Rick Scott’s Economic Advisers Manipulate Research To Claim Unemployed Are Lazy and..

[butterfly77]

Rick Scott, the corrupt and fraudulent former health care executive who is soon to be Florida’s next Governor, received a report from his economic transition team this week that recommended he needs to crack down on the unemployed. Scott’s economic team, headed by the state’s most affluent business leaders, quoted research by former Obama administration official Alan Krueger to claim that the unemployed are lazy and need to be driven off unemployment benefits:

“According to Krueger’s research, the amount of time people on UC spent looking for a job averaged only 20 minutes a day! Within 2 weeks of UC ending, that increased but to only 70 minutes a day,” states the document, noting that the median duration of unemployment benefits receipt has increased nationally from 10 weeks to 18.7 weeks.

The team’s recommendations: tighten job-search requirements for people getting benefits, cut off assistance for those who don’t comply and assign community work for those who don’t get a job in 12 weeks. Goals: increase employment and reduce the payout of unemployment benefits, as well as the unemployment compensation tax burden on businesses.

Krueger, who is a well-regarded professor of economics at Princeton University, took issue with the characterization of his research.

First, he said, the research — which was conducted during the stronger economic

http://thinkprogress.org/2010/12/25/rick-scott-unemployed-lazy/

[Riley18]

1. Florida is doomed.

[butterfly77]

4. I wonder..

what's in store for Michigan,Happy New years!

[dennis4868]

2. the guy...

who commits the largest medicare fraud in the history of Florida is telling me that I am lazy? FUCK YOU! HOW IN THE HELL DID MY FELLOW FLORIDIAMS VOTE THIS GUY INTO THE GOVERNORSHIP? WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY???????????????????/

[butterfly77]

5. Listening to teabaggers..

who don't know what in the hell they are for or against,with their ignorant asses..

[Hannah Bell]

21. +100. and what was his opponent doing? why didn't he hit on that point over & over again

during the campaign?

it's literally obscene that a thief like this could be running the state.

[butterfly77]

29. Because the Democratic leadership ,..

here in Michigan we had the same thing..

[Hannah Bell]

31. and that's very telling, isn't it? either they're afraid to hit on those points, or

they don't want to.

[butterfly77]

32. From what I could see...

they didn't want to. I wrote the Dccc,the MDC and nothing but,send us some more money...During the primaries they were non stop at my door then when it came to the general a thud..

[flvegan]

3. Have you seen what his "environmental team" suggested?

Outlandish.

...permitting decisions from any state agency should consider "job creation and economic development" as being just as important as having clean water and air, the regulatory reform committee told Scott this week in a 79-slide report.

Those recommendations spell out a dim future for Floridians who aren't fond of pavement, predicted environmental activist Linda Young of the Clean Water Network.

"The message is, 'We are going to have a feeding frenzy on your natural resources and tax dollars, and you are going to have jack … to say about it, so get used to it,' " Young said.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/scotts-environment-team-says-goal-is-to-help-make-8230-development-happen/1141839

This isn't going to end well.

[butterfly77]

6. You better believe it..

I heard about two callers this morning on cspan calling for a revolution,they say no one is listening and one of them said he use to be a republiCON..

[JDPriestly]

7. People do not understand that when people have just been fired,

regardless of the reason, they are kind of in a state of shock. They feel a mixture of anger, fear and sorrow. It's really devastating. This is especially true for an older person who may have worked for the employer for a pretty long time or may have worked in a particular field for a long time and now faces learning a new job and working in a new place.

And every time you change jobs, the pay seems to get lower. That's also depressing.

This guy sounds like a jerk. Florida is getting what it deserves for putting George W. Bush in the White House.

[FreakinDJ]

11. Florida is getting what it deserves for putting George W. Bush in the White House.

quote of the day

[butterfly77]

12. And a lot of them..

don't even know what's coming yet,they really believe the teabagger bullshit..

[tsuki]

15. And shame. I know some who were laid off, or fired, because of the

economy, and they feel shame.

And yes, Scott is a jerk, but according to people I talked to during the election, a insurance fraud, thief and hustler was better than any Democrat.

All my friends that I grew up with are now gone, and if I could sell out, I would be gone, and the snow-fucking birds could have this state.

[DrDan]

26. from the state that gave us raygun - and without the assistance of the SCOTUS ---- rich

[Riley18]

8. The majority of people did not "put W in the White House"

a few rich corrupt bastards put him there. I am not convinced that the voters put Scott into office either. It looks like they are using Florida as a trial state. His people are releasing some press statements already: Give over $5,000 to each kid who is home schooled to "save" for college, no more "free" medical care at local hospitals for people who have no insurance, and cut unemployment for "lazy" people who lost their jobs.

This is just the beginning of our Grinch governor's little wish list of greed and corruption.

[Hannah Bell]

22. "a trial state" = indeed. florida & texas have been "trial states" for some time.

bush forces in control.

[ngant17]

9. start investing in stock that specialized in prisons and police hardware

it's obvious that Rick Scott's new policies will increase desperation, crime and the draconian enforcement of the lawas.

Wait until all those new red light cameras go into effect in the Greater Miami area starting the new year 2011. Poor people in S. Florida are going to be penalized even more.

Also while I was in Miami, I tried to go to a midnight mass for the Christmas Eve, but everyone told me not to go because of the crime in certain areas at night.

His policies will make a bad situation worse.

[butterfly77]

17. That''s where they will..

create more jobs in the prison system..

[Hugabear]

10. What would a filthy rich fucktard ever know about being unemployed and looking for work?

Yes, because people who are unemployed in Florida just love getting the measly unemployment checks that the state provides.

Not only that, but this fucktard is seriously considering killing the high-speed rail project that would provide thousands of jobs.

[butterfly77]

13. Along,with ..

that Fat ass Chris Christie of New Jersey along with some other new governors..

[lib2DaBone]

14. Prick Scott.... as we like to call him.

The man who stole billions from Medicare.. and was ELECTED by the senile voters of Florida. God help us all.

[lib2DaBone]

16. Just like "PROBATION" for someone convicted of a crime.

Florida's unemployed will be treated as criminals.

The stench of CONservatives is almost too much to bear.

[Hugabear]

18. How much you want to bet he tries to mandate drug testing for the unemployed?

No more checks through the mail, no more direct deposit...want to get your unemployment check, you have to go into the unemployment office and submit to a drug test.

I'm sure he'll try it.

[butterfly77]

19. Let's just say..

drug testing for everyone but himself...He should be first on the list.

[onethatcares]

27. and who pays for the drug testing?

the person getting tested or the state? This guy is gonna be a sinkhole in the making.

Hell the other billionaire that was running on the dem ticket (Greene) hasn't paid his advertising company to date.

[butterfly77]

30. Didn't they say...

we need to cut spending..

[soryang]

20. Rick Scott is a compulsive liar and thief

If there were any justice in Florida he'd already be in prison where he belongs.

[lpbk2713]

23. Therein lies the rub.

Alas, there is no justice in Florida. Katherine Harris
and the Supremes proved the point ten years ago.

[Hugabear]

24. I'm curious how this could possibly be enforced

When you have hundreds if not thousands of people applying for the same position, how in the hell can somebody "prove" they applied for a job?

[soryang]

25. The current law is already quite strict, the issue is a red herring

To get your ue benefits you have to swear or affirm that you did seek employment and that you have no other source of income that you haven't already reported to the agency. You are directed to keep records which show who you contacted and how.

Making a false statement is a third degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

The maximum unemployment payment is so low, I don't think the risk of making the application even justifies the pitifully small benefit. If I am unemployed I won't even apply for the benefits for fear of being accused of lying on the claim form. Think about it, you rollover or withdraw from a 401K to pay your rent and don't report it, this may place you in violation. You get a rebate from a large purchase you made last year. A relative sends you a check for a hundred bucks. You get a payback from a cooperative service you've belonged to. Any income received has to be reported so it can be deducted from your benefit. If you don't do it, you're a felon. Is it worth it?

Scott is just grandstanding. His effort falls into the same category as "taking color tvs away from prisoners" and stopping "welfare queens."

[Hugabear]

28. I remember having to keep a record of everywhere I applied

I'm aware of the current system, as I've been on unemployment recently. I remember awhile back, you used to have to keep a record of everywhere you applied, including the company name, address, and phone number. Not sure how that would work today, when many jobs are posted anonymously online.

[butterfly77]

33. Like usual...

they come up with an idea,but in reality it will not work the way they think. I have went through this looking for jobs,and filling out job logs every week about what jobs I applied to,what was their response,how many times did I call back,who was the contact person,etc.

Now many of the "pull yourselves up by your bootstraps" people are now findin out its a job,just looking for a job,. I have stood in many lines for job fairs, I have printed out numerous resume and when you get to the job fair some take them but most want you to go to their websites,which I had already done for most and submitted apps along with many I know who have and did become very depressed at the process and the bullshit...