Update on 30-day Extension of Jobless Benefits

[Dulcinea]

Friends,

We are extremely sorry to have to tell you that Congress has gone into recess without passing the 30 day extension of the UI and COBRA programs, and that it appears extremely unlikely that the Senate will be called back into session for a vote before April 5th, when the programs expire. We have learned that the Senate has scheduled a cloture vote (a vote to end debate on the bill - they must get 60 votes to move forward) for 5:30 pm on Monday, April 12th, at which time they'll try to move the 30 day extension through as quickly as possible. Simultaneously, and we hope over the recess as well, they will be working with the House to resolve some differences in the bill that would extend these programs through the end of 2010. We are hoping that year-end extension will be firmly in place long before the end of April.

www.unemployedworkers.org

[babylonsister]

1. Congress didn't fail to pass it, repubs did...

hate to be nit-picky, but credit where due...

Republicans Plan to Block Unemployment Benefits Again

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8019279

[Cirque du So-What]

2. Repukes are fucking with the lives of a lot of people

myself included. It shouldn't be a problem getting 60 votes, right?

[ChicagoSuz219]

3. I'm not on unemployment...

...but, if I was, I'd sure as hell be taking names on who voted for/against these extensions.

How dumb are these politicians and their 'F-U' mentality?

[soleft]

4. so what does this mean

that everyone in the country who is on unemployment is cut off?

[Dulcinea]

5. From the National Employment Law Project:

A few things to remember:
-If you are in the middle of a tier of benefits, you will be able to remain on that tier and finish it out before you benefits lapse. We hope that this lapse is so short lived that a minimal number of people are impacted, though we know for those who lose benefits, the impact will be great.
-When the programs are reinstated, they will be retroactive so you will eventually receive every bit of benefits you would have had the programs not lapsed. We know that for many of you the disruption is devastating even if retroactive, so we do not mean to minimize the impact, but wanted you to all know that benefits will be retroactive.

www.nelp.org