The money will soon run out, and then they will either have to bite the bullet, and embrace true economic recovery measures, i.e. lowering the cost of doing business in the USA through limiting union influence, lowering corporate taxes and rolling back unrealistic regulations, like Cap and Trade, or returning to the "well" and stealing, er, I mean borrowing more money from the 12 people in this country still working....

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