With the November 30 expiration of the federally-funded 'Emergency Unemployment Compensation' [EUC] program only a few weeks away, the ongoing battle between Democrats and Republicans in Congress to reauthorize the program has become a real point of contention on Capitol Hill and on mainstreet.
While the Republicans have continued to demonstrate 'fiscal responsibility' by insisting that any EUC extension must be paid for or be offset with other spending cuts, the Democrats argue that unemployment benefits constitute an 'emergency' expenditure and do not fall under 'Paygo' rules. Historically, unemployment benefits have been considered to be 'emergency expenses' (and therefore paid with deficit spending), inlcuding those passed earlier this year.
Yesterday, the Colorado Department of Labor & Employment [CDLE] provided the following information from the Unemployment Insurance Program [UIP].
The number of claimants currently receiving their initial 26 weeks of regular benefits: 65,333
The number of claimants currently receiving Tier I benefits: 31,386
The number of claimants currently receiving Tier II benefits: 13,890
The number of claimants currently receiving Tier III benefits: 17,961
The number of claimants currently receiving SEB1 benefits: 5,858
The number of claimants currently receiving SEB2 benefits: 15,188
The number of claimants who have exhausted their EUC benefits: 26,299 have exhausted their benefits
(note: each figure represents the number of claimants that have claimed a recent week of benefit payments)
As the data indicates, there are currently more than 26,000 long-term unemployed workers (99ers) in Colorado who have already exhausted all U.I. benefits. Across the country, the are an estimated 4 million 99ers who began exhausting all benefits, some as long as 8 months ago. The July extension - which took more than 50 days for Congress to pass - did not inlcude any additional assistance for the 99ers, despite continued efforts to obtain work, most remain unemployed and have had no source of income since that time. This is evidenced by the increasing number of long-term unemployed workers who have been out of work for more than 26 weeks and the number of discouraged workers included in the the U-6 measure of unemployment as reported by the DOL on a quarterly basis. In September, U-6 was 17% for the U.S. and nearly 15% in Colorado.
Let me make the point that the data shows that there are a huge number of new claimants (65,000 currently collecting regular benefits). Contrary to what many on the right have claimed, the data suggests that the long-term unemployed are not lazy, preferring to collect an unemployment check rather than find a job, but that the job market remains weak and a significant number of workers have recently filed UI claims. If the long-term unemployed were 'lazy' and not looking for work, wouldn't one would expect to see the higher number of claimants fall within one of the EUC Tiers and/or SEB benefits categories...?
As Bill Thoennes, spokesperson for the CLDE states,
"That data indicates that if Congress takes no action, there are at least 150,000 Coloradans who are currently in line to exhaust their regular state claim or their EUC claim Most of those claimants will reach the end of their claim by March of 2011."
On that note, it is worth noting again, that Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), recently stated that he is in favor of extending benefits, but is interested in making sure they are paid for. In the same conversation, he also stated that he would support a one-year extension of the Bush tax cuts for everyone - including the wealthy - without finding a way to pay for it. I would ask the Senator again, "Who's side are you on?" Please let the Senator and all members of Congress know your thoughts: 1-888-245-0215.
Also reported earlier: on Thursday, the House introduced HR6419, a bill to extend the current EUC program only (and not provide additional benefits to those who have already exhausted all EUC benefits). The bill failed after being brought to the floor under 'suspension of the rules', an expedited process that requires a 2/3 majority to pass; the final vote was 258-154.
Ironically, Betsy Markey (D-CO4), who voted against U.I. extensions not just once but four times earlier this year, decided to vote in favor of extending unemployment compensation. One can't help but wonder if her 'change of heart' (a/k/a reversal in policy position) was the result of her and her staff being sent to the unemployment lines by Colorado voters in the November mid-terms.
It seems that such a 'change of heart' is also just as easily defined as the 'epitomy of hypocrisy' - just as the Republicans who are claiming to be concerned about the deficit also want to make unfunded tax cuts for the wealthy permanent - by adding the $70b/per year to the deficit.
The so-called Blue-dog Democrat, along with Michael Bennet, has taken a position that is exactly in line with that of hypocrit Republicans such as Mitch McConnell & Co - the hypocrits who claim to be concerned about the deficit only when it comes to help for the middle class - but have no problem added $700b to the deficit by pushing for unfunded tax cuts for the wealthy and by funding 10 years and two unpoular wars - without paying for them. Democrats and Republicans alike are quite capable of being the poster child that represents the 'epitomy of hypocrisy'. This writer, registered as an unaffiliated voter, is becoming more and more inclined to support candidates from a third party in future elections.
**The EUC program provides up to 73 weeks of benefits in addition to the 26 weeks of 'regular benefits'. Depending on laws in a particular state, as well as the state's unemployment rate, claimants can receive a maximum of 99 weeks of benefits (hence the term '99ers'). The maximum in CO is 93 as the State has not qualified for 6 weeks of 'Tier 4' EUC benefits.
Comments
I'm with you sister! I am sick of the hypocrosy of our politicians. When Betsy Markey voted against helping her fellow Coloradoans I gave her a piece of my mind. She was being pressured by Republicans and rather than supporting those who elected her she bowed to preasure and helped screw us all. Besides how can we expect people who are financially well off and will never see themselves in an unemployment line to really care about us. I have one week of SEB2 left and then I will be looking at being homeless and starving. The only job I have been able to get is a part time snow removal job that is entirely dependent on Colorado getting alot of snow for me to make enough to survive. This is really cruel!
Kelly, those losing benefits in CO will have the company of 200,000 NYers if benefits aren't extended. With Hoover Republicans raising their voices, unfortunately I don't see an early end to the extension stalemate.
Lets make sure we have money to pay for wars/killing, their a huge drain on the deficit, thats emergency spending!!! Idiots in Congress! I heard only a couple dozen people showed up for this breadline thing in new york and from the picture I seen not 1 person had a 99er banner or pin! We are the casualties, bin laden must be laughing his azz off getting the us to play wheres waldo with him costing us over 1 trillion dollars! He sucked in stupid bush and he took the bait, now they say they cant pay cause bush spent the money we didnt have and now their making a library in his name, i say burn it down! This is beyond anything i could ever imagine, now we know how they felt 80 years ago! Since the feds printing 600 billion dollars to weaken it and cause inflation they could have just paid us till the un rate was back to normal, they got my head spinning, i hate it!!!
Hey Kel, how did you manage to get your stats from C-DOL, I cant find nothing about MI, Ive been trying to find out, it would be nice to know where to go to find exact numbers like you posted for your state!
@left4dead - I went to the press release people listed on the CDLE website. I don't know what it's like in other states, but in CO the PR people have always been very receptive and very helpful. To be honest, the first time or two that I called them it wasn't becuaes I was writing articles, it was because I was deperately looking for help in the first few weeks/months after my UI benefits ran out.
There is a law firm asking people to submit their stories about delays in food stamp processing. If you have had any problems please call 303.539.2975.
This is the # to a law firm -(represented as the 'Food Stamp Task Force') not a bunch of b.s. -
If you are having problems with applying for and receiving food stamps - or know of someone who is, pease call and leave your name, number and a lawyer at then firm will return your call...
Please share this information...
ATTENTION READERS - PLEASE TAKE ACTION
We have set up a website. This is a start for state by state unity. Next we will start going from county to county, and then city to city. Once we reach that point we would be able to organize active civil disobedience. Our new site is http://www.fromthetrenchesworldreport.com. When you get there go to the Organized Resistance page. We need as many people as possible to go to the site in order to get it into Google search engine so we can begin organizing. If you have any ideas as to how to improve the site please put it as a comment on the front page story.
ATTENTION READERS - PLEASE TAKE ACTION
We have set up a website. This is a start for state by state unity. Next we will start going from county to county, and then city to city. Once we reach that point we would be able to organize active civil disobedience. Our new site is http://www.fromthetrenchesworldreport.com. When you get there go to the Organized Resistance page. We need as many people as possible to go to the site in order to get it into Google search engine so we can begin organizing. If you have any ideas as to how to improve the site please put it as a comment on the front page story.
the site in order to get it into Google search engine so we can begin organizing. If you have any ideas as to how to improve the site please put it as a comment on the front page story.
For years Millions of millions of people have paid into unemployment benefits including those who are now in need of those vary same benefits. There should be no need to pay for benefits as they were prepaid in the first place. The unemployed are only pulling out money that is in the pool. Uh....where is that pool exactly? ....
JRB: I must vehemently disagree with your posture that there are 'numerous welfare programs' out there to help us who no longer have UI. You are absolutely and unequivically WRONG.
Yes, you are correct: the front page list of 10-15 'services' such as medicaid, TANF, etc of the federal application form filled out at the county human services department inlcudes many 'services'.
As a single, white, English-speaking, U.S. born female with no children who is not elderly or disabled - I QUALIFY FOR NTOHING EXCEPT SNAP. Let me repeat that: Of those 12-15 programs that I have paid with mytaxes to fund for my entire life, I qualify for one.
If you've read my articles concerning SNAP, you would understand that state and federal laws (Employment First) - along with some blatant law breaking on the part of state and county officials in the name of saving money - they have made it almost impossible to receive benefits - the only benefits - to which I am lawfully entitled.
If your right-wing ideology must insist that I resort to existing 'welfare' programs that were set up and are in place to help me - then why the f*** am not eligible to receive them.
This sir, is the sickening response coming out of right-wing hypocrits everywhere - but the reality is that there is not fricken program that I qualify for - despite the fact that I have paid to fund the same fricken welfare programs my entire life. You are sorely wrong - and you have a very sore spot with me.
Leave at that sir. Please do not give me any more crap about this issue. I will not respond because I assure I will not be able to maintain civility on this issue. PERIOD. On the same federal form, right behind the 'list' of services I don't qualify for is a full page 'announcement syaing that "if you are a legal alien that has been for for 5 years, you may qualify for assistance - including translation assistance". I have said all I can say - because this issue, sir, brings a great deal of 'hate' for what this country is doing to the middle class workers who can't find a job.
Oh btw - we, lazy, on the dole beggars who can't find a job - OWE BACK TAXES ON THE UI BENEFITS WE DID COLLECT. Therefore, I would also ask that your refrain from ever saying that I or any other unemployed workers was a 'formerly tax-paying' citizen.
sorry - this comment is in response to a comment by James Russell Bailey on my article titled,
FOX News, Gregg Rosen - the unemployed should thank the 99ers for UI extensions
KW
I have exhausted my benefits. I have been unemployed since Nov 2007. I have not received any UI since March 2010. I have applied to hundreds of jobs. Some replied, all rejections. I worked in my field for over two and a half decades paying taxes. When I needed support most, I was short changed by UI. When you reach a certain age, you get kicked to the curb and labeled as unemployable. It does not mean that you have suddenly lost your intelligence, you still have that ability to appreciate the misery you are being subjected to. The rich have corrupted the role of government, which is suppose to protect the masses from threats external and internal. The distribution of wealth in this country has become distorted to the point of threatening the very welfare of the people in this country. We the former workers and newly poor of American are not asking the rich to become poor, however, they should pay their fair share. They will always be rich, just not so rich that the rest of the population has to live under bridges and die in the streets because they have no means of support.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!