Joe Manchin says he won't support extending the $300 federal weekly unemployment benefit from Biden'

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Source: Business Insider

Sen. Joe Manchin said he won't back extending the $300 federal unemployment benefit from President Joe Biden's stimulus, which could possibly torpedo the jobless measure once it expires on Sept. 6.

"I'll never vote for another extension as long as I know that with the vaccines, there's not an excuse for no one to be vaccinated," the West Virginia Democrat told Politico. "I understand there's millions of jobs in America that we can't fill right now. So we need people back to work. There's more and more people understanding they're in trouble."

Manchin's opposition highlights a rift among the Democrats over the extension of federal unemployment benefits later this summer. But some centrist Democrats are waiting to see how the economic recovery plays out before deciding on the issue.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire cited the low unemployment rate in her state, and told Politico "if that continues it probably should not be extended."

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/joe-manchin-says-he-wont-support-extending-the-dollar300-federal-weekly-unemployment-benefit-from-bidens-stimulus/ar-BB1gEsSW?li=BBnb7Kz

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5.9% unemployment in your state as of March Sen. Manchin

[Polybius]

1. I don't think it'll ever come for a vote anyway

I think once September 6th happens, that's it for extended UI.

[TheRealNorth]

4. That was my understanding

I didn't even think there was any talk of extending it. I say raise the minimum wage to $11-12, since Sinema and Manchin said they would support that.

[cstanleytech]

5. "I say raise the minimum wage to $11-12" No, it needs to be raised alot higher than that.

[oldsoftie]

9. A 60+% increase is far better than a 0% increase.

And would help a ton of people. Holding out for the perfect gets these workers NOTHING.

[Calista241]

11. Take the wins where you can get them.

As Obama said, 'Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.' Raising the minimum wage would have a significant, immediate impact on millions of American voters across the country, who may then be more inclined to vote for us. Just imagine another John Ossoff or Raphael Warnock in the Senate because more people showed up to vote in 2022 and 2024.

[TheRealNorth]

39. Exactly

We can go into 2022 having at least put this forward and getting Republicans on the record, even if it ultimately gets killed in the Senate.

And if the Republicans actually pass it, then we can put that forward as an accomplishment even if it not 100% of what we need.

[TimeToGo]

25. Increments are good

They really are

[moose65]

37. I think we all agree it needs to be higher

But if we can get $11 or $12 easily, shouldn't we do that? Isn't $12 better than $7.25? Every little bit that it is raised will help people.

[ProfessorGAC]

45. It Sure Is!

For a 30 hour a week worker, 50 weeks a year, it's >$7,000 a year.
For people at the lower end of the wage scale, 7 grand is a LOT of money.

[Fullduplexxx]

2. Well Of course he wont

[Politicub]

3. Many of these millions of jobs are low paying and physically demanding.

Yes -- Target and Taco Bell have help-wanted signs out front. But the jobs pay peanuts and most likely will not be full time. And, they're suited for people who can stand on their feet all day and can handle repetitive motion. It will take multiple jobs to make enough money to pay the rent.

There is no safety net or infrastructure to help care for the children of low-wage workers, either.

But that doesn't matter to the class of people who look down on those workers. It's so easy for wealthy or even white-collar middle-class people to dismiss the stressful and dead-end life of the working poor.

[oldsoftie]

8. Target pays $15 an hour. Even walmart pays over 10.

And if all that is a reason, then what were people doing before the extra UE? They were working. Now they can get even better pay than before the pandemic
Inflation is already rearing its head. We dont need EVERYTHING to go even higher. Elections are next yr.

[justhanginon]

15. Are they getting 40 hours per week employment?

[oldsoftie]

27. my friend gets 32 not 40.

[LizBeth]

16. Targt in Oregon wsn't paying 15, but more, they only work a person 26'ish hour a week which is an

huge issue. Can't get a guaranteed 40 hr and very hard juggling two part time jobs that do not interfere with each other.

[justhanginon]

18. And probably get no benefits from either.

[LizBeth]

21. That is a given. But pay people so little, even at 15 with todays cost of living, they need a solid

40 hour week.

[apnu]

20. Many people are jumping the gun with COVID

They're seeing light at the end of the tunnel and are recklessly sprinting toward it.

[oldsoftie]

30. Vaccines are available for everyone now. Its not reckless to tell people to work

The vaccines are showing to be extremely effective. If you refuse to get a vaccine and then refuse to work because "its not safe", then I'd say cut off the UE completely.

[oldsoftie]

49. Not sure where you are, but its the opposite in most places

There were more jobs available in March than at any time since 2000. No, they're not all high paying ones. But a lot of them are. Bath Iron Works, from MAINE, has been in Savannah GA for weeks trying to hire people. Why so far from home? Companies are offering money just to show up for an INTERVIEW. Some offering $1000 after you've been on the job for 6 months
CBS is doing a story on it on tonight's news. I'll be interested to see what they have to say

[oldsoftie]

52. If you're referring to Bath, yes. They're Navy shipbuilders.

I just thought it odd that they're recruiting in GA. And even paying for relocation. The other examples were everything from fast food to industrial. But i'm wanting to see this CBS story tonight to see what details they give. NPR has been doing some stories on it too.

Being in Texas, I would think there would be even more opportunities as they've reopened quicker. I guess not.

[onenote]

42. So, in your opinion, Mitch McConnell should be majority leader.

Really?

[onenote]

46. Not what you said initially, but happy to see you've come to your senses

[oldsoftie]

7. Everyone can get a vaccine now. No more excuses.

The most repeated reason for staying out has been "I dont feel safe returning". That excuse no longer exists.
Everything in my town has BEEN reopened.
Except City Hall. And you just cant get ANYTHING done via email & voice messages.
The reason they're still closed is that so many city employees WONT get the vaccine!!

[brooklynite]

10. "Senate Democrats skeptical of extending $300 unemployment benefit"

Some Republican governors have already announced they would end the program before its expiration date as vaccinations continue and virus caseloads decline. In Montana, for example, Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte will end participation in the federal benefit at the end of June.

“I don’t think that’s unreasonable,” said Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.). “But it’s Montana, and I can’t tell you if that same thing would apply in Vermont or in Nevada.”

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) echoed that sentiment, noting that in New Hampshire “the unemployment rate is pretty low at this point” and “if that continues it probably should not be extended.”

But senators also cautioned that the issue is not on their radar just yet, since the deadline isn’t until the start of September.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va) suggested he’s open to changing the benefit, though he acknowledged there were not “active discussions” yet on its extension. Congress’ aid had been “generous” during a “tough time” for Americans, he said. “But that doesn't mean that now that we're nearer hopefully to the end of this than the beginning we can't make adjustments."

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/05/11/senate-democrats-unemployment-benefit-487295

[jcgoldie]

12. "...I know that with the vaccines, there's not an excuse for no one to be vaccinated."

wut?

[0rganism]

24. yeah my brain is having a hard time digesting that sentence

it makes just as much sense the fourth time i read it

i think it decodes to "Joe Manchin is an asshole" but it's hard to know for certain

[George II]

28. I think he meant "anyone", not "no one", or this could be more Politico intentional "misinformation"

[Ligyron]

32. I know, he totally misspoke that sentence completely..

Plus, its's "there ain't no excuse"" not "there's not an excuse".

Dad gum city slickers...

[George II]

14. Just Politico* asking irrelevant questions to make Democrats, particularly Manchin, look bad.

It's what they do. There probably won't be an extension proposed and hopefully there won't be a need for an extension.

*Politico: "Will you support Biden if he runs for a third term?"
Manchin: "Absolutely not, that would be unconstitutional!"

Politico Headline: "Manchin refuses to support Biden!"

[LizBeth]

17. +1

[stillcool]

22. it's so easy for me to fall for it.

thankfully every now and then someone like you is around to wisen me up. Thanks

[PoliticAverse]

23. "There probably won't be an extension proposed" - several Democrats have already proposed extenting

unemployment benefits past September.

[George II]

29. Tim Kaine said there are no active discussions. Sept. 6 is almost 4 months from now.

[PoliticAverse]

31. There are no "active discussions" because people like Manchin oppose the extensions...

and hence the votes aren't there to make it happen. Several Democrats have proposed extending the unemployment benefits past September but Republicans (and some Democrats in addition to Manchin) oppose the proposed extension.

[George II]

34. I think they're being practical. The extension just passed a month or so ago, and the expiration...

...is still almost four months from now.

Don't throw this all on Senator Manchin.

[apnu]

19. Jobs that pay poverty wages

Thanks for forcing workers back to exploitation and abuse.

[area51]

40. +1 n/t

[Traildogbob]

26. Just an observation

I live in rural Western North Carolina. There are hiring signs everywhere in food service, Wally World etc. A Burger King has posted on the sign $12.50 and hour. I have no idea what the others are paying and hours allowed. But it is near high school graduation and summer tourism and there is ALWAYS and massive spring hiring for summer masses of tourist. That, plus the virus shut downs of the past year and the reopening, though maybe rushed, are having all these businesses going after workers. And many workers may still be afraid of the pandemic so candidates are harder to find. If $12.50 an hour is close to average, here where few jobs are a available there are reasons they are not being filled. Could be covid fear, could be lousy hours offered, could be some ARE enjoying government help. One booming business, is home building, expensive 2nd homes in the mountains, gotta spend those Ryan tax cuts, and lawn maintenance/ landscaping for those wealthy play house owners. Both of those are filled by hard working Latinos. It is fact a lot of whites here will not work labor, and have always enjoyed government socialism. Young female Baby factories are thick here. Young white women with multiple babies and grocery carts filled to the top. (90 percent trumpers bitching about socialist and lazy blacks) Very small black populations here.
If the infrastructure jobs are construction, hard work required, not a lot of white workforce here willing to take those jobs, even with great pay. I certainly am
not saying this is nationwide, but it is that way here. But it may be what Manchin sees in rural WVa. And why he opposed continued government help.

[TomDaisy]

33. please love me, Mitch! please love me!

[sarcasmo]

35. Joe Lieberman II

[hadEnuf]

36. That Manchin clown again?

He needs to pay when his 15 minutes of fame are up.

[MOMFUDSKI]

38. all manchin knows is

keep 'em poor, barefoot, and pregnant. What a jerk.

[turbinetree]

41. I need a drink ...

[zanana1]

50. I think he's Mitch McConell in a Manchin suit.

Pull the zipper down and out he comes!

[Tom Rinaldo]

53. He would be far from alone among Democratic Senators in that position.

A weakly increase in unemployment benefits was introduced over a year ago as a temporary emergency measure due to the pandemic forcing many millions out of the workforce, when entire industries were virtually shuttered. With wide spread availability of effective vaccines it is inevitable at some point that a majority in Congress will consider the "emergency" phase of the pandemic to be over, with the economy once again capable of producing enough jobs for people to find employment.

I am not arguing that the weekly emergency added benefits should be terminated in September, it is too soon to have an informed opinion on that, and I sure as hell am not arguing that working class Americans don't deserve or need more assistance. However for those who think that Joe Manchin almost single handedly stands in the way of progressive legislation passing, this would be a poor example of that. I predict that he will be joined by a dozen or two other Democratic Senators in taking that position regarding any further extensions.