Congress To Unemployed Workers: “Let Them Eat Cake”

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/Channels/Story.aspx?ID=1319816

11/30/2010
Congress sent a message to the long-term jobless Tuesday – let them eat cake. Jesse Russell reports.

At midnight last night nearly 800,000 jobless workers lost a lifeline. The Congress was unable to pass an extension to unemployment benefits which would have kept those who have been seeking a job for more than six months with extra help. By the end of December an estimated 2 million jobless will lose their unemployment insurance. Prior to the Thanksgiving holiday an effort to stretch the extended unemployment insurance program until February was blocked in the House by Republicans. On Monday Montana’s Democratic Senator Max Baucus introduced legislation that could extend the benefits until the end of next year. Republicans in the Senate have vowed to also block that bill. Economists have been lining up to encourage the Congress to extend the benefits. Thirty four economists signed onto a letter that said the benefits are good for the economy. A rally is planned in the nation’s capitol later today that will include Democratic lawmakers, AFL-CIO Treasurer Liz Shuler, and hundreds of unemployed workers. The national unemployment rate is currently 9.6 percent.
Congress sent a message to the long-term jobless Tuesday – let them eat cake. Jesse Russell reports.

At midnight last night nearly 800,000 jobless workers lost a lifeline. The Congress was unable to pass an extension to unemployment benefits which would have kept those who have been seeking a job for more than six months with extra help. By the end of December an estimated 2 million jobless will lose their unemployment insurance. Prior to the Thanksgiving holiday an effort to stretch the extended unemployment insurance program until February was blocked in the House by Republicans. On Monday Montana’s Democratic Senator Max Baucus introduced legislation that could extend the benefits until the end of next year. Republicans in the Senate have vowed to also block that bill. Economists have been lining up to encourage the Congress to extend the benefits. Thirty four economists signed onto a letter that said the benefits are good for the economy. A rally is planned in the nation’s capitol later today that will include Democratic lawmakers, AFL-CIO Treasurer Liz Shuler, and hundreds of unemployed workers. The national unemployment rate is currently 9.6 percent.

[vi5]

1. I'll give Baucus credit on this one...

Most of the time he's a flat out dirt bag. But he's at least trying here.

[dennis4868]

2. I cannot afford cake.....

Tax cuts for the millionaires is fine but assisting those hit hardest by the recession don't deserve help....I wonder how many people who will lose their unemployment insurance were tricked into voting for republicans this past November.