Senate Dems restart campaign to extend unemployment benefits

[tonysam]

Source: The Hill

Fourteen Senate Democrats signaled support for a bill that would extend many Americans' jobless benefits by at least 14 weeks — a necessary expansion, they said, that Republicans have so far obstructed.

The majority party has been trying to pass its unemployment insurance extension since September, but a number of setbacks kept the Senate from voting on the bill. But party leaders emphasized they hoped to rejuvenate that campaign this week, and Tuesday's press event was perhaps an attempt to convince GOP lawmakers to follow suit.

"We are facing opposition from the Republicans," Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) said at a press conference on Monday. "They were quick to provide bailouts to Wall Street, but they fall at helping people on Main Street."

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/63895-senate-democrats-restart-campaign-to-extend-unemployment-insurance

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Get on the stick, senators.

[Dulcinea]

1. This should be a no-brainer.

Unemployment will be the last thing to recover when this recession finally ends. It's not getting any better in the meantime, either.
Fer Chrissakes, throw us a bone!

[tonysam]

2. Congress will have to extend UI at least

another couple of years before the economy shows ANY sign of turning around for workers.

[tonysam]

3. Kick n/t

[optimator]

4. "We are facing opposition from the Republicans,"

who gives a shit, they aren't in power,
but I am guessing it is just a convenient excuse to sit on your fucking hands, right senator?

[blue_onyx]

5. "We are facing opposition from the Republicans,"

So what? There are 60 Democratic Senators. Yes, I know the Republicans are the "party of no" but at some point, the Dems have to start taking responsibility for things not passing. They need 50 votes plus Biden. I hate the artificial 60 votes threshold.

[tonysam]

6. The thing that pisses me off is the GOP

is screwing around using procedural rules to hold it up and then pass some handouts to the well-to-do who itemize deductions.

Everybody KNOWS this legislation will eventually pass. Of course Congress is going to have to extend UI for a couple more YEARS.

[Abq_Sarah]

7. The difference of opinion seems to be in the funding

The repugs want to use stimulus funds to extend benefits.

We want to extend the unemployment surtax on businesses and make them pay for extended benefits.

The problem? It's an additional tax on businesses during a time when a lot of businesses have been forced to lay people off.

[Sub Atomic]

8. Isn't it funny how the repukes cried and wailed and denounced the stimulus funds

but now they want to spend every penny possible on ways to save 'big business' from having to pay their fair share.

[Abq_Sarah]

9. It's not just big business

I'll have to pay more. Every small business across America will pay more.