More Than a Million in U.S. May Lose Jobless Benefits

[tonysam]

BusinessWeek:

Since the U.S. recession began in December 2007, Congress has extended the length of unemployment benefits for the jobless three times. Now, the lawmakers may have reached their limit.

They are quietly drawing the line at 99 weeks of aid, a mark that hundreds of thousands of Americans have already reached. In coming months, the number of those who will receive their final government check is projected to top 1 million.

It’s a deadline that has rarely been mentioned in recent debates over jobless benefits, in which Republicans have delayed aid because of cost concerns. The deadline hasn’t been lost on Teauna Stephney, a 39-year-old single mother from Bothell, Washington, who said she could become homeless once her $407 weekly checks stop in June.

“What are people like me supposed to do?” said Stephney, who said almost two years of benefits haven’t proved long enough for her to find work after she lost her last job in August 2008. Referring to lawmakers, she said, “I would like them to come and talk to me and spend a day in my shoes.”

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Why should they care? They are more "concerned" about the deficit which the GOP CREATED and more "concerned" about bailing out Wall Street.

[closeupready]

1. Congress members of both parties are mostly millionaires.

Of course they don't care about little people. It's more important that we use taxpayer resources to subsidize Wall Street's multimillion dollar bonuses rather than keep single-parent mothers like Ms. Stephney and her children from homelessness.

[tonysam]

2. It's absolutely disgusting.

And then these people cry about the "deficit" which the GOP CREATED makes me puke.

[closeupready]

3. You have to understand - Senators and House members personally know Wall Street's people.

They belong to the same country clubs, go to the same schools, maybe even knew each other in college.

Ms. Stephney - who's she, and why should her Senator give a diddly squat? :sarcasm:

So yes, if Congress wants to know why they are held in record low regard, THIS and stories like it are precisely why.

[tonysam]

4. This is one of the biggest reasons Democrats will likely lose big in November

rightly or wrongly. They aren't doing enough to help the "little people" while the moneyed interests get their handouts.

[paulk]

5. and then those million drop off the unemployment rolls

unemployment goes down, the recovery marches on!

Yay!

[paulk]

6. dupe

[cap]

7. what part of sending out 1000 resumes don't they understand?

These people don't need an incentive to go to work... they just need employers incentivized to hire them.

[Better Today]

8. Seems higher taxes on the rich would be a proper solution, but oh, no

can't have that, can we?

[tonysam]

9. kick n/t

[OhioChick]

10. K&R n/t