Tier 5 unemployment benefits: Sen. Baucus thinks 99 weeks is enough, but the numbers tell otherwise

[tonysam]

The first news from main stream media about extending unemployment benefits past the 99 week current maximum is not good news. Bloomberg is out with a report More Than a Million May Lose Jobless Aid Due to Deficit Concern

That story indicates senators and congressional representatives from both parties, as well as a Goldman Sachs economist believe that capping the total number of weeks at 99 is a given.

“You can’t go on forever,” said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, of Montana, whose panel oversees the benefits program. “I think 99 weeks is sufficient,” he said.

“There’s just been no discussion to go beyond that,” said Senator Byron Dorgan, a North Dakota Democrat….

Here you have two senators from two states with a population less than the metro area of Rochester, NY telling those on long term unemployment that they are finished dealing with the issue of long term unemployment. They might as well say “we don’t care about the millions of people who will suffer the consequences of our actions.” I’m sure the Democrats used Dorgan and Baucus as point men to see what kind of reaction their statements will bring. You don’t hear senators from high unemployment states saying that right now. Don’t give these small state (and small minded) senators your silence; make sure you blast them with emails, faxes and phone calls as soon as you can. These guys are carrying the torch for those who would rather bail out incompetent and corrupted banks, insurance companies and brokerage houses than the working American. You didn’t hear these “cut them off and damn them all” when those banks and insurance companies came begging for relief. You, the taxpayer, put up $180 billion dollars to bailout one insurance company – AIG. Yet when it’s time to help the unemployed, your representatives say “too bad” tell them to get a job that doesn’t exist. Both parties, as I’ve mentioned repeatedly, are more concerned about campaign contributions than saving millions of Americans from financial disaster.

Examiner.com

Concerns about the "deficit" are bullshit; Congress just doesn't want to deal with the millions of unemployed and refuse to do anything constructive about it. They sure weren't concerned about the budget when they gave handouts to Wall Street.

[Rex]

1. Where was this concern when they were giving away OUR money

to corrupt companies in Iraq, without any oversight!? Oh right, working class is expendible like the military.

[tonysam]

2. These people make me puke

If people send Congress a message about TRULY extending UI, which I am positive WOULD pass both houses of Congress--it did easily last fall--then they will wake up.

[proudohioan]

3. A Goldman Sachs economist????? WTF????

Granted, I did not read the actual article, so maybe I should read it before posting, but my point is actually WhyTF is a Goldman Sachs "economists" opinion even being listened to?

Maybe we should have given him the same courtesy when deciding on an amount of a bailout - you know, to the tune of, say $99.00.......go make due, asshole!

[tonysam]

4. kick n/t