Now the obstructionist Republicans are going to deny extended unemployment benefits for people whose state funds have run out. That means that 1.2 million people will face evictions, have no money to feed their kids and themselves, and will lose their COBRA health insurance.

Why do Republicans hate Americans who cannot find living wage jobs?

Jobless benefits start ending on Sunday

"
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Depending on extended unemployment benefits to see you through the Great Recession?

You'd better not: The Senate failed to push back the Feb. 28 deadline to apply for this safety net.

Starting Monday, the jobless will no longer be able to apply for federal unemployment benefits or the COBRA health insurance subsidy.

Federal unemployment benefits kick in after the basic state-funded 26 weeks of coverage expire. During the downturn, Congress has approved up to an additional 73 weeks, which it funds.

These federal benefit weeks are divided into tiers, and the jobless must apply each time they move into a new tier.

Because the Senate did not act, the jobless will now stop getting checks once they run out of their state benefits or current tier of federal benefits.

That could be devastating to the unemployed who were counting on that income. In total, more than one million people could stop getting checks next month, with nearly 5 million running out of benefits by June, according to the National Unemployment Law Project.

Lawmakers repeatedly tried to approve a 30-day extension this week, but each time, Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., prevented the $10 billion measure from passing, saying it needs to be paid for first.

"Right now, the 1.2 million workers who will lose benefits in March are being held hostage by partisan attempts to delay and block this critical legislation," said Christine Owens, executive director of the National Employment Law Project."

http://money.cnn.com/2010/02/26/news/economy/unemployment_insurance/index.htm?cnn=yes&hpt=T2

The Senate is made up entirely of Repubs?

If anything, it's a bi-partisan thang.

Obummer, just like the rest, want us dependent on Gov.

Enough folks on the streets and we just might see some change.

Gov. could do a lot to open up jobs and bring them back from overseas.

What's Hussein doin' about jobs? Nada dam thang!

sometimes budgeting is hard. I am grateful that I was able to get the twenty weeks of benefits and I do wish they would cut other things instead,, but I can live with the decision. Unemployment benefits dont amount to much anyway unless one was making HIGH income in which case they can probably get some sort of employment not to mention there are still several other options for assistance.

Right now is tax time so I intend to put my return in the bank and hold on to it to last me a bit longer til I find employment again. I dont envy anyone with the responsibility of decreasing our deficit or paying our debts,, there are tough decisions involved.

NO....

"Updated below: The Senate has now recessed for the weekend without taking action.

Jim Bunning, a Republican from Kentucky, is single-handedly blocking Senate action needed to prevent an estimated 1.2 million American workers from prematurely losing their unemployment benefits next month.

As Democratic senators asked again and again for unanimous consent for a vote on a 30-day extension Thursday night, Bunning refused to go along.

And when Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) begged him to drop his objection, Politico reports, Bunning replied: "Tough chit."

Bunning says he doesn't oppose extending benefits -- he just doesn't want the money that's required added to the deficit. He proposes paying for the 30-day extension with stimulus funds. The Senate's GOP leadership did not support him in his objections.

And at one point during the debate, which dragged on till nearly midnight, Bunning complained of missing a basketball game.

"I have missed the Kentucky-South Carolina game that started at 9:00," he said,
"and it's the only redeeming chance we had to beat South Carolina since they're the only team that has beat Kentucky this year."

Well not sure what is happening in New York for I live in Texas and when my unemployment ran it's course this time due to Obama and the Bill he signed my unemployment was automatically reinstated and I did not even have to re-apply this time.

Which normally you do and it only takes a phone call of about 15 minutes in order to do so.

Not sure what the issue is with New York but due to Obama he has actually extended the unemployment more then once already.

Oklahoma is about to run out as well and this inaction to extend benefits will cause a lot of problems here. The state has a "rainy day" fund but not one word here about using it for unemployment extensions instead...so far.

We can't let people lose unemployment benefits while some in congress use the issue for political positioning.

I do understand that and hopefully it will not happen. I will admit that without the unemployment I would have been in a heap of hurt. Worked at my last job for 12 years and this is the first time in my life I have had to file for unemployment.

Even though it is not the pay I was making it does keep me floating from loosing anything.

It would be sad to know if many loose their unemployment for at times that is the only thing keeping them a float...

"For those of you in Texas who are wondering about your unemployment benefits going into 2010, here's what I understand the situation to be:

If you are currently eligible for unemployment benefits and your current benefits are exhausted by December 26, 2009, then you will be eligible to collect the next tier of emergency unemployment benefits that you qualify for. Benefits may be paid through May 29, 2010."

Looks like Texas may be hurting this year if they don't extend it past July...

Here's a link to a site that keeps an eye on it...

http://prairiefirejournal.com/blog1.php/2009/12/22/texas-unemployment-benefits-extension-update

Good luck

It's my understanding unemployment insurance is supposed to be sustenance for the time while looking for employment.

A long time ago, folks didn't have to take a job that was beneath them and could extend the benefits. I personally think, folks should have to take any job offered them or lose those benefits. Many people survive on min. wage and if one job doesn't cover the way they choose to live, get another or take in boarders.

JMO.

are you aware in many places taking in boarders(renting out rooms) is not legal? I dont think anyone should work just to make the money needed to work(gas, childcare, auto insurance,,etc,,,). It makes little sense and is an unreasonable expectation. People work to survive , not just for the hell of working.

Hummm not sure just got mine reinstated the middle of February this month and was told it was good till the end of July.....guess I will have to wait and see..

Well I assure you that unemployment does not pay you what you were making prior my income has been almost cut in half and I have been applying for jobs that is at least $5 below the pay I was making..............but then so are many others applying for the same job...........

But then guess until one has been there they have no idea what the situation is...................

I don't think unemployment was meant to last forever. Do you believe it is?
And, working to pay the bills will keep ya' off the streets.
What would you prefer, working McDonalds or rummaging through dumpsters for your next meal?

Oh, so people should take a less than living wage and lose their home which will ruin their credit so they can't find a better job later on,...yeah ok...it spirals down once you start on that road. Not to mention that more and more companies cannot afford to offer HC nor can many of their employess afford it.

I took a $5 pay cut to take my present job but cannot afford HC yet.., I am just one of the lucky ones who does not have high CC payments and am healthy...helps that I am not a fatbody, I have a paid off auto and no longer have children to support. I stopped my cable TV and got rid of my business phone...of course now ATT will not list my business so that will hurt my small business' chances of becoming profitable.

I am the exception but that could change anytime and when I need unemployment insurance again I'd hope it'd be there...the GOP senator does not care to make sure people don't become homeless and starving.

I believe it was Hussein who told ya'll to hunker down and sacrifice for him.

Do any of ya'll on unemployment have a back-up plan or you just going to sit and wait? I understand, you're probably looking for a job. Are you willing to do a job that will feed you and maybe keep you from being homeless?

Me, I'm a survivor. Been on the streets a few times. Great learning experience.

Yes, in the 70's, dug through dumpsters for food. My whole check going for rent and utilities, no tv, just a radio. When they were there, I'd take odd jobs for extra cash.

Law of nature, the strong will survive. Are you strong enough?

Yeah many do make sacrifices...due to the disasterous economics of the last administration with two wars with no-bid contracts to their cronies and the lack of regulations on out-of-control corporate powers, all things that have ruined our economy...Bin Laden said he'd win by bankrupting us...he won.

Instead of being a street person tho~ I got an education and joined the military...after serving the only burp for me was when unemployment went up and worker's fairness rights went down under Ronald Raygun...spent 10 years as a single parent without a raise for 5 of those years. Funny, the company I worked for (F-100) squandered it's product line then lied to investors about profits and are now a penny stock company.

Well I can only speak for myself due to the unemployment and what I'm willing to do. I have worked all my life since I was 15 this is the first time I have been without a job. And have applied and received unemployment.

Sorry but the company's in fact pay towards this feature for their employees just in case this does happen.

I raised 2 kids on my own waiting tables would I do it again ya bet your sweet *** I would if it came down to the nitty gritty but until it does I will keep applying for jobs within the field that I have done for the last 12 years.

I have not applied for any other help beyond unemployment. Will it last forever? No and any one that is under the presumption that it does is with false information.

When you first apply it is for so long then you must reapply and you must follow the guidelines in order to keep receiving it as well.

I made great money the a long while. I owned a locksmith shop. Draw back. It was 24/7 and could never make family plans. 10 years, no vacation and the family eventually went their own way.

One day, I realized life was more than work. Packed it up into a trailer and headed out. Too 3 years to sell off all the lockshop inventory. I traveled and did flea markets. Sometimes, it was a gold mine, others it was pure refried beans. The freedom was priceless.

Now, it's property tax sales, impounded vehicle auctions and buying out foreclosures. And I got my GED in the Army.

The ones who will suffer most are the educated. Most of 'em gots no street smarts and will be easy targets for the street wise.

I have a friend that is about my age and is a professional. He has suffered layoffs and collected unemployment. He told me a few weeks ago that he took an hourly job at Lowe's, just to get something going. He was embarrassed.

I asked him what he was embarrassed about? He is ten times the man some of these lazy ****s in this state are. They will sit on their assess until the unemployment runs out. Period.

If you've been on unemployment for two years, it's not that you can't FIND a job - you don't WANT a job!

Take something that is "beneath" you.

I'll bet my friend is managing a department at Lowe's by year's end and is collecting a salary. Because he is a go-getter and a hard worker. Not because someone is going to hand it to him.

BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBUT
washington is not in NEW YORK ...I do not feel sorry for the degreed folk they had a good ride most of the time when the rest of us were scrambleing for the next meal. this isn't the first depression . I only hope they don't forget this lesson . And they could follow the masters and jump out thr 5 story window .yea I really feel sorry for them .