Americans Want to Work Act, for 99ers, Fails in Senate-thank the rethugs, again

[babylonsister]

http://washingtonindependent.com/99112/americans-want-to-work-act-for-99ers-fails-in-senate

Americans Want to Work Act, for 99ers, Fails in Senate
By Annie Lowrey 9/29/10 4:32 PM


Today, Democratic Sens. Debbie Stabenow (Mich.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I.) took to the Senate floor to argue for the Americans Want to Work Act, a bill extending the maximum number of weeks of unemployment insurance benefits to 119. The legislation also extends the HIRE Act payroll tax exemption and doubles a tax credit for businesses that hire unemployed workers.

Sen. George LeMieux (R-Fl.) objected to Stabenow’s unanimous consent request on behalf of Republicans, blocking the bill from moving forward. LeMieux said the bill did not detail its pay-fors, and that the GOP would not support a bill that increases the deficit. Democrats argued that the bill constitutes emergency spending and therefore does not need offsets.

Stabenow focused the economics of the situation. In states like Michigan, unemployment is well into the double digits, and most unemployed workers have been out of a job for six months or more — making it much harder to find work. Nationally, five workers are competing for every job opening. Unemployment insurance benefits are one of the most stimulative forms of government spending. The extension, Stabenow argued, would be worth it. Whitehouse similarly said that not passing the bill would be “heartless,” given the families suffering with no source of income.

But Republicans remained unmoved. Stabenow promised to keep fighting for the long-term unemployed. But with the block, it seems unlikely that Tier V legislation will come up again anytime soon.

The block also augurs yet another fight over the reauthorization of federally extended unemployment insurance benefits. On Nov. 30, those expire, and Republicans will likely force Democrats to find offsets to continue them.

[global1]

1. Now Why Isn't This Latest Round Of "No's" From The Repugs All Over The News?......

Yesterday I believe it was the Outsourcing Bill that went down in defeat and today this. Why don't we hear about this 24/7 that the Repugs are preventing anything that has anything to do with the economy, jobs, the welfare of this country from being enacted?

This is criminal on the part of the Repugs and it is being aided and abetted by the MSM that is not reporting this - especially at such a critical time with the upcoming election in Nov.

[babylonsister]

4. Has anyone mentioned it to your knowledge? nt

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

2. The 99ers have been calling into Ed's show demanding that the Stabenow bill be brought forth

or they won't vote.

Now that the bill was indeed brought forth, will they vote for Democrats after seeing with their own two eyes how the Republicans--NOT THE DEMOCRATS--have obstructed relief to the 99ers?

Or, will they continue to blame Obama and the Democrats?

I hope people will open their eyes and wake up. There is a clear choice here.

[babylonsister]

3. Thanks for that update; I don't blame them for being furious. nt