Senate GOP again kills jobless aid extension

[CrownPrinceBandar]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON — For the third time in three weeks, Republicans in the Senate on Wednesday successfully filibustered a bill to continue providing unemployment checks to millions of people.

But since Republicans Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine voted with Democrats to advance the $33 billion measure, its passage seems assured next month once a replacement is named for Democratic Sen. Robert Byrd, who died on Monday. Democrats would then have a filibuster-proof majority for the bill.

About 1.3 million people who have been out of work for more than six months have already lost jobless checks averaging about $300 a week when benefits began running out earlier this month.

Democratic leaders had hoped to pass the extension before Congress goes on a weeklong Independence Day recess. The House delayed a vote until Thursday.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38021290/ns/business-us_bus... /

[Historic NY]

1. keep it in the news..Why does the GOP hate the little people?

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

2. ASSHOLES. THAT IS ALL.

[BanTheGOP]

14. This is NOT a "political" maneuver...

...this was an EVIL, DEMONSTRABLE CRIMINAL ACT, that should be punished by attacking the financial coffers of the republican party with RICO statute violations. RIGHT NOW!!!

[TheWatcher]

3. Are they TRYING to provoke an uprising?

Is that what they really want?

Maybe they think we're all just going to roll over and keep sucking our thumbs and lie back and enjoy whatever they do to us.

At some point, the people HAVE to fight back.

Because we have no one left to fight for us.

[Imajika]

5. Please...

"Are they TRYING to provoke an uprising?"

They'd have to try a heck of a lot harder. Filibustering the unemployment benefit extension is most certainly not going to cause an uprising. This barely moves the great majority from their televisions.

"At some point, the people HAVE to fight back."

And yet all the energy seems to be on the right, not amongst the people seeing their benefits cut off. So, don't be so sure too many people feel like fighting. My guess is most will just fall through the cracks or take super low end jobs which have no chance of being enough to pay the bills.

"Maybe they think we're all just going to roll over and keep sucking our thumbs and lie back and enjoy whatever they do to us."

Why yes, yes they do. Is there any evidence this is not case?

[Hawaii Hiker]

4. "Cold Hearted Snake" wasn't just a Paula Abdul song, it describes

99% of Republicans in the senate...

Top it off w/senatorial candiate kook Sharon Angle w/her obnoxious comments, and you have a group of mean-spirited, greedy, despicable politicans who can't even see how this bill would really help alot of people...

Forget the tin-man, Republicans are the ones w/no heart....

[Better Believe It]

6. Democrats should just move for an up and down vote and force the Republicans to filibuster.

Problem solved.

And do the same with a bill to extend the COBRA health insurance assistance.

Now that shouldn't be so hard to do, should it?

[erinlough]

8. Especially when they were jonesin for a vacation

I'm sure those old f**ks would have caved sooner than later. It is amazing to me that they keep going for the votes that need 60 votes. But then, I guess we just aren't that important.

[OhioBlue]

9. very good point - make 'em really fillibuster through vacation

I wish they would do that.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

7. Someone needs to tell the VOTERS about the GOP and their antics!

[BanTheGOP]

15. I've been saying this for YEARS!

I have been hammering year in and year out about banning the republican party for years.

Why it hasn't been done yet is beyond me.

I've written over 70 articles on what needs to be done. Here is a link to my blog:

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/BanTheGOP

[rpannier]

10. I'm guessing that jack-ass Nelson (NE) voted with the filibuster

I got a way to save money... Cut off all farm subsidies to Nebraska farmers
Maybe that will get his attention

[classysassy]

11. When it come to sheep

the republicans know their flock.

[roxiejules]

12. Thank you Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins

"I tore myself away from the safe comfort of certainties through my love for truth - and truth rewarded me."
Simone de Beauvoir

[Jennicut]

13. So people will have to wait a month! Disgusting.

[True_Blue]

16. The Republicans must think the unemployed are all Democrats.

They probably are now.

[never cry wolf]

17. Next MONTH? What am I supposed to do until then?

I have $50 left after paying some bills. My benefits were cut off 2 weeks ago, I have 2 days of meds left at $60 a month. I am a licensed architect laid off 14 months ago. I ran my own firm, I volunteered to sit on our community's plan commission for 17 years, I coached little league and wrestling. I tried to play by the rules. Now I am 55, Fannie Mae owns my house after foreclosure, I have gone Chapter 11. I have applied to several hundred positions worldwide and no one is building anything.

Do I find a job flipping burgers or delivering pizzas? Is that my best value to society after 25 years as a licensed professional?

[regnaD kciN]

26. Unfortunately, yes...

Those of us over fifty are pretty much dead-in-the-water when it comes to hiring decisions. We should all start practicing saying "Do you want fries with that?" or "Welcome to Walmart!" -- because, if we have to rely on finding a new job, that's about all we're going to be able to get.

[True_Blue]

27. My heart goes out to you.

Republicans only care about the next election and the country be damned. By the time the Senate comes back from vacation, how many more families will go hungry or get kicked out into the streets?

[Dulcinea]

18. GOP, Brown block unemployment extension

Source: Boston Globe

WASHINGTON – For the third time in three weeks, Senator Scott Brown last night joined Republicans in blocking a vote on providing unemployment checks to millions of people across the country.

The measure failed by a single vote, with two Republicans – Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, both of Maine – joining 57 Democrats in trying to advance a bill that would extend unemployment. Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska was the only Democrat who voted against the bill.

With the Senate off next week for a week-long break, the issue won’t come up again until the week of July 12. It seems sure to pass at that point, once a replacement is named for Senator Robert C. Byrd, the West Virginia Democrat who died Monday.

Democrats have scaled back their plans several times in recent weeks, scrapping plans to provide states with more Medicaid funds to offset budget cut. The measure last night would have cost $34 billion, and Republicans opposed it because it would add to the federal debt since there was no funding source to pay for it.


Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligen...

---

Plenty of money for wars that line the pockets of defense contractors, but none for unemployed Americans.

[Deep13]

19. WTF is Nelson's problem?

[Jennicut]

20. He is not really a Dem? He is from Nebraska? He is an ahole?

I can think of more.

[joeglow3]

21. Sadly, he is all we got

I feel like Vern in Stand By Me (All I can add to the pot is 7 cents - but it IS 7 cents). Sorry, but the best we can do for the Democratic party is add one more member to add to the ranks and gain a majority and control. Other than that, there is not much we add.

Sorry!!!!

[totodeinhere]

22. You should have said GOP, Nelson block unemployment extension.

It's no surprise that the GOP did this. And that includes Brown. After all, he was supported by the teabaggers. But Nelson? I thought he was a Democrat, but maybe not.

[Arkana]

25. Wow, given that the Globe practically lives on the stuff that comes from Scott Brown's anus,

I'm surprised they made a point at mentioning his name.

[Old Troop]

23. They couldn't do it without Dem assistance or negligence.

[Arkana]

24. Good. We're just waiting on Manchin, then?

He'd better pick someone soon.