It appears for certain that NELP, several labor unions and Congress have all abandoned the 99ers’ cause. Congress is the major culprit here, with Senator Stabenow (D-MI) blatantly lying to the 99ers on National TV (MSNBC’s The Ed Show) when she promised S3706 would be brought to the floor for action right after the election. Liars in Congress are no big surprise - but one would think better of labor unions and NELP, right? WRONG!
The 99er nation was assured time and again from April through July this year by NELP (National Employment Law Project) that once HR 4213 was passed (which did not include a Tier 5) that NELP would immediately turn their enormous lobbying power and energy towards getting a Tier 5 bill written and passed. Once HR 4213 was finally passed, NELP did NOTHING of the sort. More liars!
Then we have the AFL-CIO labor union, who was a major player in the One Nation Rally, held on October 2, 2010 in Washington DC. Before the election, the AFL-CIO and their Working America (WA) branch by all appearances embraced the 99ers cause, yet at the One Nation Rally - NOT ONE WORD in the entire 4 hour plus program was given to address the desperation and struggle of the millions of 99ers, suffering greatly - without UI benefits for (by then) 7 months.
It was neither NELP or the AFL-CIO who successfully lobbied the House and Senate to draft the Tier 5 legislation introduced after HR 4213 finally passed Congress. It was the relentless work of the 99er Nation who bent the will of the House and Senate and Washington’s FEAR of losing the election that resulted in those bills being introduced. Nobody in Congress ever had any intention of allowing either bill to do anything but die in committee.
Now, all of the sudden NELP and the AFL-CIO are publicly outraged over the failure of Congress to pass an extension of the UI filing dates expiring next week. After all - God forbid that another 2 million jobless Americans lose their benefits around the holidays. Funny though how neither organization gives a damn about the 4 to 5 million jobless Americans who have not had any UI income for soon to be 9 months.
NELP and the AFL-CIO seem to be playing the same tune once again and the name of that tune is “Screw the 99ers” - just like Congress and the Whitehouse have been singing all along. But NELP and the AFL-CIO have a very strong connection.
It appears that NELP's Executive Director used to be a big cheese at AFL-CIO. Why am I not surprised?
Christine L. Owens, NELP Executive Director cowens@nelp.org 202-887-8202, ext. 304 (Washington, DC Office) 212-285-3025 (New York Office) Christine Owens joined NELP as its Executive Director in January 2008. Over her long career as a workers’ rights advocate, she has held a variety of public interest and public sector positions advancing employment rights and opportunities for women, people of color and low wage workers. In 1997, she joined the national AFL-CIO as a senior policy analyst specializing in workplace equity issues, and in 2001, was appointed Director of Public Policy. At the AFL-CIO, she worked closely with NELP and numerous national and grassroots economic policy and worker advocacy groups, along with national unions and state labor federations, to promote reforms such as minimum wage and living wage hikes, pay equity for working women, and state UI coverage expansions. Before joining the AFL-CIO, she founded and ran the Workers Options Resource Center, which coordinated the efforts of a broad-based coalition of national and community organizations to win the 1996 federal minimum wage increase.
You see this is not about jobs or UI for Americans - it is more about job opportunity for those big wigs in the powerful positions improving their own wages and opportunity.
I suggest that if NELP gets any public funding at all from Washington that every 99er needs to ask the incoming Republican Tide to cut off their funds immediately! NELP and the AFL-CIO should not be discriminating against the longest term unemployed in favor of those not suffering anywhere near as long as the 99ers have been.
Now that we have become a political force in our own right, I strongly urge all in the 99er Nation to contact the Republican leadership in Congress just to be sure if any money is going to NELP that it is cut off immediately.
Now the AFL-CIO has announced a National Day of solidarity on December 7th, 2010 to stand together for America’s long-term jobless workers and want you to sign a petition that leaves out over 5 million jobless American 99ers suffering the worst.
Next up U-Cubed announced : "Join us for National Unemployment Insurance LOBBY DAY on December 1, 2010."
Text from the announcement: "Last chance! Congress must pass a year-long extension of unemployment benefits before the holidays. Unless Congress reauthorizes the current program before it expires on November 30th, jobless benefits will be cut off for about 2 million workers by the end of December. Act now. Participate in the Unemployment Insurance Lobby Day on Wednesday, December 1st. Meet in person, send an email or call your Senators and member of Congress.”
Not one word yet again about the 99ers in this one year long extension! Unbelievable!
Cindy Paoletti, relentless advocate for the 99er Nation decided to email Rick Sloan, IAM Communications Director & Acting Executive Director of Union of Unemployed (UCubed) to find out why.
The following is a quote from Mr. Sloan’s return email:
“In 40 days, de facto control of Congress shifts to the GOP and the deficit hawks among the D's. Between the House Rules Committee and the Senate Cloture Rule, no jobs bill, no UI extensions and no new Tier V will see the light of day ... unless by some miracle the GOP wakes up to the fact that jobless households cast 45 percent of their votes for Republican House candidates. I, for one, don't believe in such miracles.
So, in the closing days of this Congress, the AFL-CiO and the Democratic leadership are trying to thread the needle. If a short term extension is all that has a chance of getting through, then that is what they'll try to get done. But that's still a long shot given the election results. Without a big lobbying push, even a couple month extension might not happen.”
The San Diego Unemployment Examiner has nothing but the highest respect for Rick Sloan. His opinion has merit and is based upon years of experience about how Washington works. U-Cubed has always been supportive of the 99er plight and our Tier 5 hopes.
With that said, it is with great regret that I cannot and will NOT participate (again) in yet another fight to extend UI filing dates only. The 99ers did this before and when we greatly helped HR 4213 get passed - nobody stood with the 99ers to get us what we needed when it was over.
Maybe I just do not have any fight left in me - poverty will do that to a person. Fact is I need all my energy and every penny I can beg, borrow, find or earn just to survive and continue to look for the one thing that can save me - a JOB!
In closing I just want to point out that labor unions, NELP and Congress all have their own agenda and the 99ers are flat out not important enough to any of them to fight for or save. Congress and NELP have proven themselves to be liars and the AFL-CIO refuses to include the 99ers in their fight. That makes them entirely useless to me and the 99ers.
If the Democrats are going to cave in to the Republicans on the Tax cuts for Americans making over $250K per year - which it looks like they will - then at the very least Washington Democrats, Union Leaders and supposed lobbying groups for the unemployed like NELP should see to it that Americans get the most out of that negotiation by including help for the 99ers in that “give away” to wealthiest citizens who do not need it at all.
The Republicans would give up just about anything to keep the Bush tax cuts in place - so why not grow some “stones” Democrats and get the utmost in return for what you give away? Here is a clue for those faint of heart members of Congress who may not have a political spine left after the election: Extend the cap up to $1 million (from the current $250K) for exactly as long as the Republicans agree to extend UI benefits - including a Tier 5. Anything less is simply weak and unAmerican.
Gee - anyone feeling THANKFUL for NELP, Labor Unions & Congress yet? Me neither....
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Times New Roman}
span.s1 {letter-spacing: 0.0px}
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Times New Roman}
span.s1 {letter-spacing: 0.0px}
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Times New Roman}
span.s1 {letter-spacing: 0.0px}
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Arial}
span.s1 {letter-spacing: 0.0px}
Comments
Donalee this is so bad. I don't know where to turn. Flashmob is great in NYC. But nothing in Washington, DC?
Long-Term Unemployment: No Help For The 99ers ..... lost our house, we lost our car as well.
They talk about the deficit and our children,
The only mention I have heard of the 99ers has been via two ... there fuckin heads off at there door step in front of there kids .... It seems we have very few fellow Americans who aren't in our shoes who in our corner. This country is on a fast track to destruction.
legal immigrants” no matter how unfortunate their condition, are more important to Congress than the millions of Americans who will be impacted by the expiration of the unemployment extension.
What Makes Sense
& Tier 5 Makes Sense? Does the unemployment extension make sense, in light of balancing the federal budget? Recently, a deficit panel looked at ways where the US could tighten her belt, therefore making the country, as a whole, more financially stable.
I hope they eat crow, they have used us to do their fighting for them for to long, I hate being exploited by everyone! I've sent the whitehouse upwards of 15+ comments today and its on our behalf! Donalee, God Bless You!
Although i hate to see anymore Americans suffer, I refuse to sign any petitions relating to extending unemployment unless the 99ers are included. We fought like hell to get 4213 passed because we were promised that help would come our way next. The only thing that came our way were lies and a bunch of newly unemployed people who promised they would continue to fight for the 99ers and Tier 5 disappearing into the sunset with their newly funded UI checks in hand. NELP does not want to be a part of helping over 4 million Americans survive. Maybe they along with the other unions are all in a conspiracy with the Government to create such devastating conditions for the 99ers in hopes there will be more suicides and the country saves money not having to help us. Right now it feels like the world is against the survival of the 99ers, and the employed are too ignorant or poorly educated on the economy to see what is going on. They listen to the idiots from Fox who say the 99ers are lazy. Yep over 4 million people want to try living in a country where you are taxed if you fart without any money and see how long they can stay alive. More ignorance!
ME TOO NOT SIGNING ANYTHING WITH OUT TEIR 5,
We continue to be kick under the bus and no pne has GAVE A RATS A S S so now with all the new unemployed losting all at the end of NOv they are stepping in our shoes now,
There will be many walking in our shoes Nov 30 2010
They should have to walk in our shoes for a good long while!
The government needs to step in at some point to force companies to hire again. ..... So until you walk in our shoes
99er Tier 5 Unemployment Extension After Recession is Over?
Right now, the Americans Want to Work Act is pretty much just a stack of paper collecting dust.
You can’t lie to the people who don’t have a job and can’t find one, despite trying non stop every waking hour. well walk in my shoe's for one mounth! serching for pop cans
I am so fed up with our government treating other country's ..... while ours goes down hill without no hope for the future?
Welcome to my world: the world of the despised, ignored, and unwanted underclass — those of us who've been economically exlcuded for many years while nobody else cared so long as they had theirs.
Three of seven children died when a space heater ignited a fire on March 2 2010 after DTE shut off the gas to the rented home of Sylvia Young, a poor single mother struggling to survive with seven children on $675/month welfare cash assistance. Her rent was $500/month. The fire broke out only a couple hours after Sylvia Young pleaded with a DTE worker to not shut off her utilities. With no car, she had to trudge through ice and snow on foot to the nearest Dollar Store to buy an additional space heater so she and her children wouldn’t freeze to death. Since she had no car and it was bitter cold, she couldn’t drag her small children with her, so she left them in the care of her oldest — her 12 year old son. She was only gone for about a half hour when the fire broke out and ravaged the home.
During that same month, David Fox of the National Low-Income Energy Consortium said that prior to funding cuts to LIHEAP this year, the program was grossly underfunded so that at maximum, only 20% of all eligible needy households were able to be served.
The number of LIHEAP recipients will shrink more for the winter of 2010-2011 with the 2010 LIHEAP budget cuts of $1.8 billion that have been enacted. Meanwhile, the number of people in need is skyrocketing due to the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Approximately 10 million poor households will be without their winter heating utility and/or electric by the end of 2010.
Given the number of long-term unemployed whose unemployment benefits ran out in 2009 or early 2010 who have no income and who have been unable to get jobs in addition to the 5 million jobless poor who weren’t eligible for any unemployment benefits at all and whose sole income has been food stamps, the actual number of impoverished households that will be without life-sustaining utilities will probably be much higher than the projected 10 million.
According to the annual survey conducted by the National Energy Assistance Director’s Association (NEADA), 60% of LIHEAP recipients couldn’t pay their utility bills because they lost their jobs or had a reduction in income. NEADA said in its September 2010 letter to Congress that LIHEAP funding cuts “target the poorest and most vulnerable layers of society”: 92% of LIHEAP recipients have an elderly person, a disabled person, or a child in the home. Additionally, 21% suffer from severe respiratory ailments, including chronic bronchitis; 51% have a heart condition, and 46% have severe asthma.
Other consequences of utility shut-offs include homelessness, heat stroke, poor child development, and the disintegration of families. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the link between utility shut-offs and deadly fires is clearly established. When utilities are cut off, people resort to unsafe methods such as space heaters to stay warm and candles for lighting. NFPA data revealed that from 2003-2007; space heaters were involved in 72% of fire deaths and 62% of injuries related to home heating and 24% of fatal candle fires occurred when electricity was cut off. Many families who have not yet been shut off use these methods to reduce unaffordable utility bills.
According to data supplied by the Michigan Public Services Commission, 300,000 Michigan households have had their heat and/or electric cut off for nonpayment, and over 221,000 of those households were in Detroit which has a real unemployment rate close to 50%.
On October 30th 2010, DTE Energy requested a $253 million dollar rate increase from the Michigan Public Services Commission. On that same day, DTE reported an increase in its third quarter profits from $151 million in 2009 to $163 million in 2010. On November 4th, Detroit’s ABC news affiliate carried an exposé on “illegal hookups.” NPR ran a program two days prior on November 2nd exploring the depth of the “energy theft crisis” in Detroit. The NPR reporter ignored the fact that the existence of unauthorized hookups is the result of desperate poverty, the absence of significant aid, and unaffordable utility rates compounded by the $1.8 billion dollar funding cuts to LIHEAP.
There is a direct relationship between unaffordable utility rates, deadly fires, and poverty. If the utilities were not unaffordable, people wouldn’t have their utilities cut off for nonpayment and the preconditions for these fatalities, injuries, and property damage would not have been created. And some of these fires cannot be blamed on “energy theft.” Illegal hookups exist because utility rates are unaffordable and because utility monopolies shut off service to the poor. These casualties occur because our capitalist government — a product of our narcissistic “me first” capitalist society — allows utilities to influence residential zoning laws, then charge exorbitant rates and shut people off because they have no money because they couldn’t get jobs that pay a living wage, and have no adequate social safety net either.
I too refuse(d) to sign any petitio that does not include help for the 99ers and I always send an email letting the petition originator know WHY I am not signing.
After NELP baled on us the first time, I cut off all ties and unsubscibed from all things NELP. Funny how they have started emailing me again via unemployedworkers.org looking for my help :-(
It rankles me that HuffPost CONSTANTLY quotes NELP in their articles and I always leave a comment asking why NELP seems to be their 'go to' source for all the 'facts' about the suffering of the unemployed (which by the way ONLY includes those still collecting checks.)
I agree. It's getting aggravating. NELP is useless, and has been for quite a while, and AFL-CIO ought to be kicked a good one for its failure to include the 99ers. All they want to do is take the easy way out. "Working for the 99ers is too harrrrrrrrrrrrd"--whine, whine, whine. Yeah well ,no one said it would be easy. You can't just pick and choose your unemployed.
You tell 'em, Donalee! Go get 'em!
They just do not understand how desperate things have gotten for us. It's Thanksgiving Day. I had beans for my dinner, by myself, and I was damn glad to have a little sausage to put in the beans.
And that makes me a *lucky* 99er; most of us are worse off.
Unfortunately, as some of the more independent folks among us feared, 99ers and the unemployed were used as pawns to gin up support for embattled Senate Democrats seeking reelection. Most have now been reelected, and have no need to pretend to care for at least two years.
As far as NELP goes, I am disappointed--they should care. I am also disappointed that Ed Schultz, who always seemed to be on our side, has recently refused to address 99ers in interviews with S.3706 cosponsors. But as for elected officials, labor unions, ONWT rallies, and others in the news media, forget about it-- their efforts were designed to politically benefit incumbent Democrats, and they succeeded in that goal. This is entirely consistent with labor unions for generations now-- they are more involved in politics now than in supporting former working people. After all, the unemployed do not pay union dues, and unions must be on the lookout for politicians who will carry their water in Washington. And few legislators have ever done that better than Senator Stabenow in MI, Senator Brown in OH, and Senator Reid. Of course unions would reciprocate!
I was still contacting S.3706 "cosponsors" just a couple of days ago, when I noticed that Senator Brown is now replying that he wants to extend existing tiers for one year (suddenly omitting Tier 5 and S.3706 in his replies). This ominous development says it all.
I am very sorry we have not succeeded in getting through to those in Washington who survived very tight reelection races, yet still do not care. And I feel even worse for 99ers, including many in my family, many friends, fellow posters here, and you, Ms. King, who have given as much to anyone, very eloquently, as a 99er yourself. You and Mike Thornton have been incredibly supportive and helpful in boosting the morale among millions who are on the economic edge. Unfortunately, it seems 4,000,000 individuals and possibly 12,000,000 affected Americans are not worth the time of Senators Stabenow, Reid, or Sherrod Brown.
Yes, the 99ers have little if any support, even in the media. The San Francisco Chronicle ran an editorial yesterday asking Congress to extend unemployment benefits but only for those that expire on 11-30. No mention at all of the 99ers. Their last paragraph:
"California has the most to lose from Congress' irresponsible standoff. About 410,000 Californians face a cutoff on Nov. 30, more than any other state. To these Californians, an unemployment check has nothing to do with ideology - it may be the only thing keeping them from foreclosure next year or hunger this Thanksgiving. Congress must get an extension passed before Nov. 30."
They have not mentioned any help for the 99ers or about any foreclosures and hunger that have been going on for those without checks the last eight months.
Pitiful. If I were working for the Chronicle, I would make it priority one to push to get unemployment benefits extended for all, with a Tier 5 and/or Tier 6. California needs the money and economic benefit more than anyone right now (although here in TN, we generate most government funding from sales tax revenues). What is the problem with Senators Feinstein and Boxer and Speaker Pelosi anyway? Do they not understand that Federal unemployment extensions benefit states with higher unemployment rates disproportionately, as they are funded by all of us? It is incomprehensible how legislators from states like CA, MI, NV, TN, FL, and OH turn their back on EXISTING LEGISLATION that would help their constituents the most!
Taken directly from the EDD website:
11/23/10 4:45 p.m.
Updated: Number of individuals who have run out of benefits is now almost 250,000
You have to wonder WHY the SanFran Chronicle pointedly omitted this piece of info to add to their article. With 2 lines of type, they could have added an additional and VERY important dimension to their article, yet they CHOSE to leave it out!
Why would the media decide on their own to paint a scewed picture of the unemplyment crisis in America? 'Sensational' sells the news, yet the vast majority of media outlets go out of their way to tell half the story! People living and dying in the streets are worth reporting ANYWHERE BUT the USA?
Rick Sloan really does have it right, but I see even a bigger problem. Part of the reason Republicans want to push tax cuts through is a very deep and justified fear of Senator-elect Rand Paul, and Senator Jim DeMint. Both are indicating that they may be willing to shut down our government, rather than extend the debt ceiling then work together on debt reduction. In the Senate, it only takes ONE Senator to do that, and a Senate neophyte like Rand Paul might not fully comprehend how cataclysmic that could be. Did anyone else see Rand Paul's victory speech? It was the most dismal, hostile victory speech I have ever seen!
Even tax cuts are viewed with hostility and distrust by these two defacto Tea Party leaders. Those may be off the table too in January, all the better reason to seek a comprehensive economic package NOW, extending tax cuts for all, unemployment benefits for all, and a Tier 5/Tier 6 and S.3706 inclusion. Many will find this unpalatable, but good legislation leaves everyone with 75-80% of what they might like, and a bill that benefits the country as a whole.
We've done the winner-take-all approach at least twice now in the past ten years, and now we live in a divided, partisan, jaded nation where no one wins. Why not at least give this a shot? They could pass this, maybe even throwing in a repeal of the ludicrous DADT policy, and/or the use of some remaining stimulus funds to pay for it, get 60-80 votes in the Senate, and go home early for Christmas! A victory in the Senate would also embolden Speaker Pelosi, who could possibly get 300-400 votes in the House on a bill including these elements.
I'm tired, too, but I am willing to see this through until January 1st. I hope there are still enough of us left to make them listen!
The repubes do not seem to mind adding $700 BILLION to the Deficit to the benefit of ONLY the rich - they only want to stop what little money the poorest among us need to survive. I hope they all choke on their hypocrisy in the middle of slumber!
Ms. King, yes, Republicans are more interested in extending tax cuts for all, and Democrats want tax cuts only for the middle class and the repeal of DADT. But none of these would benefit 99ers directly. And when the new Congress is seated, adamant partisans from both parties will miss the days when the Tea Party was not a factor.
I think legislators should go for a comprehensive approach because it would give everyone some things they want and some things they don't. They could include tax cut ideas, unemployment extensions and the DADT repeal that Congress says they want to get done before the adjournment. And it would include S.3706 if Democrats would insist about it. But most importantly, I think it would pass. All parties could go home and claim they got what their constituents wanted, and grouse about how they had to give the other side what they wanted to save us from "going off a cliff". If that sounds familiar, it couples a typical bipartisan approach with the kind of hyperbole that has been used to justify bailouts for GM, Chrysler, Big Banks, Wall Street, the mortgage industry, and Big Pharma (in the healthcare bill). But it would also benefit ordinary Americans of all political and economic backgrounds.
I think such a bill would pass with significant bipartisan support. Several Republican Senators, including Senators Snowe, Collins (also a DADT repeal supporter), Voinovich, and Corker, might cross party lines to support such a bill--especially the two Republicans from Maine, who almost always back unemployment extensions, and senator Voinovich, from economically distressed Ohio, who's leaving anyway. I believe it's worth a try, if any of the leaders in the Senate are willing to suggest it. But if we wait until January, it will need 7 Republican crossovers -- 8 if you count Senator Nelson.
Great Article Pal. After calling the AFL and giving them a deadline and them failing to even repond its time to take this out into the world.. You are discriminating against the 99er nation like unions have done in the past..The fact of the matter is the majority of their members are not 99ers yet. However, these unions are sealing the fate of their own members by not joining the 99ers in their fight for a tier 5. It is not only wrong it damages the cause. I have not and will not sign any petition or participate in anything that does not help ALL unemployed. I have also contacted those Senators that I have established relationships with their staff and expressed I do not want you to pass anyting unless it includes us. We are not to be excluded again or it will be preceived as discrimination against 4-5 million unemployed exhaustees. Who waited 99 weeks for job creation you know those weeks you was trying to pass the health care bill. Its time to focus on the casualties of the recession its not the unions, its not the rich, and although the middles class has been harmed not half as much as the forgotten 99ers. We will take to the streets and we will not go away...We will just get louder and closer to your door. Thanks for bringing this into the light. Now everyone call them and tell them we are not their slaves...We have rights tooo.
Well stated!
Too bad the Republicans will make sure what little rights we may have left are gone before 2012 as they plan to kill us all off by then. What is worse than that is watching NELP and the Unions help them do it!
It makes me sick and I for one hope that people stop being "sheeple" and start protesting in the streets here like they have been abroad!
We broke away from England all those years ago for this? I for one am rapidly approaching the point where I am ashamed of my own country. That is quite a feat as I have been as staunchly patriotic as anyone I have ever met in my lifetime. Such a terrible shame to lose that feeling - but it is a far more shameful thing Washington is doing to the 99ers.
I've been emailing letters to Senators & Reps. & Co-Sponsors
EMPHASIZING 99ers & EXHAUSTEES!!-)
I sent a copy of this update's weblink - They need to hear us!
DAM-DEAF-DC!-( CRAP, they left EXHAUSTEES OUT. What is they use of extending thru 2011, if it doesn't include EXHAUSTEES? DUH?
Great report, Donalee. Congress, NELP and the unions seem to be trying to sweep the 99er issue under the rug. If they don't mention 99ers then there isn't a 99er problem and maybe 99ers will go away and hide in their attics. Congress, NELP and the unions are all hypocrites and they are playing loose with people's lives while they cater to the well to do. Honestly, I have seen very little important work performed by NELP. The Economic Policy Institute is more aware of unemployment issues than NELP. Congress, NELP and the unions certainly deserve scorn, but not support from 99ers at this time.
Statistical proof - DC - A Blind Eye & Deaf Ears.
The Pew Charitable Trusts
http://www.pewtrusts.org/uploadedFiles/wwwpewtrustsorg/Reports/Economic_...
Relating to link above:
Pew’s Fiscal Analysis Initiative has released new statistics showing that as of August 2010, 4.4 million people—roughly the population of Louisiana—had been out of work for a year or more; an increase of nearly 30 percent since December 2009. In an update to the April 2010 report, A Year or More: The High Cost of Long-Term Unemployment, researchers also found that federal spending on unemployment benefits will total $160 billion in fiscal year 2010.
Pew’s analysis of the latest data from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the problem has grown worse in the months since: In August 2010, 30 percent of the 14.8 million Americans who were unemployed had been jobless for a year or more. That translates into more than 4.4 million people, roughly equivalent to the population of Louisiana.
'Owens stressed that the primary concern is reauthorizing the existing programs, not giving extra help to people who have already run out of benefits. There has been some confusion over what's at stake in the next two weeks.' Owens was quoted as saying,
"What we are talking about now is maintaining the status quo through 2011 and not adding new weeks of benefits."
Point made. I'm done advocating that NELP is trying to help the 99ers; but that doesn't mean I'm done fighting. This statement made it very clear that N.E.L.P is not interested in helping the 99ers; albeit they are trying to help the unemployed who will get cut off if Congress fails to act before the November deadline.
The reason they are advocating for the unemployment extensions is because their members are not 99ers yet...The fact of the matter is that unions are as bad as the corporations everyone is out for their own agenda..The 99ers have always supported the unemployed, the underemployed and the middle class. Its time for the unions, congress, senate, our President and the people of America to remember this..WE ARE ALL UNITED STATES CITIZENS FIRST. Just like a doctors oath first do no harm....The unions should take heed and stop doing harm at the cost of 99ers. Its time to get a sign and on Tues of this week go to the nearest main street by your house and walk the corner. If everyone does this accross the nation our little pebbles that makes ripples turns into a rock that will cause an avalanche.
With 138,000,000 shoppers out this morning, I fear since almost half the population is shopping it makes the situation of the 99er's appear as if it don't exist, another smokescreen! I wrote Obama yesterday and pleaded that he mention the 99er's, so at least those like Mark and the many others like him (myself included) have a shred of hope, even if its little, or even if its a lie, some will find it enough to move on instead of give up! I don't know about everyone else, but watching the news of shoppers this morning just left me feeling like I wasn't a part of this country anymore, I'm jealous, forgotten, depressed! I just want this to end, for all of us.........in a good way!
138 million shoppers out this morning means that slightly less than half of this country's people can afford to buy anything.
Instead the media spin, the glass is half ful, instead of half empty! Glory Days are here again, depends what your drinking!!!...........and their drinking alot of it!
I've written (and plead) with our President at least 10 times and have never once got a response!
I DO get email solicitations for more time and money on his adgenda's behalf though!
NELP and AFL-CIO and Working America are lying sacks of excrement, pretending to support "the unemployed" but in fact only helping SOME of the unemployed while doing NOTHING for 99ers who MOST need the help.
AFL-CIO is supported by workers' paychecks who they force into paying dues so there's little we can do about them except talk about how they suck.
Working America, we can encourage people NOT to join. At one time we were told they were supporting 99ers, but they have remained silent too long and now it's too late. Eff Working America.
NELP lives off donations and I say we do all we can to let all their sponsors know how they discriminate against 99ers while PRETENDING to be FOR "the unemployed". NELP are lying sacks of excrement and their staff should be forced into the ranks of those they pretend to help.
All 3 of these groups are more about making money than they are about helping the unemployed. They do what's in THEIR best interest, not what is in our best interest. The least we can do is bombard NELP with emails and phone calls letting them know what we think of them.
Fortunately their site has a list of staff with their email addresses and phone numbers. 99ers can make their voices heard there:
nelp.org > About Us > Staff List
http://www.nelp.org/index.php/content/content_about_us/staff_list/
I have implored the HuffPost writers to STOP quoting NELP as the end-all-be-all experts on the champions of the unemployed!
Good News All!!
They finally mentioned us 99ers... I tried to post the link but it would not allow me to do so!! Its a Thanksgiving message from the President and the article is from all 24 7 news
All you have to do is Google all 24 7 news Thanksgiving message from the President
Unless I read the wrong article, I missed the part where Obama mentions the 99er's if anyone out there sees it can you please copy/paste it here, Thanks!!
The White House has been privately urging Congressional leaders to put a high priority on consideration of the extension and expansion of Unemployment Benefits as soon as possible upon their return. Late on the afternoon of Wednesday 11/24 reports coming out of Washington indicated that at least 43 Senators have signed a letter to Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid (D, NV) urging consideration of unemployment extensions as soon as possible. It was also reported that about 6 or 7 other Senators saying that they also supported immediate action but had not yet seen the letter but stated they would also sign the letter to Senator Reid. Several legislators both in the Senate as well as the House have expressed a strong desire to see more weeks added to the current four tiers of Federal Unemployment extension, either through a Tier V or perhaps adding additional weeks to Tier IV. Many state Governors have also communicated their option that federal unemployment extensions be a first priority of the Congress when it returns on Monday.
I copied and pasted this from that article from ALL 24 7 NEWS
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!