Yay for the millions of unemployed this winter! Your suffering is a political football. Err, I mean golden goose egg.
The party of NO just turned into the party of Veruca Salt. They want their tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires - and ten thousand tons of ice cream debt to do it. Give it to them now, or they'll cut off 3.8 million families over the holidays to February from relief. Unbelievable!
UPDATE: HR 6419 doesn't pass House 2/3rds required 255 to 153 (275 needed)
Source: The Hill
House Ways and Means Chairman Sander Levin (D-Mich.) and Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.), chairman of the Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support, introduced the bill that would extend federal benefits -- up to 99 weeks in some states for those who have exhausted their state unemployment insurance -- through Feb. 28.
Boo for leveraging life and death for power and political points:
Source: CNN Money
A growing chorus of Republicans say they will only support an extension if it is paid for -- which it is not at this point. They point to unspent stimulus funds as a potential pot of money.
Let's reserve a special plane of abyssal hell to those "refudiating" benefits for political points that are baseless and damaging, or holding 3.8 million lives hostage for millionaire and billionaire tax cut vote leverage that doesn't create jobs or stimulate the economy:
U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee said that ending the extended unemployment program would drain the economy of $80 billion and result in the loss of more than 1 million jobs over the next year. That's because the unemployed are usually living so close to the edge that they spend their benefits immediately, generating economic activity.
Being unemployed is nothing to cheer of course. Shaming the unemployed is unconscionable. Cutting off the unemployed, causing them unecessary uncertainty or using them for leverage in the current climate is cruel and disturbed.
So far, no word on a new tier 5 for the 99ers.
Share your news and thoughts.
UPDATE: Today in Congress by David Waldman
H.R. 6419, the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Continuation Act! Now, suspension bills need a 2/3 vote to pass, so that's a pretty high hurdle -- 290 votes, at least 35 of which would have to come from Republicans. So why bring the bill to the floor that way? Suspension bills aren't subject to amendment, nor to the motion to recommit. So although the hurdle is high, it's a straight-up yes-or-no vote on unemployment benefits extension.
At least an up or down vote will openly show who planned on using unemployment and preying on the unemployed during the holidays to leverage tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires. I'll be watching this vote closely to publically tar and feather any opposition to it.
UPDATE: 1:30pm CSPAN
HR 6419 - After debate the vote is called for unemployment benefit extension.
Synopsis:
Levin (MI), D - this bill is an emergency, benefits are running out, 3.8 million people hang in the balance and it's Thanksgiving, 5 people looking for every 1 job through no fault of their own.
Boustany (LA), R - the debt, it's not paid for, the Dems didn't create jobs, they got the stimulus bill passed but it failed to create jobs, it'll cost 12 billion. We have empathy, but this is unpaid for. Use the stimulus. This bill is going nowhere. Don't make our children & grandchildren pay for this.
McDermott (WA), D - We've never cut benefits when unemployment is this high in 75 years! The severity of the Bush/R collapse, we've had 10 months of private sector growth. The unemployed are discriminated against currently. They want to give millionaires and billionaires a 700 billion dollar break! This is an opportunity for the middle class to observe this political game. The Rs bankrupted the country to benefit the rich and hold down the middle class with the other hand.
Boustany - This isn't a pass it or don't issue. Pay for this. The American people want jobs and to reduce the debt (quotes MacArthur Foundation). The Senate won't pass this. They're using this for strategy according to Huff Post. They control the House, Senate and White House, but can't get it together to pass this.
McDermott - the Senate will pass this, but your colleagues over there are counting on you to block this.
Davis (Il), D - I can't believe what I'm hearing. When we do this for the least of us we do what's best for all of us.
Boustany - Listen to the American people. Debt figures. People want us to help, but not contribute to a mountain of debt. Use the stimulus money. You aren't hearing the American people. This is new spending. Debt crisis.
Maloney (NY), D - prematurely ending the program would drain us of 80 billion in spending power and cost 1 million jobs according to JEC. CBO verifies facts for extension. The economy is fragile. It benefits people and the economy.
Boustany - pay for this (lather, rinse repeat)
McDermott - don't use arguments that cutting necessities to middle class families is what the American people want. The stimulus money is allocated to infrastructure. That is deceptive to say it's available for anything other than what it's allocated for. This is an emergency. We wish the Bush administration mess was over too - but, it's not.