Unemployment extension for 99ers 2011: Can the 99er's look to Jim Himes CT?

Attempting to get an unemployment extension bill for the 99ers into the law in 2011 looks like the impossible task from the way these attempts have played out in recent history.  Although a 99ers unemployment extension 2011 bill is in the House right now, the odds are not always on their side when it comes to the bill for the 99er's materializing. This is when the 99er’s need to get to know who the advocates are for the unemployed in America. A 2011 unemployment extension bill needs to happen for the now 5 million plus 99ers, a group growing in large numbers every week. One such advocate for the unemployed is Congressman Jim Himes of Connecticut, will he do the same for the group of unemployed 99er's looking for an extension longer than 99 weeks?

Jim Himes took the unpopular stand among his Democratic colleagues in the House last week when he supported the unemployment extension, which was part of the “Obama deal.” He was the only Connecticut Democrat in the House to do so, but he supported it because it was the right thing to do. Instead of worrying about being an outcast from his party or staying away from the unemployment extension with his own re-election in mind, he voted for the individual American who is unemployed.

In a recent Examiner article online, one 99er commented on how impressed he was when he put a call into Congressman Jim Himes. He said that Himes personally called him back, not an aid, but Himes himself. This 99er shared that Jim Himes was very “supportive and assured him he was working towards helping,” according to the comment on the Examiner article.

Jim Himes is just a regular guy and although he represents one of the most expensive counties in the United States, he comes from a working class background. Himes was an advocate for the unemployment extension from the beginning. Even though he was not thrilled with the estate tax and the reinstatement of the Bush tax cuts the way they stand now, he felt that this would benefit the people more than not passing the bill at all.

Himes was born in Lima Peru to American parents, his father worked for UNICEF as an American abroad. This may explain where he got his roots for his apparent devotion to the underdog in society right now, the unemployed. He grew up in a small town with his mother, who was a single parent. Jim attended Harvard and after completing his undergraduate degree he earned a Rhodes Scholarship, which allowed him to attend Oxford, according to Jim Himes Biography.

Jim Himes public service came from years of actually living the life of public service and not just vying for political positions. “Before his service in Congress, Jim ran the New York City branch of  “The Enterprise Community Partners,” a nonprofit dedicated to addressing the unique challenges of urban poverty,” according to Jim Himes website.

Jim Himes is a true public servant, taking on the positions that risk his popularity with his colleagues in Washington, but fighting for the individual Americans, not the largest group of voters he can find, but in this case a group that is a minority right now. Although this unemployed minority group is growing at alarming rates, it is still not the popular vote in Washington when help comes in forms of unemployment extensions.  Jim Himes has advocated for the unemployed. The 99er’s need to  have this type of friend or advocate in Washington. The 99ers  need to reach out to all the Jim Himes type advocates in Washington. 

Congressman Bobby Scott and Congresswoman Barbara Lee have co-sponsored a bill for the 99er’s that sits in Congress today.  Scott vows to follow through with this bill as soon as the House comes back on January 5, 2011.

The House will have a Republican majority with the new Congress coming in, which may offer more of a hindrance for the bill being passed.  It was an 11th hour bill and many wonder why it took so long for the two to do this. Both Scott and Lee have stated that this bill was created because the “Obama deal” unemployment extension did not include the 99ers.

With politics strategically played, just like a game of chess, it is hard for the 99ers to distinguish between their political  friends and the foes. Unfortunately each new advocate that jumps into the ring, needs to be taken cautiously, because their priorities may not be with the 99ers . The 99ers may just be the gateway drug to a bigger fish.

This is what Michael Colliss of All 247 News implies about Barbara Lee’s attempt to get a 99ers bill passed in the House. Colliss believes this is a way for Lee to appease her voters. His argument holds water, he believes this half hearted attempt should have happened long before the last minute as the House was leaving for the holidays and coming back with all new players. The ray of hope shines with Bobby Scott, who is vocal on his desire to see this unemployment extension bill for the 99ers pass.

Reference: All 247 News, Jim Himes Biography page, Congressman Jim Himes Congress, Examiner