Just a question on unemployment insurance . . . another "entitlement" according to GOP ....

[defendandprotect]

Of course, unemployment insurance isn't either an "entitlement" -- it's paid for

by workers and the companies who hire them against rainy days.

In fact, when the rainy days pile up, corporations were supposed to be paying more

into the fund --

Here's the question . . . what happened to these funds?

Why did Dems have to negotiate a way to pay for the unemployment benefits?

$32 billion?

[DURHAM D]

1. Employers pay the unemployment taxes.

Employees do not pay.

[defendandprotect]

4. Employees contribute to the Unemployment fund . . .

-- and, as far as I'm aware, since the inception of the plan, the employee

contribution has continued to rise.

[DURHAM D]

7. Are you talking federal or state?

Employees don't pay into the federal fund. And in the states that I have lived in employees also don't pay into the state funds.

The employers contribution are increased on a regular basis. But since employees pay zero they can't rise.

On edit - I think you are very confused and working from an incorrect assumption.

[defendandprotect]

9. Check your paystub . . . you should have an indication . . . and the rates have steadily rise

for the employee --

whereas there used to be huge financial penalties for employees who steadily

overturned employees -- or dumped them.

[DURHAM D]

12. Wrong.

I don't need to check my pay stub. I write the checks.

[defendandprotect]

16. So you're saying your employees do not pay at all into an unemployment fund?

They contribute nothing to it?

And/or such a fund doesn't exist in your state?

[DURHAM D]

17. My employees contribute zero.

And yes the fund exists. I pay the entire amount.

[defendandprotect]

18. Well, that's great for employees of whatever state you're in ...

but in NYC/State, we paid into the fund --

[DURHAM D]

20. Not in New York. nt

[sandnsea]

2. Extensions beyond the normal state benefits

and federal extensions. These are the longest extensions I've ever heard of and after the first set that might have some state contribution, they're being paid for at the federal level.

[defendandprotect]

5. GOP made a lot of changes to these programs, if I recall correctly -- negative changes,

as usual --

Again -- when unemployment rose, the contribution by the corporations was

also supposed to rise. That was a lever against their dumping employees, as

they've been doing!

[old mark]

3. Employees & employers both pay into a state fund called Unemployment Insurance...

the Federal money is to supplement the state programs because of the massive unemployment...many state funds only provide for so many months of unemployment insurance, then rely on these federal funds as "extentions" when times are very bad. It has been this way since the at least the 1964's AFAIK, has nothing to do with Obama being president.

mark

[defendandprotect]

6. You've just hit the nail on the head ... "massive unemployment" ... and that's

part of my question. When unemployment rises, corporate contributions are supposed to

also rise to keep pace with it. It's intended as leverage against corporations dumping

all their employees -- and it was leverage against corporations who constantly fired

employees. They had to cough up additional contributions to the fund -- at higher rates.

I didn't say this had anything to do with Obama -- what we have to question is WHY haven't

contributions against corporations risen as unemployment has risen?

More than likely this has to do with changes by GOP over decades by GOP.

[sandnsea]

8. There are more Tiers now

They were created by the stimulus. Before there was just one 13 week extension that kicked in any time a county had a 10% unemployment rate. At least that's how it was in the 80s.

According to this article, and what I remember, the multiple Tier extensions were put in place with the stimulus.

http://iowaindependent.com/29048/unemployment-extension-would-not-create-additional-benefits

[defendandprotect]

10. You have to know how the program was run under New Deal . . .

certainly it's part of the Social Security package --

As I recall it, there was a time when 90% of it was paid by corporations --

and that gradually the burden was moved more and more onto employee.

Most of what happened after New Deal are distortions to the program --

negative changes.

[sandnsea]

11. Unemployment is not part of social security

Never has been. And employers still pay the bulk of the program, all of it in most states.

Unemployment has improved dramatically over the years. The current Tier system would have been a godsend in the 80s. People are complaining because there's "only" 99 weeks?? Try 39.

Honestly, where do you get your information.

[defendandprotect]

14. It was part of the whole package of "Social Security/Welfare" put in place during New Deal --

That's certainly when it was instituted --

Health care was also part of Social Security/Welfare agenda --

that part didn't happen --


Again -- Repugs made many negative changes in all of these programs --

Don't know about 39 weeks . . . but as I understand it people used to collect

for longer periods of time than that.

CERTAINLY, Repugs didn't make any beneficial changes -- other than for corporations--!!

[sandnsea]

21. It was a New Deal program

But it was always a program administered through the states, unlike social security.

"For the administration of insurance benefits, the States are the most logical units. At this stage, while unemployment insurance is still untried in this country and there is such a great diversity of opinion on many details, there is room for some degree of difference in methods, though not in principles. That would be impossible under an exclusively national system. And so I can say to you who have come from all parts of the country that not only will there have to be a Federal law on unemployment insurance, but State laws will also be needed. In January the great majority of the State Legislatures will convene, as well as Congress. You who are interested in seeing that unemployment insurance is established on a nationwide basis should make your plans accordingly."

And this is the longest collection period in history. Another reason I think Democrats are not giving proper credit to this Congress and Administration, because it's not any worse than the early 80s or early 90s at this point.

http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2009/nov/06/career_counselor_unemployment_benefit_extension_is-ar-19377/

[DURHAM D]

13. What state do you work in? nt

[defendandprotect]

15. NJ --

but self-employed --

[DURHAM D]

19. NJ is one of only 3 states where employees make a contribution -

to the state.