Weekly Address: Time to Pass Bipartisan Legislation to Extend Emergency Unemployment Insurance

[cal04]

Source: White House

In this week's address, President Obama said Congress should act to extend emergency unemployment insurance for more than one million Americans who have lost this vital economic lifeline while looking for a job. Letting emergency unemployment insurance expire not only harms American families, but it is also a drag on the overall economy. The President urges both parties to pass the bipartisan three-month extension under consideration in the Senate so that we can once again focus on expanding opportunities for the middle class and creating jobs for all hardworking Americans.



Read more: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2014/01/04/weekly-address-time-pass-bipartisan-legislation-extend-emergency-unemployment-insura

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Transcript
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/01/03/weekly-address-time-pass-bipartisan-legislation-extend-emergency-unemplo

[Demeter]

1. You know, if he didn't open his mouth, which inflames the Opposition no end

Harry Reid might have been able to pull it off.

After all, at this point, becoming an activist is rather pointless.

Quack, quack.

[seabeckind]

2. Another bandaid

to keep from upsetting the corporatists.

Rather than putting the burden on our "capitalist" society to insist on an economic environment that would create the jobs, the burden is shifted to those who are already burdened with a reduction in their standard of living because of the attitudes of those corporatists.

We have no direction, no national interest (other than some fake wars on shit), just a wandering in whatever path provides the most profit to private interests.

It's all bullshit. Where the hel is FDR when we need him? Or Teddy R to break up the trusts? Or the big labor organizers? Or a new Pecora commission?

How about some f'n taxes on the people and corporations that are sitting on our capital?

Meanwhile we can help out our brothers while we fix the problems that put them where they are.

It's awfully tiresome seeing big buildings with "For Lease" signs in front of them and a fake phone number cause the corp that owns them gets more benefit from keeping them empty than actually employing people to make them operational. Meanwhile walmart is full of crap from somewhere else, Samsung and LG are coming out my ears, and I can't find a decent toaster. And those same rich people are waiting for us little people to run out of money so they can steal our art museums.

</rant>

[humbled_opinion]

3. That is an excellent summation of the current sitution.

Thank You.

[flying rabbit]

4. Well said!

[reformist2]

7. Exactly. It's time we started advocating for basic income.

I'm all for raising the minimum wage, but truly, what good is a $15-an-hour job if there are 100 applicants for each one?

[DFW]

5. A three month extension would be a nice start, but

An 18 month extension would be better. All of the money will go right back into the economy anyway, which is why Republicans will fight any extension tooth and nail in an election year--can't have the economy do too well in an election year under a Democratic President, nosiree, Bob.

But a 3 month extension if you are destitute and have no immediate prospects of employment is more of a stay of economic execution than anything else. In a winter like is currently blasting the Northeast and Midwest, the unemployed will be lucky to cover their heating bills, let alone eat or pay the rent. As Howard says, "We are better than that." Or, we should be, anyway.

[SamKnause]

6. Unemployment

How have your attempts at bipartisanship worked so far ?

How can you negotiate with a section of the country that denies facts, rewrites history and lies continuously ?

You had a mandate when you were elected in 2008.

You squandered that mandate.

You squandered the chance to hold the Bush administration accountable.

You squandered the chance to prosecute Wall Street thieves.

[Autumn]

8. IMO bipartisanship is just another way to get mediocre.

A band aid on a bleeding jugular.

[JoePhilly]

9. More THANKS OBAMA.

[SCVDem]

10. As the death toll Will rise this week from the cold

The bodies should be stacked in front of the doors of the House l(lack of) leadership!

They will not have died in vain!

[mitty14u2]

11. US economy losing 'up to a $1bn a week' after jobless benefits cut

US economy losing 'up to a $1bn a week' after jobless benefits cut

The US economy is losing up to a billion dollars a week because of the “fiscally irresponsible” decision to end long-term unemployment benefits, a Harvard economist said on Friday.

Professor Lawrence Katz based his assessment on official forecasts of the impact to the economy of 1.3 million jobless Americans losing benefits

The benefits, which apply to people who are unemployed for longer than six months, expired last week after a bipartisan budget deal on federal spending for the next two years failed to include a reauthorisation of the program.

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/jan/03/us-economy-losing-1bn-jobless-benefits-cuts

This is another catch 22 that republicans love, keeping the stimulus going by the fed, the economy has to be slowed, they cut 10 billion in stimulus, cutting benefits cuts more that will keep the bond buying on the same track, cant have the money going to the general public it must go to wall street. GOP, we must keep wall street happy no matter the cost to citizens.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/12/18/fed-meeting-december/4078769/

[Iliyah]

12. GOPers know that, they want America to fail

and have its people blame a particular party that starts with a "D". Crazed Cruz with a straight face told the American public that the shut down was totally the Dem's fault and he and the GOP bears no blame. With that type of mind set how can a political party work in favor for the American people.

It can't, therefore 2014 is crucial.

[Andy823]

14. I totally agree with you

This is just more of the right wing game plan for 2014 politics. They will do anything they can to hurt the economy, even if it destroys lives in the process. Of course they will, as you stated, blame it all on the president and democrats in order to try and win elections. Sadly many in this country will either buy into the BS, or as some on this board do on a daily basis, use the right wing talking points to try and make their case for "not voting for democrats" because they are the dame as republicans!

If democrats can't hold the senate, or if the lose more seats in the House, it will make no difference in 2016 who wins the WH, there will be nothing done to help get this country back on track, create jobs, or anything that will help those who really need help. Contrary to what some here may say, the two parties are NOT the same, and even though some democrats may not always agree with the voters, republicans NEVER agree with doing what is right for the country!

Yes it may be a choice of holding your nose to voter for someone you really didn't want in office, but the alternative of getting another crazy ass republican in office is far worse in the long run!

As you said 2014 is very crucial for our future.

[12ZTR]

13. No extension.

Rep/Con/Teas do not want Big Govt.interference in their personal lives by receiving a tax funded Socialist entitlement so they can survive.

Wait! Stop! There aren't any unemployed Rep/Con/Teas. They all have six figure jobs.
Their motto : We don't need no stinkin' Socialism.

Can someone help R/C/Ts find the definition of hypocrisy?