Sen. Bunning blocks unemployment benefits extension

reply to post by mikellmikell


And the temporary unemployment extension for one month is only $10 Billion.

Yes, lets see where their priorities really are.

It is really a simple choice for our elected reps, they can bail out the financial agency or the people paying them.

News?

thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com...

The fate of stalled jobs-related measures in both the House and Senate will occupy the attention of Congress this week.

In the Senate, Democrats are scheduled to begin consideration of $31 billion in corporate tax breaks and an extension of added benefits and health insurance for the unemployed through the end of the year. At the same time, they will be trying to shake loose an interim month-long benefits extension that is being held up by Senator Jim Bunning, Republican of Kentucky.

Across the Rotunda, the House Democratic leadership will be pushing ahead with the $15 billion jobs bill passed by the Senate last week in the hopes of getting it quickly to the president’s desk despite internal Democratic reservations.

Senate Democrats say they intend to keep the pressure on Mr. Bunning and the Republican leadership to allow the short-term extension of unemployment benefits and other federal programs to move through the Senate and become law.

The total for Fannie and Freddie Mac (FRE) is now $126 billion, and the total line to the US Treasury is now up to $415.3 billion and counting through 2012.

seekingalpha.com...

-Fannie Mae taps its unlimited line with the U.S. Treasury for another $15.3 billion.

And a mere $10 billion for unemployed Americans is too much?





www.washingtonpost.com...

OKAY...here is a silly question.

Employers PAY both Federal and State unemployment tax.

When they hire someone they calculate gross expense decide compensation accrodingly, so it could be argued that this tax is paid by an employer, but in a free market equation would be reflected in higher wages if they didn't have to pay it.

So in effect the Money that pays for unemployment has come out of our pockets...it's ours...it's a very specific tax FOR UNEMPLOYMENT.

According to the Gov. ...it collects about 40 Billion in SPECIFICALLY Unemployment insurance per year....40 Billion every year...not including the lions share that the state also collects.

Here is the Federal Govs most recent Financial Statement..
www.fms.treas.gov...

What makes Bunning think he doesn't have to give it back when we actually need it?

How is this different from a private insurer when after years of you paying your premiums drops your policy when you actually file a claim?

It is not Bunnings money...it is taxpayers money....who payed it specifically for this purpose.

NOT a handout!!! They have been taking your money for decades just in case...the tax is called "Unemployment Insurance" !!!...now when you need it Bunning wants it to be spent elsewhere?

What am I missing?





[edit on 1-3-2010 by maybereal11]

reply to post by David9176


This will sound callous and maybe there are intricacies to this matter lost on me but I remember being on unemployment during off season when jobs were not available. It is so much easier to make a couple of clicks on your computer and get that check than it is to get all dressed up and go out and look for a job. Being unemployed makes your self esteem go down so you never really feel up to looking...especially when you can as easily get paid for not working.

I say don't extend the benefits and force people to get out there and find work. We need the rise in unemployment numbers before we can get health care done so lets speed up this process.

Weren't they supposed to try to pass the extension again today? Any updates on this? I'm not seeing anything in the news. I guess this isn't a big deal.

reply to post by Walkswithfish

n the Senate, Democrats are scheduled to begin consideration of $31 billion in corporate tax breaks and an extension of added benefits and health insurance for the unemployed through the end of the year

More GD corporate Tax cuts?

GEEZUS FLKJSAF:LKJSDF:LKJSDF:LKJSDF:LKJ.

What the hell for? TO create jobs? Give me a damn break.

This frickin ridiculous.

reply to post by LinksINC


Senate isn't in session today!

AWESOME!!!!!

F the American people.....anyway...we got to get MORE CORPORATE TAX CUTS IN THAT WILL CREATE JOBS!!!

LOL.

Holy hell man.

reply to post by David9176


Hate to say this but Bunning just blocked it again through objects.

www.louisvillemojo.com...

And now Rand Paul is holding a rally for Bunning to be supported. While I am all for "paygo" rules, we are talking about Americans that he is affecting. Should a disaster occur that needs funding immediately on credit to help americans I would say F paygo. And guess what we have a disaster on our hands.

Originally posted by maybereal11
OKAY...here is a silly question.

Employers PAY both Federal and State unemployment tax.

When they hire someone they calculate gross expense decide compensation accrodingly, so it could be argued that this tax is paid by an employer, but in a free market equation would be reflected in higher wages if they didn't have to pay it.

So in effect the Money that pays for unemployment has come out of our pockets...it's ours...it's a very specific tax FOR UNEMPLOYMENT.

According to the Gov. ...it collects about 40 Billion in SPECIFICALLY Unemployment insurance per year....40 Billion every year...not including the lions share that the state also collects.

Here is the Federal Govs most recent Financial Statement..
www.fms.treas.gov...

What makes Bunning think he doesn't have to give it back when we actually need it?

How is this different from a private insurer when after years of you paying your premiums drops your policy when you actually file a claim?

It is not Bunnings money...it is taxpayers money....who payed it specifically for this purpose.

NOT a handout!!! They have been taking your money for decades just in case...the tax is called "Unemployment Insurance" !!!...now when you need it Bunning wants it to be spent elsewhere?

What am I missing?

At a bare minimum, what you are missing is the part where this is unemployment benefit and insurance EXTENSION. Basically the money that employers pay for unemployment in based on a calculation that will pay for a certain period of time for the unemployed person. The vast majority of the benefits are paid by the state, while the extensions are basically a federal govt bailout for states to extend the benefits and insurance longer. The money that you are referring to has already been spent on unemployment claims, and every time you see an extension, it is money given not from the taxes employers pay for unemployment.

Look at it this way, according to you, the govt collects $40billion a year in unemployment taxes. Well unemployment benefits and insurance cost govt between $10bill-15billion A MONTH.

reply to post by ExPostFacto


WHy in the hell can't they do this on a military spending bill? Geezus they are 100's of billions of dollars.

No come to jesus moment on that one eh BUNNING? SCUMBAG. POS scumbag.

Rand Paul supports this? He just lost my support.

THis is FRACKIN INSANE.

People are struggling...but WHAT THE HELL...let's throw some COrporate tax cuts in there too.

The Mega RICH ARE STRUGGLING TOO!!!!

POOR BILLIONARES!

[edit on 1-3-2010 by David9176]

reply to post by David9176


Yeah the reports are running in now. Many reports that he gave the bird to reporters, refused to answer their questions, and was the only person that objected to the vote. They were trying to push this bill through with unanumious consent and Bunning objected to every rule stating according to the Paygo law enacted last month the bill needs funding.

And Rand Paul coming out in support of this? If he is going to be like his father and never vote for spending ever, that is one thing. However, I think he just committed political suicide.

Originally posted by David9176
reply to post by ExPostFacto

 

WHy in the hell can't they do this on a military spending bill? Geezus they are 100's of billions of dollars.

No come to jesus moment on that one eh BUNNING? SCUMBAG. POS scumbag.

Rand Paul supports this? He just lost my support.

THis is FRACKIN INSANE.

People are struggling...but WHAT THE HELL...let's throw some COrporate tax cuts in there too.

The Mega RICH ARE STRUGGLING TOO!!!!

POOR BILLIONARES!

[edit on 1-3-2010 by David9176]

Corporate tax cuts they are discussing are specifically surround tax cuts for hiring. This is the sort of legislation you should support if you care about these families and the unemployed so much. The sad thing about programs like unemployment is that many people do not start earnestly looking for jobs until their benefits are about to expire. I know many people that are unemployed that are collecting unemployment and either not looking for work or have turned down work because they have unemployment checks. I know some are not this way and would take anything. People have come to expect these extensions as a pure formality and consequently many have become completely dependent on govt. Some of these people need help and deserve it, but many don't. Sadly, many are just being lazy, collecting their govt check and partying. I've seen it with my own eyes and listened to them say they are turning down work because it pays the same as unemployment and they'd sleep in and not work.

reply to post by johnny2127

Corporate tax cuts they are discussing are specifically surround tax cuts for hiring. This is the sort of legislation you should support if you care about these families and the unemployed so much.

Wrong.

They aren't going to increase hiring...nor or they going to increase wages. There plenty of corporations making billions of dollars and they DO NOTHING.

They could bring jobs back to the USA that they sent overseas to help out American workers....BUT NO.

SLAVE LABOR IS CHEAP and that is where we are headed.

Profits do not create jobs....DEMAND creates jobs. The BS coming out of Fox News is a lie...it always has been.

If they really wanted to create jobs they'd increase our tariffs on imports to protect American wages....but of course...THEY DO NOTHING.

Small business cuts...YES. Bring it on.

But not corporations...not mega millionares and billionares. That's just crazy.

They don't give a damn about American workers.

reply to post by ExPostFacto

And Rand Paul coming out in support of this? If he is going to be like his father and never vote for spending ever, that is one thing. However, I think he just committed political suicide.

I agree. It is one thing to be against overspending.....I get it. We need get the house in order...it's out of control and if we don't get it fixed we are in HUGE HUGE trouble.

But cutting off unemployment? That's frickin crazy.

The gap continues to widen...the rich get richer and the poor get poorer....the middle class is damn near all but gone.

Insanity....absolute insanity. People support what hurts them the most because they can't see through the Corporate filter on television news and it's destroying our country.

reply to post by David9176


Im sorry corporate tax cuts for the wealth to get them hiring again?? Are you serious? Would it not be evident enough given the record amount of profit these corporations are making off the recession, off hiring less people, that corporate tax cuts do nothing more than to benefit them more?? How the heck is that going to get them to hire more people??

The Dems, Republicans, Im sorry, corporations own them. I mean really, there may be some good politicians among both parties but seriously overall both are in the pockets of corporations...

Well to give Rand Paul the benefit of the doubt I looked up Mr. Bunnings voting record.

www.votesmart.org...

I have to say, based on his voting he voted fiscally conservative anti corporation in most circumstances. There may be some validity to Rand Pauls argument.

That said Bunning voted against PAYGO. He didn't like PAYGO. Could it be he is just trying to make a point that congress never follows the rules they adopt. Could he be just making a point, knowing he will be overridden at some point?

Here is Bunning voting for unemployment extensions:

VOTED YES!

Vote to concur on HR 2642, a bill that appropriates $190.39 billion and rescinds $3.86 billion for a net expenditure of $186.53 billion. This bill provides education funding for certain veterans, extends unemployment compensation, establishes a moratorium on certain actions regarding Medicaid, and appropriates funds for military operations in Iraq and Afghanista

[edit on 1-3-2010 by ExPostFacto]

reply to post by Southern Guardian


I know.

Even now...when it seems so blatantly obvious to me what the real cause of the problems we have are...

The corporate media has Americans attacking other Americans who have done nothing wrong. They were victims to corruption, corporate welfare, bank bailouts, unemployment, etc etc.

WHY?

We do people keep trying to find enemies among the same people who are struggling? It gets harder every day for most of us to stay afloat.

ALL OF US.

Yet for some damn reason people keep buying the same rhetoric coming out of Fox News and every other channel.

Redistribution of Wealth?

Yeah...I see redistribution of wealth all right.

THE MIDDLE CLASS LOST ALL OF IT"S WEALTH.

It's all at the top now.

How's that everyone?

SOCIALISM FOR THE BILLIONARES.

reply to post by ExPostFacto

That said Bunning voted against PAYGO. He didn't like PAYGO. Could it be he is just trying to make a point that congress never follows the rules they adopt. Could he be just making a point, knowing he will be overridden at some point?

Even so...this could have been done on any other spending bill. Everytime we spend another few 100's of billions of war each year....you hear NOTHING about it.

Who cares if we aren't paying for that...but holy hell...unemployment benefits must be paid for??

Please. I liked Rand Paul...but cutting off the lifeline people need is atrocious to say the least.

People just want to take care of their families.

reply to post by David9176


The thing is David part of this is the ignorance of many american citizens. there is this assumption that only lazy good for nothing people are getting these unemployment benefits. I mean who is pumping this propaganda garbage?? Thus far from what I know personally from individuals in this situation, from personal accounts, these are hard working americans who for the most part have not been unemployed for years. Individuals who have paid taxes off their backs for the last decade, most never requesting benefits of any kind, who have done no wrong. Individuals who go out day in and day out looking for work, engineers who cant even get a damn job at burger king for petes sakes. Yet these people dont deserve this benefit because its 'socialimilisms'?? So then we just continue to cut corporate taxes for the people benefitting the most out of this, who will not hire anymore people regardless? What on earth is going on here??

I am not one often for conspiracies.... but something tells me deep down that this recession is being purposefully kept in this way... because never have corporations benefitted this much.