Stop the Cuts to Unemployment Insurance! Call Congress!

[Dulcinea]

Instead of acting to renew the vital lifeline of federal unemployment insurance, now set to expire Dec. 31st, the House majority leadership is fast-tracking a bill that would slash the federal benefits program -- drastically cutting weeks of benefits in every state, and imposing the harshest cuts in states with the highest unemployment rates.

Sound perverse? Actually, it's even worse. HR 3630, sponsored by Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI) was introduced just last Friday. Already, House leaders are pushing for a floor vote as early as Tuesday, Dec. 13.

The bill would cut 40 weeks of federal benefits in the highest unemployment states, and between 20 and 33 weeks in most other states. A minimum of 14 weeks of federal unemployment benefits would be cut in every state in America. Call your Members of Congress now! Call toll-free 1-888-245-3381.


http://www.nelp.org/page/content/click_to_call_renew_ui_2012/

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Let me get this straight:

The extension of unemployment benefits would expire and the payments stopped for existing beneficiaries AND the new claims would get less benefits for less time.


Did I get that right?

[customerserviceguy]

2. This is only one of the reasons I believe that

Either we will NOT get any legislation from Congress for the rest of the year on the stuff that needs to be passed, or the price to get that payroll tax cut is going to be awfully dear.

[and-justice-for-all]

3. Kick..nt

[Seedersandleechers]

4. I'm lucky

I've never had to call my congress rep as he is Emanuel Cleaver and very progressive.

[Enrique]

5. but Claire McCaskill is terrible on unemployment benefits

possibly the meanest Democratic senator on that issue.

[Seedersandleechers]

6. Good point

Maybe I'm just dreaming it won't get that far. Oh well, yes, I have called her numerous times and will again.

[Dulcinea]

7. kick for the jobless. eom

[JNinWB]

8. When Americans most afftected by changes to Fed programs...

..aren't interested enough to make their demands/needs known to policymakers, why should they expect positive outcomes?

Whether one is unemployed, broke, lacking health insurance, homeless---how is not making your voice heard a strategy.

Obama has been pleading with Americans to contact their Congressmen about passing legislation to create jobs. Is anybody listening? What about extending PR tax relief? Healthcare reform?

I was shocked during the Health debate at how few employed people were interested---apparently they never considered the possibility of losing their jobs and not be able to find, or afford, individual coverage. So the TeaPartiers monopolized the discussion and the legislation was weakened.

This lack of involvement, or (perhaps) understanding of politics, is having serious effects on the lives of Americans and they just seem oblivious.