Millions of people who have been out of work across the nation for more than six months and hoping for an unemployment benefits extension are in for some bad news today.
On Thursday, Republicans defeated the Democrats' showcase election-year jobs bill, including an extension of weekly unemployment benefits with a vote of 57-41. That was just three votes short of the 60 votes needed to pass the bill.
This comes as particularly bad news to the states who have extremely high unemployment rates. Rhode Island is one of them at 12.3 percent, in fourth place behind the three states with the highest unemployment rates: Nevada, Michigan and California.
Because this bill did not pass, benefits will phase out for more than 200,000 people a week across the nation.
If passed, the rejected bill would have provided $16 billion in new aid to states. The bill included dozens of tax breaks as well as tax increases on domestically produced oil and on investment fund managers.
According to a report on MSNBC.com, thirty states had been counting on federal support to help balance their budgets for the fiscal year beginning next week since a $24 billion version had earlier passed both House and Senate. Without the money, governors warn they'll have to lay off tens of thousands of workers.
Although Rhode Island saw a slight dip in the unemployment rate in May 2010 and the statistic show that the number of unemployed RI residents decreased by 1,100 from April figures, there are many who have expired every tier of their unemployment compensation.
Sending out hundreds of applications to companies who do not have the capacity to hire here in RI is becoming a daily and exhausting task for those who are suffering in challenging economic times.
Comments
Where: Washington DC Mall
When: July 2nd –
Time: You will be notified of an exact time to converge on the mall. Please do not do so before this time.
What to Bring: Tent, water, lawn chair, talents and skills list, notepads, pens, clothes, pillows, deodorant
Why: To put a face on the unemployed and for our very survival.
Without assistance we will lose our homes. Without assistance we will not be able to feed ourselves nor our families. Without assistance we will no longer be able to continue our job search. The time has come to stop begging for help but instead to demand it. It is not our fault we lost our jobs nor is it our fault that we cannot find new ones.
It is time to unite as one and put a face on the unemployed. It is time to unite as one and show our leaders that we will not just die off quietly and alone. If we are to die, we will die together for the world to see.
lols01@aol.com
Wow. Way to go Republicans. Defeating a bill that would have helped hundreds of thousands of people. What do you care? You're employed and it's because of the many voters that are unemployed that you have your job.
The republicans could care less! We lose our homes, no money for gas, insurance, food. The only thing you haven't taken is our lifes.
I don’t have TV anymore so I don’t know about the nightly news but online I have to actually search to find news about the extensions. Google news has been especially quiet about this. They had a story today but it was the first one in over a week. Fox news search returned almost nothing. Is the Gov’t controlled media being told to leave this one alone? Google will have 3 stories about BP or Obama firing a soldier in an unpaid for forgotten war with no goals but tens of millions of American families on American soil becoming destitute is hardly worth mentioning?
Maybe I’m wrong but it just seems odd that this is not considered to be important front page news to me. As far as the deficit goes the next bill in line that benefits the rich will go right through even if it adds to the deficit but that too won’t be front page news (I’m betting).
I wonder how they will continue to pay for the 2 pointless and endless wars that seem to have no goals since we aren’t borrowing money anymore
Thanks a lot for helping all of us.... We are all going to have to unite and rally in Washington. How will we live and feed our families and especially sleep and eat. What shame this is. Shame on all of you. I've lost all faith in my government.
Thanks greedy republican fat cats that continue to sap up all the tax payers money lining your personal pockets with the our dollars. You have your big government job along with the 6 digit income and produce no product or actual service. You should all resign !
Pamela, you are right they could care less. I have been unemployed for six months two weeks left of unemployment. Thank god I got called back to work last week. I didn't know what I was going to do, sell my home live on the street and beg for money. Its a shame what is happening in this country, there is so much work that needs done, infastructure etc.. no one should be unemployed. To those still trying to find a job hang in there. Shame on our government it has forsaken its own countrymen. Theey would rather help Iraqi's and Afgan's than its own people.
Dear Republicans,
How dare you,and shame on you...the UNITED STATES citizens are suffering, and soon to be dying...due to no shelter and no food.
My thought is since it's not YOU, YOU don't care. Not effecting your friends or family...YOU don't care. Well, I don't personnel know the families your ignorance is effecting, but my heart breaks for them ALL..And since you all are bible thumpers,
What happened to treating our fellow man as we would want to be treated? how about treating a stranger would/could be viewed as helping GOD!
Get off your collective asses, and reverse this mess. I totally agree with lols01@aol.com. If you have employment, consider yourself lucky, but please remember your neighbors whom you might not know, the child(ren) who could use help.
May an answer come more sooner than later! All remain in my prayers!
Namaste
thank u i lost my job after 10 yrs tryin to live on unemployment cant do it now was gettin ready to start collage im 38 n gonna go back to school cant do that cause i cant pay for childcare cause no unemployment now so thank u to all people in govt. just dont complain when i gotta go on welfare
maybe they are right we should be tested because we had 2 b on to put these people in office who could care less about people who wont be able 2 feed there families i even went back 2 the place i got left go from after 12yrs. for a job n no go and for healthcare what does it matter when u have no money to pay for it
I agree with all the comments said.. you Republican's suck!!,you have your job's you have income you have no worries about your light,gas getting turned off because of no assistance to help to all that needs it, this must be protested, You Replubican's can care less of us all who is out of work been out for almost 1year and at my age 50 plus no one wants to hire this is going to hurt us all and may lead to trouble, robbing,stealing for food..not good at all.
THIS IS AN OUTRAGE THES REPUBLICANS SITTIN ON THEIR FAT WALETS WHILE HE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY GO HUNGRY ON THE BEHALF OF WHAT THEY DID TO THIS COUNTRY(THE REPULICANS)...WE ARE NOTHING BUT SLAVES AND PEASENTS TO THEM...THESE ARE HARDWORKING AMERICANS WITH DEGREES WHO CANT GET JOBS WHO ARE NOW IN THE SAME POSITION AS THE REST OF THE COUNTRY...THEY NEED TO GET OFF THEIR ASS AND TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE...
What a bucnh of idiots
The Republicans need to be assassinated.
I have been working since I was 16 never using unemployment or any other benefits, I was recently laid off and now need my unemployment where is my money that I paid into for 34 years. Here is an idea. The average cost to house an inmate on death row for one year is $90,000.00 lets start there and follow through and give that money to hard working people that have come across hard times.
I have been unemployed from the newspaper industry for 18 months. I have been a Republican for 30 years, and have lost my job of 21 years because of their banking and real estate greed. I am planning on changing parties. Hope this gets reversed!!!!!!
lose one job find another I did .......go get it and even if it doesnt pay 20.00 an hour its better than nothing.....jobs are out there you just have to search and find em... and not wait for them too call you...its rough out there but even illeagle citizens are working like me!!!!!!!
As a person who has worked since 14 and now layed off for 14 months. Lets watch wall street go belly up when we all with drawel are 401's that is what is going to happen. Watch the points drop then. We have over 25 friends layed of and all of us if extention does not pass are going to have to pull 401 and retirements out to save our homes. And feed our families.
to all of the people who are unemployed my thoughts and prayers to all. i just want to say thats its weired that the american people are allowing this insults of the american goverment take on them. its plain obvious that the goverment doesnt care about people issues. i see mexican people rally more than you guys to get a point across. big rallies in phoenix, chicago,everywhere they parade down the main streets going directly to state capitals. i think the americans people can do the same thing. why dont everybody march down the senetors house. people is power.
i look at the pictures that people are lined up in unemployment agencies. Y dont they just go too washington dc and line up there. american people have to show and teach this senetors or whoever are running the show. that our tax paying dollars are our not for nor other country to help. it a shame that people are allowing this to happen. who is facing the problems in life. Ask youselve. they dont care if youre starving nor your kids. are you going to allow your kids to bathe in the dark and in cold water cuz you dont have any money to pay. when the goverment has the power to help you.But they dont! they are to worried to help bankss instead. there is no compassion from this guys not onwhats so ever. and your proud to be an american. i remember that saying "united we stand" thats a bunch of bullshit.were is the goverment in time of need. no where to be seen AMERICANS ASK YOURSELVES WERE IS YOUR VOTE GOING TO BE THIS NOVEMBER
This was about to happen - just a matter of time. Reality is there are more abusers of the extensions, than the legitimate cases. I personally know many that hasn't worked for over a year, and yet they party constantly...! This type - I do not feel sorry for.
Thanks for the birthday gift, now I have to move back the the Veteran's Housing In Long Beach, CA. I have looked for work, and since I cannot drive a heavy truck any longer, and I have damage to my body, Diabetic, and have Hep C with liver damage, why don't one of you republicans step down and give me your job!
On second hand "...Here's your pink slip!... you're fired!!"
good luck finding a job!
thanks republicans you stop our extended benifits just like that then leave for a vaction. must be nice.
TO OUR ALABAMA CONGRESS: I THINK ITS A SHAME THAT THE ONLY PAYING JOBS IN THIS COUNTRY ARE EITHER IN THE MILITARY TO FIGHT A WAR THAT HAS NO POINT AND NO END IN SIGHT, OR GO TO COLLEGE AND LIVE OFF GRANT MONEY THAT IS JUST AS POINTLESS AS THE WAR BECAUSE YOUR COLLEGE EDUCATION IS WORTHLESS IN THE AREA THAT YOU LIVE. ME AND MY FAMILY STARTING WITH MY HUSBAND AND MY SELF LOST OUR JOBS AND EVERYTHING THAT WE HAD ALONG WITH THEM.THEY WANT TO FIGHT TERRORISM MEANWHILE OUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS ARE STARVING WHOS THE REAL TERRORISTS????????
What a MESS! God have his eye on you ; pray. America is a place that extends help to all other countries around the world in time of disasters yet America decline from their own. I'm a black American ; I'm 46 yrs of age and worked the majority of my life here in the US. I have been unemployed for one year, with the hopes of returning back to work soon during these difficult times. It's been very unsuccessful finding employment without speaking a second language such as Spanish and Russian ; I been on many job interviews without the success of hearing back from a employer, i became sadly worry about my future and decided to return back to school, furthering my education. America failed to see the earthquake that’s going on in its own backyard. Whose line is it anyway? As i continue to move forward in search of employment, rent is over due, con ed and key span increases, car insurance lapse and America's earthquake continues to shake me. America! Think the unthinkable :(
You know that all of us that have been unemployed long term will not miss a beat when it comes to election time...you can't tell me that it is all Democrats that so desperately needed this extension for their families. Even if I think the a Republican on the ballot could do a better job FU Voting Deomcrat... <3
I'ts sad and disturbing to see the way our leaders prioritize situations. It's as if common sense and humanitarian values count for nothing..
What would happen if 200,000 people a week decide to go on welfare because of this decision?
You Idiot Republicans want a Tax break for the Wealthy and you deny an unemployment extension with the Highest unemployment since the Depression??? We should overthrow you idiots now....Remember this, when the masses get hungry,Revolutions happen. I cannot believe that you Republicans are so STUPID and cruel. I hope you that voted against the extension and those of you that think the unemployed are lazy all rot in Hell for your evil doings. I am so disgusted with you idiots. Whats really funny is You republicans caused this depression and now you refuse to help the victims of your folly?????
if our government are true christians,how could you let this happen,maybe when I have nowhere to live,nothing to eat ,maybe I will help myself to your shit,republicans are the devil on earth,pray none of you never run into me,your security won't be enough,if it were your family how would you feel,this is so wrong,2011, is gonna be year of mega crime,which is your goal,so you can make money off the jails,republicans are the worst enemy ,not ithe far east,sure haven't heard much about bp,hmmm!!!
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