This morning, President Obama made remarks supporting the unemployment benefits extension. On Friday, July 16, about eighty unemployed people and their supporters turned out in downtown Pittsburgh to rally for that extension. I had hoped for at least twice that number, but those who did attend were strong and determined. The reaction from passers-by drove home the unfortunate point that the Republican politics of distraction is in full force.
Mostly, we met with blank stares, as if those around us were oblivious to the economic crisis and the unemployment issue. The Republicans refuse to extend benefits, refuse to extend policies to create jobs, and are the first to whiiiiiine when the victims of their greedy, abusive policies need public assistance merely to exist.
Considering that both major candidates for governor made unemployment gaffes last week, and the conservative spin machine whirls away, it's time to set the record straight.
• The practice of counting only those people collecting benefits as being unemployed began during the Reagan administration, not with President Obama. Yes, really. I was a social services provider at the time and I remember it well.
• Tom Corbett, Republican candidate for governor, hemmed and hawed when pressed about his statement that companies can't find workers to hire.
• Dan Onorato, Democratic candidate for governor, said he would support a job search requirement as a condition of collecting benefits. Why doesn't he know that such a requirement has been in effect since 1982?
• No one gets rich on unemployment checks. Benefits are about half of prior wages. They are not based on family size. The average unemployment check in Pennsylvania is $350 per week.
• The maximum unemployment benefit in Pennsylvania is $564 per week. Those on extended benefits did receive an additional $25 per week through the Recovery Act - the stimulus - but the Republicans are obstructing that with the rest of the extension.
• Unemployment compensation is insurance. It is not welfare. Employers contribute to the fund for each employee. Employees contribute when the state fund reaches certain trigger points. Yes, really. Look at your pay stub, if you're lucky enough to have one.
• Standard unemployment benefits last for six months, but forty six percent of all unemployed people have been unemployed for more than seven months.
• The average jobseeker is unemployed for eight months. How long can YOU live with no income?
The Mon Valley Unemployed Committee and ACTION United sponsored last week's action. They chose the Regional Enterprise Tower as the site because PA Senators Robert Casey (D-Scranton) and Arlen Specter (pretending-to-be-a-D-Philadelphia) maintain offices in the building. Casey and Specter support the extension, but the Republicans continue to obstruct social justice. More, bigger, and better actions are surely on the horizon. If you are unemployed right now, it is YOUR responsibility to make change. Take control of your own life. Tell Congress what you need. And if you think it doesn't concern you, or it can't touch you, look around. Think again. You could be next.
The Allegheny County Labor Council sponsors the Labor Day parade in downtown Pittsburgh every year. It's a great time and a great opportunity. If Congress doesn't pass the extension by then, come to the parade and bring a sign. Tell Congress what you need.
For more information:
• PA Unemployment Compensation Law
• PA Department of Labor and Industry: Unemployment Compensation
• Mon Valley Unemployed Committee
• Allegheny County Labor Council
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Comments
Pat
Thanks for focusing on this issue. You would think that Governor candidates, especially, Mr. Corbet, who hail from this part of the state would be familiar with economic crisis - as the Mon Valley Unemployed Committee is - from the days of our Industrial collapse, when we also had unemployment benefit extensions, addressed these same unfortunate conservative misconceptions - including how this is an insurance program not welfare and that to receive unemployment you must verify job search - despite a discouraging market - and, oh yes, as you noted from the Reagan years - we did not count those whose benefits ended or had given up looking for work as unemployed.
Thanks for a great blog.
Tracy -
Thanks so much for your kind words.
The extended benefits for unemployment has nothing to do about Republicans wishes to not extend benefits (otherwise it would have never led to the current 99 week benefit plan) however has to do with how to pay for it when there are no reserves for this initiative. Your gripes should be with the entire Congress for their lack of planning and not slashing an expense or two to make room for this initiative. Also, fair is fair, how about all of us that have been unemployed previously however had no bargaining power in terms of the 6 month benefit term - why do you get to receive so much more?
Patricia:
I see your continuing comments on LinkedIn about the current wave of Marxism that 'Hope and Change' has brought against the will of the majority of Americans that honor the Constitution and the freedoms it affords us. I also see by your bio that you've included common code words for Marxism such as "social, political and economic justice".
Here are the realities you seem oblivious to: unemployment compensation creates more unemployment; welfare and aide to the poor creates more poverty; affirmative action creates more racism; entitlements create more dependency and financial insolvency; regulation and government interference with economic freedom favors lobbyists and progressive elites; and ‘ruling class’ liberals/elitists/progressives undermine our constitution and damage our country to its core.
And some more: wealth creates employment; tax rate cuts create more revenue; our country is great because of capitalists and wealth, not because of government and those wi
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