After holiday, lawmakers have two days to make unemployment deal

[cal04]

http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/801-economy/130719-after-holiday-lawmakers-have-two-days-to-craft-unemployment-deal

Emergency unemployment benefits are likely to lapse shortly after Congress returns from recess next week, affecting upward of 2 million people by the end of the year.

Lawmakers have until Nov. 30 to extend the current six-month extension of the benefits, but it’s unclear if they can reach an agreement in time for the unemployed workers who have exhausted their 26 weeks of state unemployment insurance.

"I think the chances of something happening in the first two days are slim, but leadership and the White House are both still very aware of the need for quick and aggressive action," said Judy Conti, federal advocacy coordinator with National Employment Law Project.

(snip)
Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) has vowed to draw attention to the budget implications of voting for tax cuts and against an extension of the unemployment benefits.

[MadHound]

1. We might as well face the fact that unemployment benefits aren't going to be extended,

And that millions of people are going to be screwed.

In fact it was obvious from the beginning that the huge agenda that Democratic leaders were setting up for the lame duck session wasn't going to happen. 'Pugs know that all they have to do is stall, stall, stall and they can kill a lot of legislation. Thus, there's going to be no unemployment extension, repeal of DADT or other such legislation passed.

There are really only two items up on the agenda for the lame duck session, extension of Bush tax cuts and voting on the recommendations of the Catfood Commission. The deal for the Bush tax cuts is already worked out, extend them for the middle class permanently and for the rich "temporarily".

And there's a reason why they want to do the recommendations of the Catfood Commission during the lame duck session, it will be easier to get it passed with the lame ducks and Blue Dogs. Plus, if they can rush it through now, there will be little chance for the public to get organized and oppose it.

[Seedersandleechers]

3. Is it unemployment compensation

for people after 26 weeks, or for people after 99 weeks? I am so confused about where the unemployment ends. :shrug:

[TheKentuckian]

4. 26 weeks is the standard. Everything beyond that is extensions which have only been funded for small

increments of time so if action is not taken, not only will there be no help for the 99ers but at 27 weeks (or at various stops as the unemployment has several tiers) people will become de facto 99ers however long they have been unemployed.

The extensions should have been long term and tied to the unemployment rate or even made permanent but instead it has been a game and/or used as a stick or carrot for political advantage.

Too many are okay with throwing away millions to just get them off the books so they can be labeled discouraged and stop impacting the UI number.

[dkf]

2. Weren't they kind of thinking the last extension was probably the final one?

I seem to recall that was the thinking at the time. The tragedy is that did not prompt them to ramp up job creation programs. Really those two things need to work together.