Unemployment Benefits Need to be Extended NOW

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/03/07/unemployment-benefits-need-to-be-extended-now/

Christine L. Owens, executive director of the National Employment Law Project and former policy director for the AFL-CIO, testified today on unemployment in the U.S. economy before the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee. She adapted her remarks for us today. Read her full testimony here: http://www.aflcio.org/issues/jobseconomy/jobs/upload/jec_statement_final_embargoed.pdf

The U.S. Department of Labor’s employment report for February was another grim reminder of how bad the economy is for workers. Employers have shed jobs, people are dropping out of the workforce and growing numbers are forced to work part-time because they cannot get full-time hours. Added to the other signs of economic downturn, the employment report is a strong case for a federal extension of unemployment benefits, to stimulate the economy and provide income support to the 3 million jobless workers who will run out of their 26 weeks of state benefits this year and without new jobs or extended benefits, risk losing everything.

The president and many in Congress oppose extending benefits because, they say, the unemployment rate is not high enough. Reliance on the unemployment rate alone to determine whether and when to enact extended benefits is misguided for a number of reasons, not least of which is that the unemployment rate is a lagging indicator: By the time it rises significantly, a recession will be well under way, or may have ended altogether. Since the point of extended benefits is to stimulate the economy—and hence, avoid or minimize a recession—it makes no sense to wait until the damage is done before taking steps to prevent it.

Another problem with considering only the overall unemployment rate is that it ignores altogether today’s unusually high rate of long-term unemployment. Since it is precisely the long-term unemployed who stand to gain or lose the most in the debate over extended benefits, it is important to look closely at what is happening with respect to this important indicator of labor force well-being. By many measures, long-term unemployment is worse now that at the start of previous recessions, underscoring the urgent need of extended benefits.

First, long-term unemployment has remained high throughout this recovery. For 31 consecutive months beginning in November 2002, more than 20 percent of jobless workers were unemployed for at least six months. Similar long-term unemployment rates prevailed for only 23 months during the 1990’s recovery and only 18 months in the 1980s.

FULL story at link.

[Deja Q]

1. Hey, there are PLENTY of jobs!

In India and China...

[Snarkoleptic]

2. Right on!

Screw the $1,200 tax-rebate check bribery scheme, help those > months out of work.
Many of my peers have had their UEC benefits run out 3 months ago.
Hard working, talented people forced to the sidelines by the bushco economy.

[susu369]

3. Put an end to income tax levied on unemployment compensation

It is an outrage that anyone who draws unemployment compensation INSURANCE has to be burdened with an additional IRS taxation.

[Donnachaidh]

4. Didn't that other crook in chief, Nixon, extend unemployment and put CAPS

on prices when the other recession was going on? Doesn't the chimp have the CAJONES to do SOMETHING? Or is he of the *beautiful mind* of his mother and just doesn't give a shit unless it touches him directly?

[bedazzled]

5. it's actually a little late for that? all most people have to lose is minimum wage anyway

five years back i lost a $40,000 a year job. unemployment
wasn't enough to live on, but it was something.

this year i can lose a $12,000 a year job. i'd hate to think
how much unemployment i'd get for that.

[Mnemosyne]

6. There aren't even McJobs here in NW PA anymore.

:kick:

[reformedrethug]

7. there are plenty of jobs

where I am, in fact I just started a new job 3 weeks ago, and since I have been at this job I have had 2 other places call wanting to set up and interview with me for a job with them. The jobs are out there IF you have a marketable skill. The Medical field is exploding, hell they just built a new hospital fairly near me which would have how many new jobs?

Sorry but if there are no jobs where you are, and your single, then MOVE.

Oh and the jobs I am talking about for me personally are all 20.00+ per hour.

[Donnachaidh]

8. that exploding medical field isn't going to do much good if the populace

ISN'T working and hasn't got any health insurance. In fact, you may see the same IMPLODING if other job areas continue to die out.

But hey -- we're all really shortsighted when our own asses are covered, right? :sarcasm:

[reformedrethug]

9. you know

I look in todays sunday paper and there are pages upon pages of jobs, everything from dishwasher to engineer but you dont want to hear that, you want to hear the economy is in the tank, jobs are being lost left and right, blah blah blah. How many in here have taken advantage of programs out there to retrain in a different field if your job is either sent overseas or your place of employment just closes??

That happened to me, I got laid off of 2 jobs within 2 years and I got tired of being stuck in a revolving door type of situation. I did a little research and found out that my state offers 10,000 for 2 years to go back to school to get a degree, license, whaterver it takes to get a better job and guess what, it IS enough if you go to a 2 year school. It paid for me to go back to school and get my degree and I now have a marketable skill. Yea I had to pay maybe 1-200 a quarter for books or whatever but overall it was not a big cost out of pocket.

If your situation sucks like mine did, figure out a way to change it. I went to school full time 20 hours a quarter PLUS I worked at sears part time, tutored part time, worked the campus help desk part time to change my situation.

[Vincardog]

11. You the bootstraps man. What 2 year degree do you recommend for us 50 year olds with Masters?

They already will not hire me either because I am "Over qualified" or too close to retirement.
I am also glad that $40/year makes you SOOOOOOO fat and happy. That doesn't cover shit where I am living.

[reformedrethug]

13. What is your masters in?

It all depends on what is in demand in your area, as far as 40K a year making me fat and happy your wrong, its a start, and with what my wife makes we are doing ok finally after several years of living paycheck to paycheck. We are still getting our bills caught up but eventually we will have everything but the house paid off. Oh and considering my last job was 12 an hour and only 32 hours a week this job is like hitting the lottery LOL.

The area I live in is very depressed economically, 2 factories have closed their doors, 1 is offering buyouts before locking the doors, we have basically turned into a bedroom community for the surrounding cities, and not a whole lot there either. I happen to have gotten very lucky with the position I have and the 2 other interviews I had were 60 miles away instead of 34 that I drive now.

I was not talking so much about those with higher degrees but more to those with no degrees and have worked in factories like myself.

Actually in todays paper they are looking for a Software Engineer with at LEAST a bachelors, Mechanical Engineer with at least a bachelors and 10 years experience, and here is one asking for a Masters or graduate assistant. Thats just a few at a quick glance on 1 page of todays paper. The jobs are out there, maybe not where you are located, but they are out there.

Sorry but all I hear lately is excuses but no solutions, instead of complaining about your situation look for a solution. I am not directing this at you personally, but the culture itself.

[cap]

17. pure baloney...

Warren Buffet has just said that we are in a recession. The definition of a recession includes high unemployment. It's not a question of trying... Everyone here tries very hard.

It's a question of restructuring the system to include everyone at a living wage. You are less educated than that 50 year old Master's degree. Bosses won't even consider him because he is a threat to them. They consider you because you are less threatening. You know less than a 4 year degreed manager. Most places don't replace college degree'd experienced people with folks from a community college. Same with the age thing too.

[reformedrethug]

18. then

why can I find 3 jobs that are looking for individuals with a Masters degree, oh and btw just because I don't have a Masters does not make me less educated. I know many people that are much smarter than those I know with advanced degrees, all that means is you spent enough time in school to get that degree.

[Mnemosyne]

14. I am disabled. I take care of my 74yo mother, my grandson, my neices

and nephews. Sometimes life cannot be just about money and selfishness.

Your suggestion is not an option for me nor for many of the poor in this area.

Welcome to DU.

[reformedrethug]

16. In your case

your correct, and also in your case is where society should be stepping in to help take care of you and your family.
My suggestion only comes from personal experience, I moved to Tennessee then back to Ohio, but being single I was able to do just that.

[Skittles]

19. you sound like a f***ing repuke

what YOU exerience is what EVERYONE exeriences!!!!!

[NNN0LHI]

10. Recommended

[OhioChick]

12. K&R

:kick:

[leftofthedial]

15. I got laid off in 2005

think it'll help me?