Congress returns to Washington, D.C. after a week long break for the Fourth of July Holiday. During that time, by some estimates, close to 2 million American workers lost their unemployment benefits. In addition, the long-term unemployed are on the verge of poverty. In other words, American's who have worked tirelessly all their lives are dropping into the abyss of poverty.
The future for unemployed American's is beyond bleak Congress has failed to create jobs and/or to provide a safety net for unemployed Americans. Our elected leaders act like Nero playing his violin while Rome burns.
I urge every elected official to heed the voices of the America's New Poor--- who are losing their hope, their homes and are heading into poverty. From reader emails:
"I am a forty six year old black male and I think that the way the Government and Congress is handling this crisis is disgusting. The Congress has supported two wars in the billions of dollars and they can't help the average american keep food on the table and pay the electric bills."
"I am a 55 year old single grandmother caring for (guardian) of my 10 year old special needs grandson. My 99 weeks ended mid-May. I have exhausted all of my savings and am now on my way to the welfare office on Monday morning. . . I am not asking for a free ride...I would LOVE to go back to work...no one responds to my resume....I'm too old (they want the young ones ) and yet, too young for Soc Security."
"It is clear that from the President’s office on down there really is a complete unwillingness to face the chilling reality of the gap between the number of long-term unemployed and the number of jobs available. The 99‘ers are trapped between leadership who refuse to acknowledge the desperate reality of our situation and a job market that isn’t and won’t be in a position to absorb the long-term unemployed for many years. I have been without a job since 2007 and without a weekly unemployment check since the end of March. Those payments allowed me to afford food and the tools I need to search for employment, such as Internet access and car fare. I want a job, but until those jobs are available, I need these benefits to keep my family off the streets."
Also see the video at the bottom of the page as an Indiana man talks about his situation.
Pass this article with your story to your elected officials. Maybe one of them will finally HEAR and HEED these cries for help.
Indiana Senators are Evan Bayh, who voted for H.R. 4213 and Richard Lugar, who voted against H.R. 4213.
STAY TUNED: I will continue to report on the Senate and their unemployment votes.
"The 99ers need a Tier V added to Unemployment Benefits petition" for a Tier V." The petition is at www.change.org. The petition has over 31,349 signatures to date according to Issa Decker, the energetic founder of the Petition.
U.S. Senate contact information: The democrat leaders are Senators Reid, Durbin, and Shumer. The republican leaders are Senators Mitch McConnell, Kyl, and E. Canter.
www.openCongress.org/people/senator
www.senate.gov;
www.house.gov
Toll free numbers: 1-888-245-0215
Congressional switchboard: 1-866-338-1015
Facebook: "Now: JOBLESS / Next: HOMELESS" "Tier V to survive"
Thank you, as always, for your readership. Press the subscribe button at the top of the page to stay informed on unemployment, job creation and the economy. You may follow me on twitter @IndyUEexaminer and you may email me at Ellen.Corcella@yahoo.com. I look forward to your comments and emails.
Let's Keep Moving forward Together
Comments
Thank you Ellen for specifically addressing the plight of millions of us who are 99ers!
I am in Colorado and have been out of work nearly 2 years. I have BS in Finance and many years of professional experience but still don't have a job.
I am a US born American citizen, 43 years old, have no children, am single and not elderly or disabled, illegal (or otherwise part of some protected class). I earned my degree as a part time night student while working full time. I have had no income since April when my EUC benefits were exhausted.
Because I have no children, etc, I do not qualify for cash or housing assistance (something I never would have never dreamed of needing nor asking for).
I now face the reality that an arrest warrant being issued by Adams County Colorado Traffic Court because I have been unable to make a payment on a MISDEMEANOR Traffic ticket. I got the support of the CO Dept of Labor but they have no authority to intervene or influence the Court. Very sa
This is indeed very sad. Unless Congress acts, many people will fall through the cracks. The welfare system, as you demonstrate, will not necessarily catch them.
I am among those who have been diligently looking for work, yet I have been unemployed since September 08. I do everything the state employment office says to do, I go beyond that to network on my own to look for work. But, at 53 years old I suspect that my age is the reason for lack of success in getting hired. I do have a BS in Sociology, as well as two Associates Degrees (IT related), yet for the first time in my life I am unemployed. I had worked non stop from the time I was 14, til age 51, and now I cannot find a job. I don't want more unemployment hand outs...I want a job. It seems however that the current administration seems more intent on putting its efforts to aiding illegal immigrants and handing out billions in bailouts to mismanaged corporations than it does building a business friendly fiscal environment.
I wonder if the wages of the Senators have been frozen as they promised until the unemployment issues began stable? Where can we find the results of that committee? We just need to continue to write the names down of the people that didn't support it for Indiana and vote them out. VOTE in November....they will hear us then.
It was Donnley, Burton, Buyer, and Lugar that voted "Nay" against this bill for Indiana. If they want re-elected then they need to listed to the people they represent. Vote....
What a Bill Of Mistakes!, what a B.O.M.!. Our govrmnt politions can finance wars but not the Americans that have worked & paid thier taxes. These elected politions should be put @ labor $ wages & made too pay all the over paid & recieved moneies back to our govrmnt system. Our govrmnt works. Its always the people that work in the & for the govrnmt system that abuse our $s. What a B.O.M.! What a Bill Of Mistake!.
"I too am a 54 year old single Texas American caring for what I worked for. My 99 weeks starts mid-March 2011. I will have exhausted all of my known avenues and will becomining on my way to the welfare.. . . I am not asking for a free ride...I would LOVE to go back to work...no one responds to my resume....I'm too old (they want the young ones ) and yet, too young for Soc Security." What a B.O.M.! What a Bill Of Mistake!.
Ooops & oops "Americans that have worked & paid thier taxes" "These elected politions ... @ labor $ wages & made too pay all the over.....system.
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