Tier V & COBRA Extension: Rally Planned On Wall Street

[Joanne98]

People that have exhausted their unemployment benefits unite, at least this is the message they are trying to get out. The 99er’s, or the folks that have exhausted their unemployment benefits and are still having no success at finding a job, have managed to gain a united front and are planning to rally in lower Manhattan on Thursday this upcoming week. Scheduled to be on August 12th starting at noon, it is expected to draw tens of thousands.

What They Want
The 99er’s ask only that our leaders extend the unemployment benefits to accommodate the poor jobs market. At this point there are already more than 4 million jobless that have lost their eligible status and, estimates are saying, that 50,000 per day are losing their benefits to join these ranks, even though the unemployment rate has remained steady over the last few weeks, at 9.5%.

Who Is On Their Side
Senator Debbie Stabenow and most every Democratic Senator holding a seat. One Democrat will oppose it, if it is not paid for…Senator Nelson (D-Neb.) The Republican opposition is deep, but there are supporters. Senators Snowe and Collins supported the unemployment extension that just passed and the incentives provided in this tier V bill are sure to get their support again. If the bill is paid for, (a point that is unclear at this moment,) more Republican support can be expected

The Rally’s Main Point
99er’s are trying to point out that there are more than just the 4 million suffering from this recession…the children. Most of these people have families that they are trying to support and feed, and the kids are the real victims. I ask you Senators and Representatives this: Can any single person among you look just one of these children in the eyes and say, “No, I don’t have anything for you.” If you can, then maybe, just maybe, you need to vote “No” on this reprieve for the unemployed Americans of this nation.

http://www.usmoneytalk.com/finance/tier-v-cobra-extension-rally-planned-on-wall-street-908/

[doc03]

1. What would be the DU opinion if after 99 weeks that

there would be some kind of public works program where the recipients of unemployment would be required to work or retrain for further unemployment benefits?

[Fearless]

2. I would say that it follows the stereotype that these people

don't have skills, aren't actually trying to find work, or are in some way delinquent.

[doc03]

3. I was laid off myself last year and was offered retraining

and 2 full years of unemployment. Me being 61 at the time and planning on retiring at 62 I turned down the retraining and rode out the unemployment for 60 weeks then retired. Many other people that I worked with that had many years to go to retire didn't accept the retraining either. The thing is they thought they would eventually get recalled to their former job, well it didn't happen and probably won't. So now for many of them their unemployment is close to running out and they have no marketable skills. The thing of it is they were offered the retraining and didn't take it, this is not BS and I know many people in that situation. I mean if you offer a person retraining for free and unemployment to live on in the meantime and they refuse it there comes a point where they are beyond help.

[Fearless]

4. Offering is certainly different than requiring

I think it would be a good idea to allow those options, but I don't believe it should be required.

[doc03]

5. I think after 99 weeks it should be required you

either retrain for another occupation or they should be required to seriously seek work and if there is work available take it. I know from personal experience all you are required to do here is write down 2 job contacts, many people just pick out a couple employers from the phone book or check their web site to see if they have jobs posted. You just have to be sure you don't list anyone that is actually hiring. That is not BS.

[Fearless]

6. I'm sorry I don't know a single person who cheats on unemployment.

Different worlds, clearly.

[doc03]

7. Oh really n/t

[Fearless]

8. Really.

[doc03]

9. I won't say you lie but MA must be entirely different

than OHIO, WV or PA. Seriously if you are getting $400 a week unemployment and $250 SUB from your employer are you going to go out and look for work that pays half that? Our jobs service doesn't even expect you to take a minimum wage job when you are accustomed to making $30 an hour, the book says seek suitable work. But I think after 99 weeks you should be required to take what is available and maybe unemployment could make up the difference..