70 Responses to “Unemployment Benefits Extension Strongly Considered by Obama Administration”

1. padre
   October 29th, 2009 @ 1:42 pm

   Great! its about time, this consideration is long overdue WTF!, my Unemployment Benefits ran out! in early september and I still can’t find a job

2. anonymous
   October 29th, 2009 @ 2:07 pm

   I hope it sails through. We have 4 very young kids and these times are extremely hard. I exhausted my benefits last month as well and it is quite scary. I am ready to sell my computer so I can keep my 12 year old truck a month longer so my family will have a vehicle and I can continue my journey seeking employment since my lay off last November. We’ve already had the water company come by to turn off the water, and I’m past due on my extension for the electric bill. We had to let the tag registration on our vehicle expire to keep the water on at the house and the insurance on it will also run out in the beginning of november. We just barely made the rent almost a month past due and it is due again on the 1st. Needless to say the landlord will be on our backs again in about 2 weeks.
   It is very rough scraping by and we need all the help we can get as soon as possible. And I speak for all of our fellow Americans as well. God Bless America

3. Steve Tisbert
   October 29th, 2009 @ 2:10 pm

   We the People,the working stiffs of America are entitled to as many unemployment benefit extensions needed to repair the damage done to the job market by pork barrel politcians lining their pockets with payoffs from selling We the People out to foreign market cheap labor. What about all the money we working stiffs pay into unemployment insurance that we never used? Where did that money go? Same story with our Social Security Taxes we pay.Where did that monet go? How can we sit by and watch the goverment bailout the biggest crooks in U.S.history the banks with our money?

4. Steve Tisbert
   October 29th, 2009 @ 2:13 pm

   We the People,the working stiffs of America are entitled to as many unemployment benefit extensions needed to repair the damage done to the job market by pork barrel politcians lining their pockets with payoffs from selling We the People out to foreign market cheap labor. What about all the money we working stiffs pay into unemployment insurance that we never used? Where did that money go? Same story with our Social Security Taxes we pay.Where did that money go? How can we sit by and watch the goverment bailout the biggest crooks in U.S.history the banks with our money?

5. JimH
   October 29th, 2009 @ 2:27 pm

   It’s not going to happen this week. The Senate’s not in session tomorrow.

6. JimH
   October 29th, 2009 @ 2:30 pm

   Oh… the 87-13 vote wasn’t a vote for the bill per se. In fact, as near as I can tell the vote accomplished nothing at all. They’re still arguing over the same things they argued about last week.

7. Jennifer thompson
   October 29th, 2009 @ 2:32 pm

   I have been without benefits since the 2nd week of August. My kids are suffering. I am a divorced mom with 3 children. I have had to beg for help from every church and actually knock on doors of strangers for money. I have no money for gas, so I no longer can even look for a job. I have to keep my car hidden, or the repo people will be here. Daughter has a life threatening illness, and I am unable to make it to her chemo treatments, without begging for a ride. Please pass this soon

8. JimH
   October 29th, 2009 @ 2:32 pm

   And what hurts even more is knowing that even if, by some act of God, the bill gets passed by both the Senate and the House and signed by Obama by tomorrow night, it’s likely to be December before the states will be able to start disbursing the funds.

9. Irene Parker
   October 29th, 2009 @ 3:12 pm

   It sure is a shame that when big companies need the governments help it is dine in hours.. but the people who actually are the substance of America need help… it takes months. I think all the people who are dragging their feet on this should pay out of their salaries what they ows us for wasting so much time and for not making this retro active. They would have passed it IMMEDIATELY! It’s sad that this country and it’s leaders have become worshipers of the almighty dollar over everything else.. It’s sad but one day we will all be judged!

10. Orville
    October 29th, 2009 @ 3:49 pm

    Americans MUST recognize that it is a very sad day indeed, when those in need of an unemployment benefits extension look to divine intervention for deliverance, rather than the common sense and decency of the elected officials, who must surely know what heartbreak and difficulties are being endured by the people who make the wheels in this country turn.

    Where is the outrage? Has apathy set in so deeply that everyone is prepared to sit around and wait? Why is there so little being said nationally about this? Where is the pressure being brought to bear?

    In a country where actions are supposed to speak louder than words, why is there such tolerance for many words and no action?

    What a pitiful situation, seriously.

    The people’s work is not being done; the people are accepting that level of service. Meantime, “Rome Burns.” Sheesh.

11. jack w
    October 29th, 2009 @ 4:29 pm

    This bill is never ever going to pass. Seators,
    Kyl, Mitchell, Alexandar have and will continue to object. Dem house leader Reid called for a vote today and ended his statement with a message to republican senators ” you are leaving a million people out in the cold Mr senator” They had no comment and walked away. If you want this to go through call these GOP senators and give them hell. Also, while job hunting I have been watching the senate on c-span. all I can say is it is no wonder this contry is going to hell. These people get up and talk about stuff that has nothing to do with ways to get jobs going, get the economy going. One guy got up and spoke for an hour about feeding the billion people that are starving. what about the people in the USA? Don’t expect extension money. Make other plans like I have, moving in with family and keep looking for work.

12. Fredrick Macarthur
    October 29th, 2009 @ 4:43 pm

    I remember when Living in the United States made me feel proud. Even though we made some mistakes we usually ended up doing the right thing for our people,but as I read the thousands of statements being made by people of this country about a simple unemployment extensions that should be done to help we the people, It is a sad affair to think that our elected officials have done nothing in my estimation to resolve this issue.

    TRUELY HEARTLESS IN MY OPINION WEATHER YOUR A REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT YOU SHOULD ALL BE ASHAMED LETTING THESE GOOD PEOPLE SUFFER

13. Sheilab
    October 29th, 2009 @ 5:03 pm

    I have been unemployed since May of 2006. Have sent out over 200 resumes and applications and have not had a single interview. It is so discouraging. Wonder how those senators who are blocking this would feel if they were in the same boat. If they had to worry about buying food for their family, paying their mortgage or rent or doctor bills. It is so tiresome to watch the party of no just keep fighting anything the Democrats want to get accomplished. I hope none of then gets re-elected. Anyone who has lost unemployment benefits and votes republican ought to have their head examined. Oh, yes, that is right, abortion rights, gay rights, etc are so much more important than taking care of people’s needs. I want them gone.

14. Tim Graston
    October 29th, 2009 @ 5:30 pm

    I just talked with my unemployment office in Nevada. They said after the President signs this bill it will take another month before we can get benifets again, Happy Thaksgiving. Tim

15. anonymous
    October 29th, 2009 @ 6:27 pm

    I sure hope it passes because my unemployment will be running out soon. I can’t beleive that being i work for a company for about 29 yrs and can’t find a job anywhere. What has happen to the Unite States???? snd where are all the jobs????

16. ljk
    October 29th, 2009 @ 7:39 pm

    Jack W… you’re an ass. You don’t know if this bill will pass or not, stop making people panic even more. It will pass, just not as quickly as it should have. There is no way our country can get away with not giving support to the millions who are unemployed. I heard today South Carolina is getting an extension… how is that possible?

17. anonymous1
    October 29th, 2009 @ 7:51 pm

    Laid off November 26 2007,company that I worked for 10years went bankrupt.this is the first time collecting unemployment in 39 years.
    So o.k. you do the math ,yes I am in my late 50’s going on sixty and have no retirement.The company before last eliminated 30 Thousand people before exchanging hands.Before that 71/2 years military,6 active 1/2 reserve and 1 year Air guard.Right out of high school 4years dirty factory work.
    I lost my truck that I had put 1/2 down on and only had 2 years payments left.I have sold anything that I owned that anyone would give me cash for.My benefits ranout 2 months ago.
    I have submitted over 30 resumes and job applications A MONTH for almost Two years for any job, paying ANYTHING.Have had a total of
    Four job interviews, not to mention taking many tests that I passed but never found employment with…I am a skilled and experienced worker with white hair.
    And I feel as if nobody even knows me.

18. SS07
    October 29th, 2009 @ 8:23 pm

    It’s our own fault! We sat back when times were good and didn’t make a noise as our jobs were shipped across borders and overseas,while our elected leaders took turns stealing our money, too fat and happy to care. Well now we’re F**ked! And our future generations are too. the only way that things will turn around now is a good old fashoned revolution. Oh I know, harsh words like that are frowned upon. Don’t worry nobody has the balls to do anything like that any more, those days are gone. Perhaps if enough people are hungry and cant feed their children we’ll muster up the energy to take our country back?

19. ann
    October 29th, 2009 @ 8:30 pm

    All in congress should be ashamed ….they seem to forget they work for the people. We are used as pawns…because THEY no what is best for us.
    Shameful….AND POWER HUNGRY
    Call for term limits and boot every last one of them out when re election comes up. I will never vote for an incumbent.NEVER.

20. john smith
    October 29th, 2009 @ 8:36 pm

    I have been reading about this extension for 4 weeks now and everyday they are getting the unemployed people’s hope up but failing to extend the benefits over some bullshit. The damage has already been done to most who have run out of their benefits and the damage will continue till the unemployed who have run out of benefits get some help. The Republicans just don’t care about the unemployed. Their bread and butter are the rich. Most of our jobs have been sent oversees so the big corporations can make huge profits and pay their CEO’s millions in 1 month compared to what all the employees make in a whole year added up. It’s like the CEO’s are winning the lottery every month without even playing. The Republicans would rather spend 30 billion dollars a month of borrowed money on the war they started 8 years ago killing mostly innocent people in Iraq & Afganstan than temporary help the unemployed at home. And still the war is not over yet. And then lets not forget all the billions of borrowed dollars they have sent and are still sending to Pakistan who actually created the Taliban so they can milk this country for ever. When this country goes broke then the Pakistanis will hand the nuclear weapons to the taliban who are actually their brothers and cousins so they can hold everyone hostage. The Republicans are like demons who won’t help the unemployed temporarly and continue to destroy this country over corporate greed and spend billions of dollars on the two wars they have created and if we had a republican president we would have been in war number 3 with Iran. They never found Bin Laden who is hiding in Pakistan but they just keep sending billions over there to Pakistan and not help their own. God bless the unemployed who have run out of benefits and strugling to survive.

21. Country Carl
    October 29th, 2009 @ 9:32 pm

    Pass The Unemplyment Extension First! New home and new car buyer need to get at the back of the line! I’m Country Carl the Artist and Advocate for additional unemployment benefits on Unemployment-Gone-Mad dot com. Here in Nashville the pawn shops are the only ones mining gold. These New Depression Blues times can drag a good man to the bottle. As we wait for an unemployment extension, thousands more become dumpster divers, tent pitchers and street corner beggars. Even pets are becoming a burden for tearful owners and freaking out when they become abandon. At least we are not eating hoses, not that we ever would, thank God.

22. April
    October 29th, 2009 @ 11:49 pm

    Laid off Jan 09. I have sent 5 resumes out everyday since then. NOTHING. My benefits ran out this week and rent, electricity and god forbid I want to eat. I say revolt. There are more of us then them. HOW THE HELL DID THEY BANKS GET THAT MONEY!! Seriously you could have bailed out every man, woman and child. Then people would have been able to pay back there debts they owe the banks, mortgages and people would still have their homes. I call for a citizens arrest on every scoundrel that walked away with out hard earned cash.

23. SheilaD
    October 29th, 2009 @ 11:58 pm

    Jennifer Thompson – My prayers are with you and your family. I too am a divorced mother of 3 and I am trying to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table. I understand your situation is much harder with a sick child needing medical care. “God, Please Bless Jennifer and her children with a financial miracle and give her the strength to keep going every day. Place helpful people and earth Angels on her path. I pray this in Jesus’ name! Amen”

24. Fillibuster Freaks
    October 30th, 2009 @ 12:05 am

    Why are people on here saying that even after the president signs it will take until December? Don’t post crap without knowing facts because you are sending people to the bottle. (Gulp, Gulp) When Obama signs it into law you will be able to make a claim by the end of that week which will hopefully be next week. You have to certify every week in between like when you were collecting. Stop scaring people if you don’t know what the deal is. (Gulp, Gulp)

25. Jaime
    October 30th, 2009 @ 1:06 am

    While looking for a job with no luck, feeling like the only hope I have is to – with any luck, hope for an extension. I’ve already moved in with family, but my bills still need to be paid, and in order to do so, I’ve been renting our my car, just to pay the darn note & insurance…but if it gets wrecked or impounded or whatever may happen, i’ll just be stuck with out, but i feel its kinda a small price to pay for keeping it at the moment. I feel lucky that I had a friend in need, willing to pay the daily rental fee so I can barely scrape by, but i’m sorry and hurt for the people losing everything because people in the senate not willing to do anything for us, because they get nothing out of it! It’s amazing to me how some crazy is willing to kill a dr because he thinks what the doctor maybe doing is wrong, but none of these crazies have stalked orrin hatch or these other sick good for nothing senators….

26. Jackson
    October 30th, 2009 @ 1:55 am

    Just remember when you go to the polls again in whatever state you live in that it is the obstructionist Republican’s that are blocking this extension. Vote anything but Republican!

27. conniie
    October 30th, 2009 @ 3:38 am

    the squeaky wheel gets the oil..obviously as the little guys we peons need to make more noise!

28. Anon2
    October 30th, 2009 @ 4:51 am

    I am 23, I’ve been out of work from a good factory job since march 2008. Here on Long Island, there are no jobs from a combination of Illegals taking them and jobs being outsourced. In that time I’ve had hardly any job interviews and have applied at to many to remember. I can’t afford college and school aid will not help me until I’m 24. I had food stamps but had them taken away for 2 months because of a misunderstanding and my unemployment ran out the end of September.

    I’ve gone to fast food places and was told I don’t speak Spanish, they can’t hire me. This from a manager that needs a translator to tell me this. There are no jobs.

29. Peter D
    October 30th, 2009 @ 6:42 am

    Finally, I feel like I am not alone after reading all of the comments. There is only 1 reason this bill hasn’t been passed yet and it is because of the Republican leadership in the Senate. The party of no! Has unemployment not hit their home states?
    87 to 13 was the vote for cloture. I figured it was a slam dunk but some how the Republicans managed to stall this bill again. How does this happen? How does the minority hold up the majority? I tell you why because politicians don’t care about their constituents they care about the money that gets them elected.
    All of you who voted these Republican puppets into office I blame you. They come around every election cycle and tell you how they are the true americans because they don’t believe in gun control and Jesus is on their side. Democrats have the stigma of running up the deficit but if memory serves me right Clinton left office with a surplus. But, I know Clinton had sex in the oval office and not in some airport bathroom or getting caught texting male pages.
    Pray to Jesus, call your Senator and then call your creditors and tell them you won’t be able pay your bills again this week.

30. rob
    October 30th, 2009 @ 6:56 am

    stalled again thur. by the gop. there turning off the power today. moving us and the kids into the honda accord on the 1st. hope they can’t find us to repo that. but when we get the unemployment check we can buy a house with the new buyer tax credit they added to the bill. acorn? if they add that will they have jobs? NO. lets see what can we add to stall it this time. oh yes TARP. that will do it. i think TARP will put food on the table. NOT Is wall street a good place to park a car with 5 of us in it?

31. stop the nonsense
    October 30th, 2009 @ 7:31 am

    This is almost comical except for the suffering of many…

    Mr Ried….Senate Majority leader…

    Leader???? I think not…Your not a deal maker…Nor do you have the courage to bring this issue to head…

    Frankly Harry…You couldnt score at the Mustang ranch (legal brothel in Harry’s home state).. Even if you brought a roll $100 bills and bouquet of roses… Limp dick suits ya Harry!!!!

32. Beastwhistle
    October 30th, 2009 @ 7:38 am

    ljk . . . little doubt that this extension will pass. Just a shame legislators are playing political football with this bill while people are going under financially. But our government is largely run by children of privilege who simply have no grasp of what it means to live paycheck-to-paycheck with no financial cushion.

    As for South Carolina, their extension is because they botched the distribution of the previous extension. So, they’re just correcting a legislative oversight in distributing previous federal funds.

33. Graydon Cawein
    October 30th, 2009 @ 7:55 am

    DON’T THESE A..HOLES (REPUBLICAN SEN. ) REALIZE THIS IS THE KIND OF THING THAT MAKES PEOPLE GO POSTAL. WAKE UP, GET YOUR HEADS OUT OF YOUR ASSES & DO THE RIGHT THING. NOW

34. Sarah Smith
    October 30th, 2009 @ 9:32 am

    I’ve been unemployed since Jan.09 finding it very hard to find employment, I just hope and pray that God will let this extension happen, we are hurting and need relief. May God Bless us all because he is the only one that can help us. DON’T GIVE UP, JUST KEEP LOOKING UP

35. sam84
    October 30th, 2009 @ 9:34 am

    How about too small to fail. I just watched a special yesterday about the bailout of the banks. They did it in one weekend FORCING the banks to take hundreds of billions the next day. We’re talking about a couple billion (which is nothing these days) for the people that lost work due to their inept de-regulation of diffential markets that ruined our ecomony and jobs. And they don’t need to force us to take it. Now, through no fault of our own, we’re stuck begging for a few hundred bucks a week while the republicans in the senate have blocked this for OVER a month. I just wish I lived in Arizon so I could protest on senator kyl’s lawn.

36. sam84
    October 30th, 2009 @ 9:40 am

    By the way, you can call these C-suckers and tell let them they are evil (or you could just put it nicely…I’m having trouble with that lately the hungrier I get).
    Senator kyl (202) 224-4521
    Senator Mitch McConnell (202) 224-2541 This guy is the real hitler.

37. wake up America!
    October 30th, 2009 @ 10:02 am

    Hello everyone, I want to ask you for a favor please hang on help will come to us soon. We live in a very powerful country and they will come to help us out.
    Remember the Janet Jackson incident and remember how many people got all bent out of shape about it? It is a shame that we the people are so willing to be divided and not want to unite. This is the perfect time for all of us to unite, I know a lot of Republicans and a lot of Democrats that are going through the same thing regardless of your political view. I heard this once in a movie, “The government should be afraid of the people not the people afraid of the government, wake up America!”

38. Tony Walters
    October 30th, 2009 @ 10:29 am

    I am on unemployment. I have NEVER heard this much bitching and whining ever. We need to become masters of our own universe. Dont complain about the government, we voted for them, so we own the problem. You all have computers and the internet, you arent too indigent yet. Get Hungry, get motivated.

39. Tony Walters
    October 30th, 2009 @ 10:34 am

    p.s. God nor the good lord have anything to do with passage of the extension. Believe in yourself and you shall prosper. Take a man fishing, he eats once,teach a man to fish, he eats for a lifetime.

40. Tracy Mc
    October 30th, 2009 @ 2:36 pm

    How can they say the unemployment extension is going to make job seekers lazy. The money you get is barely enough to live off of.
    In my state,Missouri, they are even talking more layoffs with state workers. Unemployment has gotten worse. There are 20,000 people for every job.

41. Augie
    October 30th, 2009 @ 3:30 pm

    Will the extension make job seekers lazy? This is an absurd line of thought. I think the Senators pay checks should stop till this bill is passed. Then let it take 6 months to get their pay checks started again. Do you think the Senators will get lazy with no income?

42. Bobby
    October 30th, 2009 @ 5:39 pm

    It could pass by Monday night…..let’s pray and hope!

    Thursday night Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid filed for cloture on the bill extending unemployment benefits, together with a substitute amendment including expansion and extension of the home buyer tax credit and extension of tax loss carry back time periods. The cloture filing fills the tree on the substitute amendment, meaning that Republican amendments on the floor will be prohibited.

    The need for floor votes today on the Interior – Environment appropriations bill including the continuing resolution through December 18, 2009, and the fact that the cloture petition will be voted on at 5:00 p.m. Monday, a Senate floor vote on the unemployment benefit extension could come later Monday evening, and the House is expected to pass the bill with the home buyer tax credit expansion and tax loss carry back extension later in the week. Passage will provide extended benefits to about 2 million Americans whose benefits have run out or are ending this month.

    The expanded housing tax credit will be available to any family earning less than $250,000 per year that hasn’t bought a new house in the last five years. The tax loss carry back time period will be extended from two to five years.

43. Anne
    October 30th, 2009 @ 7:42 pm

    I’ve been unemployed since Feb 2008… I send out at least 20 resumes a week… I have had 3 interviews in a year…There is nothing out there… & now a new glitch…since I have’nt been able to keep my bills current my credit is destroyed…. & most employers in my industry run a credit check… I hope this extension passes soon…

44. Gina
    October 30th, 2009 @ 8:07 pm

    People are not Lazy on unemployment.They are making their selfs sick worrying about where there going to live and how their going to feed their kids.so all you people that thinks these people have it made.we would change places and jobs with you any day.cause sounds like you dont have a family to take care of or a life you cold hearted a–.hope you have a job that will be taken away too.let you see how it feels.your suppose to help people in time of need.not bash them.your the low life not these people.they just want what they payed in to unemployment.i dont think its right i have to work all my life and people are drawing SS that never worked.they draw off there husbands.and they tell me they want be none when i get old enough to draw.thats not right…thats my money…my footing the bill for them…so sad the world is like it is.

45. fred c nyc
    October 31st, 2009 @ 5:54 am

    no one wants to commit from the senat

    wait until the day after election day

46. fred c nyc
    October 31st, 2009 @ 5:59 am

    wait until the day after the election

    no one from the senate or house wants to commit they may lose one needed vote

47. Sarah
    October 31st, 2009 @ 9:39 am

    It has been a little while since I studied History, but as I recall, a country is as strong as it’s people. Right now, Americans are faced with a struggle to survive not experienced since the Great Depression. It appears the GOP has taken the attitude of another famous ruler who said to her starving public “let them eat cake.” I believe we all know what happened to her.

48. karleen
    October 31st, 2009 @ 10:57 am

    You have got to be kidding!! I know of no one who is unemployed that is hoping for a desperately needed benefit extension so that they can milk the system. The cost of my rent and keeping the lights on far exceeds my benefit amount. I live in a 90 year old house with no heat or A/C and although I don’t live on the east coast, the temp ranges from 28 to 108 degrees the during the year. Utilities in So. California are outrageous, and so is the cost of gasoline and food. Over the past year and a half, I have sold nearly everything I own and exhausted my savings. My benefits ended in August. If I cannot pay my rent, I have nowhere to go — and no $$ for gas to get there. The local churches have exhausted their charity funds years ago and the Food Pantry can barely share a small bag of beans, onions and rice. I lost my job due to staff cutbacks in order to keep the business afloat. Everyone but family members have had to be let go. In town, business after business has had to close their doors and there are empty houses on every street. Every day I look for a job — I have solid experience and work history with outstanding references. Bottom line is that there are NO JOBS OUT THERE at any wage. I cannot afford $3.10/gal fuel to search more than 40 miles away from home. It is so difficult these days to keep up my once positive attitude and I am personally insulted by your question. I am not alone in my desperate search for a job and the numbers are rising. the unemployment numbers do not count the persons who have exhausted their benefit eligibility nor do they include the hundreds of thousands of high school and college graduates who cannot find work and cannot qualify for any benefits because they have been getting an educational foundation for a solid career path — what path? For all these young people the foot prints on that “path” are faint in the sand and the wind is blowing hard. The wind is out of their sails after working so hard to complete their education. A bitter reward. There is no need to debate the necessity of an extension as the winter months are quickly coming on. The utility company would not hesitate a second to turn of service the moment the bill is overdue. How can you keep children and babies warm or ask them to bathe in cold water? Congress doesn’t get it.

49. Dee
    October 31st, 2009 @ 1:44 pm

    this is BS….why can’t OBAMA step up and over ride these jerks…..i’m getting ready to move in with my sister mine ran out in sept…Gotta do what you gotta do….pray…..

50. Dee
    October 31st, 2009 @ 1:46 pm

    Amen Augie…they’ll have a wonderful thanksgiving and christmas i’m sure…

51. unemployment extension
    November 1st, 2009 @ 9:45 am

    fillibuster freak….know your facts, this is not a retroactive extension. you have to reapply if you have exhausted your benefits. if your benefits have been exhausted you do not have to meet the unemployment job search requirements…..if this is not so please post the link to the site that states you have to continue to adhere to the job search requirements of your state. if you live in a state like mine you recieved a nice letter from the unemployment commission that said your benefits were exhausted but you could take the enclosed letter and try to get into a school so you could be retrained. you may or may not be eligible for funding for this retraining, good luck.
    anyone with questions should go to their specific state website or office and find out what the atate will be requiring to benefit from the new extension, should it eventually pass.

52. gayle
    November 1st, 2009 @ 2:02 pm

    It depends on the state, NYS has the mechanism in place so that we don’t have to reapply and will get the funds retroactively. Frankly, the state and our senators has been remarkably proactive on this, but without passage we are all in a world of hurt. This is a list of the senators who have continued to attach unrelated amendments so keep this legislation stalled. No doubt they have never gone without. THEY ALL HAVE EMAIL: LET THEM KNOW THIS WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN.
    Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) [6.8%]
    Sen. Christopher Bond (R-MO) [9.5%]
    Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) [10.9%]
    Sen. Thomas Coburn (R-OK) [6.7%]
    Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) [8.2%]
    Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) [11.6%]
    Sen. Michael Enzi (R-WY) [6.8%]
    Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) [11.6%]
    Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) [6.2%]
    Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK)[6.7%]
    Sen. Jefferson Sessions (R-AL) [10.7%]
    Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) [7.4%]
    Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) [9.2%]

53. The Crys
    November 1st, 2009 @ 2:58 pm

    Jennifer, I am sorry to hear of your plight. Have you contacted social services or the service agencies in your area? HUD recently passed a huge bill through Homeless Prevention and Rapid Housing which channels billions of dollars into the economy to prevent homelessness. If you are having a difficult time, I am sure this affects your ability to pay for housing. Contact social services or HUD in your area to see what programs are available. This program can help pay for housing, utilities, and other services for up to 18 months.

54. Marcia Strain
    November 1st, 2009 @ 4:27 pm

    I am not speaking just for my own voice but, many others who desparately are barely holding on don’t take our unemployment benefits unless you give me a job.

55. Jennifer
    November 1st, 2009 @ 6:25 pm

    Hopefully this law passes tomorrow, I exhausted all of my extended benefits, and they never paid a dime out to me under the schooling program, now I really need those extended benefits and do not have them. Its about time, I have bills to pay, and Cant even get work from a temporary agency!!!

56. TFarmer
    November 1st, 2009 @ 6:53 pm

    I have been out of work since May of 06. I went back to school but in this economy starting something new with no experience in that field is impossible. So now I’m trying to find anything and they want people with masters degrees to clean toilets. I am also a single mom and have an ex husband who calls to scream at me at least once a week because of my unemployment situation. Threatening to take my daughter away and telling me that if I don’t get a job a judge will take her away. Since he has had the same job for 20 years he has no idea of what’s going on out there. Nor do any of my friends.

    I have written to Sen. Kyl, and the two Republican Senators in my state trying to urge them to pass this. I will say the two Senator’s in my state are not on the list of hold ups. I question these others, I’m guessing their states are not in dire need. Especially Arizona, where a huge part of the population is retired. They aren’t worried about unemployment so that is why he doesn’t care. We need help soon, real help.

57. Dee
    November 1st, 2009 @ 8:41 pm

    fillibuster freak… i have went to my states website and office and they said they won’t know until it’s passed , then they will be sending out letters ….this could take up to Dec…and christmas right around the corner…

58. Bill
    November 1st, 2009 @ 10:29 pm

    No, it won’t make people lazy. There are no jobs (or too few jobs) for anybody to be lazy about. Besides, the benefits are keeping foreclosures from skyrocketing. Many people are just getting by on home payments with benefits. To cut them off will only hurt all of us.

59. gayle
    November 2nd, 2009 @ 8:45 am

    Frankly, NYS state and our senators has been remarkably proactive on this so wailing on them is preaching to the choir, but without passage we are all in a world of hurt. This is A LIST OF SENATORS who have continued to attach unrelated amendments so keep this legislation stalled. No doubt they have never gone without.
    Seriously, everyone who has access to a computer and too much time on their hands needs to annoy the crap out of these guys. DO THEY ALL HAVE EMAIL: LET THEM KNOW THIS WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN.
    Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) [6.8%]
    Sen. Christopher Bond (R-MO) [9.5%]
    Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) [10.9%]
    Sen. Thomas Coburn (R-OK) [6.7%]
    Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) [8.2%]
    Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) [11.6%]
    Sen. Michael Enzi (R-WY) [6.8%]
    Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) [11.6%]
    Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) [6.2%]
    Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK)[6.7%]
    Sen. Jefferson Sessions (R-AL) [10.7%]
    Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) [7.4%]
    Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) [9.2%]
    DO NOT FORGET MITCH MCCONNELL AND JOHN BOEHNER. These are the same obstructionists who blocked every step attempted to assist those of us without a country club membership. The thing they hate more than angry constituents is angry constituencies from other states overwhelming their staffs. THEY LOVE MAIL JUST AS MUCH SO MAKE USE OF ALL THIS TIME, AT LEAST THEY WILL KNOW WE’RE NOT LAZY. MAKE THEM WISH WE WERE LAZY.

60. Kay
    November 2nd, 2009 @ 9:04 am

    Honestly this will give people hope. I continueously look and look and look for employment and it really beats me into a depression.

61. James Fraley
    November 2nd, 2009 @ 9:39 am

    Unemployment benefits should be mandatory expecially since we bailed out banks and insurance companies. Bush’s failed NAFTA policies have destroyed the jobs in America. Cheap labor and failed environmental policies is not the fault of the American people. We have to call in and keep calling to our Senators and let them know that we are not going to stand by and watch them destroy more Americans lives. We need a vote today. Not tomorrow or a week or two, We need help now.

62. James Fraley
    November 2nd, 2009 @ 9:46 am

    I urge everyone to get involved. Today is the day to call in and let our Representatives know how we feel. We are not going to take it lying down. If our government won’t act then we must act ourselves. America is falling apart and I am tired of hearing excuses. Time to act is now.Please everyone call in and voice your opinions.

63. Dee
    November 2nd, 2009 @ 11:27 am

    Does anybody know if they passed the unemployment extensions ? Suppose to be voted on today…

64. ROBERT P
    November 2nd, 2009 @ 2:28 pm

    as a voting american i vote with my wallet.so whatever or whoever is holding up this legeslation i will do my best at next election to vote you OUT

65. Up date.....
    November 2nd, 2009 @ 5:21 pm

    Hello everyone here is a summary of where the Unemployment Benefits Extension saga is at.

    Like I said before, help is on its, way hang on…God bless America today and always!!!

    ABC’s Z. Byron Wolf reports on the Partisan that is slowing an extension of unemployment insurance

    Yes, there is a reason for your déjà vu.

    You might be thinking that Senators overwhelmingly supported a cloture vote regarding an extension of unemployment benefits just last week.

    They did it again tonight.

    Tonight (Monday Nov 02, 2009) they vote 85-2 to invoke cloture on a substitute amendment written by Senate Democrats.

    Why is this taking so long?

    Republicans, even though they are by and large voting in favor of cloture, say they are standing up for principle. They want votes on amendments unrelated to the bill . Democrats don’t want to vote on those amendments, which include further cutting of funding to ACORN and on making permanent an “E-verify” program to electronically check immigration status of employees.

    The Senate Democrats plan would extend unemployment benefits by 20 weeks in places with the highest unemployment rates and extend benefits by 14 weeks everywhere else. With previous extensions, unemployment benefits extend more than 70 weeks in most areas. Masses of the unemployed that lost their jobs in this recession will not start losing benefits until December and beyond. But tens of thousands of Americans still run out of benefits each week.

    Also included Senate Democrats proposal is an extension of an $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers thru homes that close by June of 2010. That credit is expanded to give people who have lived in their houses for more than five years a $6,500 tax credit for buying a new house.

    There is no doubt this bill will pass. It’s just a matter of when.

    Republicans could insist on 30 hours of debate on this amendment post-cloture. Then Democrats would have to file cloture on the full bill, wait a day, have a final cloture vote, wait another 30 hours and vote on the bill. That’s 60 hours and one day away.

    Republicans and Democrats could always come to a unanimous consent agreement to waive the cloture votes and immediately pass the unemployment extension. But that does not currently seem likely.

    So, depending on your perspective, either Republicans are holding this up because they want amendments on unrelated items or Democrats are holding it up because they won’t let Republicans have their amendments.
    In any event, unemployment benefits continue to be held up. And whatever the Senate passes will have to go back to the House of Representatives for their approval.

66. Cheryl
    November 2nd, 2009 @ 6:06 pm

    This is so crazy, people are hurting stop the crap and pass the thing already!!!!!

67. Christine
    November 4th, 2009 @ 8:15 am

    Because the people who are voting are not in line for unemployment! They should experience it once in their life time. It’s sad.

68. Michelle
    November 4th, 2009 @ 3:46 pm

    This is ridiculous that we the hard-working citizens of the U.S that have contributed funds our entire lives into uneployment insurance can’t get help when we need it most. However, without our approval, the Dems can increase funding to welfare and other social programs funded not by the recipients but by us – the working class idiots. They also, can ship our jobs overseas, as well and funding to other countries to play the saviour of the universe. If we are at war with a country- why the hell are we spending money to rebuild it afterwards. Is it just me or is that stupid? Any other country ever bail us out? Maybe we should spend our time, not pleading to the people we elected for relief, but contacting other countries and pleading for their compassion and help. How far do you think that will get us? Yeah – exactly- Nevermind…

69. Another Unemployed
    November 5th, 2009 @ 9:05 am

    Update’s remarks above seem to be the most intelligent of all the posted remarks. This is just another opportunity to vent or rant. This doesn’t really do anyone any good. I’ve been unemloyed for 11 months and know first hand what it’s like to be jobless with no immediate hopes for being employed. But, spreading all the lies and republican bashing doesn’t solve your problems. You will be better served to spend your time calling, writing or emailing your state representatives (of either or both parties) and enlisting their help. And, remember to follow up by checking their voting records and remember to vote against them at election time if their voting disagrees with your beliefs. Voting is the avenue open to Americans to be a part of the law making process. But voting should be done based on truthful and accurate information about the candidates or the issue up for vote. Please don’t rely on people around you to form your opinions. Read about the issues and candidates in newspapers, on line and by listening to reliable news sources. And remember, editorials are just your local newspaper editors opinions and not necessarily true to facts. All that being said, I know that this bill will pass and we will eventually get the extension, it just won’t be today. Todays generation is “I want it now” but truth is “good things come to those who wait”.

70. Benefits Approved
    November 5th, 2009 @ 11:45 am

    Senate Extends Jobless Benefits 14-20 Weeks
    After Much Delay, Unanimous Vote Prompts House to Approve Bill Quickly & Send to President
    600,000 Jobless Have Exhausted Benefits in Last Two Months; 1.3 Million Exhaustions Projected by End of 2009
    Washington, DC – After weeks of delay, today the Senate voted 98-0 to extend jobless benefits by 14 weeks for every state and an additional 6 weeks, for a total of 20 weeks, in high-unemployment states where the jobless rate exceeds 8.5%. The strong bi-partisan vote marks a major breakthrough for the nation’s unemployed as 600,000 workers exhausted their unemployment benefits in September and October, and a total of 1.3 million are expected to exhaust their benefits by the end of the year.
    The Senate’s enthusiastic vote sets the stage for the House to quickly approve the extension and send it to the President this week for swift enactment.
    “The Senate has approved strong legislation at a critical time. A stunning 600,000 workers ran out of jobless benefits in the past two months alone, and thousands more are projected to by the end of the year. Workers need this extension, the economy needs this extension – and that means the House needs to approve the Senate bill and send it to President Obama in a matter of days. Workers waited too long for this moment, and they – nor the economy – can afford to wait a moment longer,” said Christine Owens, Executive Director of the National Employment Law Project.
    The Senate’s extension, part of the “Worker Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009,” comes nearly one month after the Senate first introduced the proposal and multiple legislative delays that stalled the bill as more and more workers exhausted benefits on a daily basis.
    The legislation would be fully paid for by a two-year continuation of an unemployment insurance surtax on employers— $14 per worker annually— that has been in place for 30 years.
    With long-term unemployment at a record high, the maximum number of weeks of jobless benefits to date has been 79 weeks — 26 weeks of regular state benefits plus up to 53 weeks under the two federal extensions previously passed (Emergency Unemployment Compensation and Extended
    Benefits). The federal extension weeks have varied by state, from 20-53 weeks, according to each state’s unemployment level. (A NELP chart is available illustrating the breakdown by state).
    ###

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