GOP continues to stiff-arm America’s unemployed
Congressional Republicans continue to block an extension of unemployment benefits for the longterm jobless. Since the last extension expired on June 2, an estimated 1.2 million Americans have lost that economic lifeline, a number that grows every week.
In Georgia alone, an additional 7,000 jobless people are losing unemployment benefits every week because of the GOP’s stance. In fact, 47 percent of unemployed Georgians haven’t had a paycheck in at least six months, which means that by now, most of them have exhausted their savings and have no other resources to draw upon.
According to some, of course, that’s a good thing. They prefer to believe that there are jobs out there going unclaimed because people prefer to live on their unemployment check, which in Georgia maxes out at the princely sum of $330 a week. The fact that on average, there are five job applicants for every job opening doesn’t seem to penetrate the calloused and the smug.
The legislation also includes Medicaid money that state governments have been relying upon to balance their budgets. Georgia, for example, has built an expected $375 million in Medicaid assistance into its budget for fiscal 2011, which begins tomorrow. Without that money, Georgia will have to find that money somewhere else, which will mean drastic cuts in health care and perhaps another round of teacher layoffs as well.
The GOP argues that it wants the bill to be “paid for” with offsetting cuts elsewhere so that it won’t worsen the deficit by another $35 billion over 10 years. Interestingly, that concern about the deficit seems to disappear when the debate turns to extending Bush-era cuts on the capital gains and estate taxes, for example. Renewing those cuts would have a far bigger and more long-term impact on the deficit than will temporary aid to the unemployed and the sick.
But you gotta have prioirities, right?
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509 comments Add your comment
md
June 30th, 2010
12:40 pm
“If businesses are making their decisions on perceived implications instead of actual, how can any administration be held at fault.”
It is all about talk and agenda – this agenda has cap and trade, card check, hc already passed, etc – none of them perceived as beneficial to business. Barry should have tabled hc and concentrated on jobs and the economy – he could have re-visited hc if/when there was a rebound. By doing it the way he did it, the perception is that his agenda is his priority, not jobs and the economy.
Bubba
June 30th, 2010
12:40 pm
Or this one, from Queen Nancy:
After years of fiscal recklessness by President Bush and Republicans, President Obama and Congress are committed to getting our budget under control – a crucial part of our plan to strengthen the American economy. On July 22nd, the House passed the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act 2009 (HR 2920) by a vote of 265-166. This bill requires Congress to offset the costs of tax cuts or increases in entitlement spending with savings elsewhere in the budget.
Goldie
June 30th, 2010
12:40 pm
Thank God President Obama was elected in ‘08, instead of ole Grandpa of the GOP — otherwise the Repubs would be trying to clean up the oil disaster in the Gulf by giving more tax-cuts to BP!
Rick
June 30th, 2010
12:40 pm
md June 30th, 2010 12:34 pm
I couldn’t agree more except it is the current generation that has to realize the US standard of living has taken a dive. As long as our new immigrants continue to have a high birth rate (great for an old-time farm economy) we will continue to have a high supply of labor for very few jobs. There is no way our current welfare state can continue.
The rich though can accumulate a lot of property as the middle class sells off their possessions and real estate to live for another day.
godless heathen
June 30th, 2010
12:41 pm
“Why do people like bill gates, his father, and warren buffett support the estate tax? How much is enough? I mean when you can own everything you ever want in your lifetime, what’s wrong with giving back to the country where it all became possible?”
Nothing at all. If I had the billions and billions that bill gates and buffet have I might see nothing wrong with the government taking a few billion off my hands. But estate taxes have a different effect on many people, particularly small business owners and farmers. If a parent wants to leave the land or the business to their child, why should the government come around and take a huge chunk of cash out of the estate? Oftentimes the estate has very little cash (The Feds already took most of that in Income Taxes) and the business or farm must be sold to pay the estate taxes.
Mr. Gates and Mr. Buffet are free to do what they want to with their money (the government accepts donations) but they should just stfu when it comes to other people’s money.
Left wing management
June 30th, 2010
12:41 pm
This one’s easy. The GOP are clearly emboldened by Obama’s plummeting numbers and by the promise of November success based on the traditional logic of out-of-party sweeps in mid-term US elections. Therefore, from their standpoint, why not push the envelope here, further differentiate yourself from the incumbent party, and encourage your base (even if the move actually hurts some in that same cohort)? Obviously, in their view, their other controversial stances — such as their anti-immigration stand in AZ — hasn’t seemed to hurt their prospects for November, so why would this either? Or so they reason, I figure.
TaxPayer
June 30th, 2010
12:42 pm
Well, all I knows is that onced peoples quits applying for unemployed benefitting, then the number of unemployed benefitting from being unemployed goes down and that means that things will onced again be good because people will be employed by virtue of not being counted as unemployed no more.
Bubba
June 30th, 2010
12:42 pm
“otherwise the Repubs would be trying to clean up the oil disaster in the Gulf by giving more tax-cuts to BP!”
At least they’d be trying something.
Veronica Policano
June 30th, 2010
12:44 pm
Oh by the way, all these years paid into the federal unemployment by every company in the US, what did the government do with this money?
Barack Obama
June 30th, 2010
12:45 pm
Give me all your money cracker. I have to fund my peeps.
Mick
June 30th, 2010
12:46 pm
**And you may want to check out the definition of tyranny**
tyr·an·ny
/ˈtɪrəni/ Show Spelled[tir-uh-nee] Show IPA
–noun, plural -nies.
1.
arbitrary or unrestrained exercise of power; despotic abuse of authority.
2.
the government or rule of a tyrant or absolute ruler.
3.
a state ruled by a tyrant or absolute ruler.
4.
oppressive or unjustly severe government on the part of any ruler.
Sorry, but taxing paris hilton a few extra bucks does not constitute tyranny. Remember, we are a nation of laws and taxation is in congress domain. I would like to nominate you for corporate spokesperson for BP – they could use you.
Lewis
June 30th, 2010
12:46 pm
Some people have been collecting unemployment insurance for 99 weeks. That is absurd. If you can’t find a job after 99 weeks, then lifestyle changes are in order. So you can’t afford your house anymore? Fine, let it go into foreclosure or sell it and buy a much smaller house OR move into gov’t assisted public housing and live off welfare. The gov’t should not be paying people unemployment benefits for 2 years. Cut them off and force these people to a lower standard of living.
Jay
June 30th, 2010
12:48 pm
Veronica, the unemployment tax is a state tax, assessed and collected at the state level. Most states, including Georgia, blew through that money a long time ago because those funds just weren’t designed for a collapse of this magnitude and length.
That’s why the feds have to step in.
raymond
June 30th, 2010
12:49 pm
Here’s the deal about people who can’t find a job after 2 years of searching.. and I want our gov’t officials to hear me loud and clear.
STOP MAKING THEIR PROBLEMS, MY PROBLEMS. STOP PAYING THEM BENEFITS AND MAKE THEM FIGURE OUT HOW THEY NEED TO LIVE. DON’T MAKE ME PAY TO MAINTAIN THEIR LIFESTYLE. ITS THEIR PROBLEM, NOT MINE.
big jim
June 30th, 2010
12:49 pm
Why has no President or Administration since 1940 eliminated
the national debt? Why is spending out of control now?
Our gov’t has always been ahead of the curve on technological
advances. Doesn’t that take money? Was money just created
yesterday. Money seems to be something that only Democrats
spend, and Republicans replenish.
Perhaps, if we voted for Sarah “part-time” Palin, we would benefit
from her decades of military and real world experience!! Just look
at how Conservatives pay out the ass for her informed,experience
based words of wisdom.
It’s a good thing Palin was who she was, or the US
would be paying for daughter to be too big for
her britches.
Since Hispanics/immigration are still a hot button for repubs,
can we give this nation back to the Natives? Europeans
didn’t illegally acquire this land. How soon we forget!
Jay
June 30th, 2010
12:51 pm
Lewis, you don’t think that a max weekly benefit of $330 a week already forces these folks into a much more austere lifestyle?
raymond
June 30th, 2010
12:52 pm
Big Jim- Your quote- “Money seems to be something that only Democrats
spend, and Republicans replenish”
Please go read some literature on the recent health care legislation and you’ll see that your quote above is quite true. Health care legislation will bankrupt this country and the Democrats names are all over it. They own it.
ken
June 30th, 2010
12:53 pm
How many of us know a deadbeat that is collecting unemploument ? I know several, ( wife’s relatives ). And they aren’t republicans !!!!
Mick
June 30th, 2010
12:54 pm
People that recieve unemployment have to put it back into the economy, don’t they? Better than nothing.
Veronica Policano
June 30th, 2010
12:55 pm
Do you not understand every 6 months each company has to deposit federal unemployment money and now that it is having to be used where is it?
lewis
June 30th, 2010
12:55 pm
Jay- Why give them $330 a week? You say that like money grows on trees. They could work at a fast food restaurant and make that much on their own AND you wouldn’t be sucking my tax dollars to pay them. I’m not trying to be heartless, but I am tired of being one of the guys driving the wagon while an increasing number of folks have moved to the backseat and are now just free riders.
Steve
June 30th, 2010
12:55 pm
“when you can own everything you ever want in your lifetime, what’s wrong with giving back to the country where it all became possible?”
Nothing…people doing that are known as philantropist, and there are many of them in this country (both conservatives and liberals)
However an estate tax is not about giving…it’s about the government taking a portion of what someone wants to give to someone else.
Mick
June 30th, 2010
12:56 pm
We’ve wasted more money on war and corporate welfare than any paltry sum for those in need.
Barack Obama
June 30th, 2010
12:56 pm
Seriously, give me everything. I know what is best my sheep!
lewis
June 30th, 2010
12:56 pm
And please don’t say that working at fast food restaurant is “beneath them.” The reason that these people haven’t found jobs after 99 weeks of free riding is that they view every job as “beneath them.”
md
June 30th, 2010
12:57 pm
Mick,
Call it what you will, but it is still the gov’t taking a private asset based solely on an uncontrollable event – death. Just because one is envious of another is not a reason, just an excuse.
Barack Obama
June 30th, 2010
12:57 pm
Yes Mick! Keep believing.
Gordon
June 30th, 2010
12:58 pm
Reasonable people can disagree about whether tax cuts would help the economy, and give the unemployed what they need more than unemployment benefits – a job.
Jay never wants to look at the spending side of the equation. Why can’t something in the vast array of federal spending be cut to pay for these benefits? Thats what everyone else does, why can’t the government? Other people’s money is a very strong addiction.
Mick
June 30th, 2010
12:59 pm
Why is there so much focus on the scammers? What is the actual percentage of those gaming the system? Whatever the cost, it is vital for those who paid their dues and need something to get back on track.
john
June 30th, 2010
1:00 pm
Jay,
Lets not forget about the food stamps, section 8 housing, earned income tax credit, and Medicaid many are also eligible for.
True story. I’m in line at Publix the other day. I had seen this gentlemen get out of a newish Escalade. The gentlemen was talking on what appeared to be an i-phone in the check out line. Oh, by the way, I see him pull out his electronic food stamp card..
But hey, lets keep giving him my hard earned money
Dee
June 30th, 2010
1:01 pm
Earlier, someone insisted that he/she had paid into the unemployment fund from each paycheck and deserved to get that money back. To that I say go check the laws/rules governing the GA DOL where you will find that, in Georgia, employers pay the entire cost of unemployment insurance benefits. FUTA, the federal version, is also paid by the employer. It is like that in every other state as well as far as I know. I am sure one could argue that it is the employee who “really” pays because the employer somehow factors the cost in when determining salary, but I guess you could say that about everything from health benefits to office rent too. Just wanted to clear that up, not saying a thing about how much unemployment should be received or for how long…
md
June 30th, 2010
1:02 pm
Mick – life is not fair, and never will be. Taking private property from one to give to another is tyranny. And the genetic lottery is what it is, if you don’t like it, try trading places with a really poor 3rd world individual – may open your eyes. There is no difference between you and Paris Hilton in their eyes – you both won the lottery.
Mick
June 30th, 2010
1:02 pm
md
**Just because one is envious of another is not a reason, just an excuse.**
Greed – extreme desire for something, often more than one’s proper share.
I’d say its more closer to greed than tyranny. I got mine, didn’t you get yours?
ken
June 30th, 2010
1:03 pm
John, I have seen the same thing only she was in a Lexus.
cgatlanta
June 30th, 2010
1:04 pm
I managed restaurants about 15 years ago. At the time, my cooks made $10/hr. If they worked 60 hours a week, they would earn $800/wk. No diploma, no degree, just hard work. Some had two jobs like this…several made over $50K. There are jobs for those that want to work. My wife and kids are safe, even though I have a much better career now, I’m not scared to hop back if necessary.
99 weeks of sitting on your butt. You get used to it after a while.
Left wing management
June 30th, 2010
1:04 pm
Raymond, you seem very angry about ingrates sponging on “your” money. Why are you so angry my friend?
Something tells me you’re the type of person who, when confronted with examples of true outrage, such as the Bernie Madoffs and other Wall Street robber barons, it rolls right off you like water off a duck’s back. You blink and go on thinking your little thoughts, undaunted. But if you just consider the idea of an immigrant woman pushing a baby carriage, giving the cashier food stamps, your blood pressure rises and you start to bubble with rage.
But maybe you’re just the kind of person who’s incapable of considering the CON-tra-diction I’m explaining to you. Capish?
Sheryl Sutter
June 30th, 2010
1:04 pm
We will all remember this in November. We will remember how the Republicans turned their back on the backbone of our country, yet are more than willing to support the entities with the big bucks. We will remember the bank bailouts (numerous bailouts! Remember AIG!)…they act as if we, the unemployed, on the paltry amount that we are given (if any) were the one’s golfing at $6,000 a round.
Shame on the two party system. Shame on the Republicans for not being able to get over their prejudices long enough to do the job that they were elected to do. You’ve cut off this many people and you expect the economy to grow…oh that’s right the banks will have enough money to do what they want won’t they. Meanwhile our homeless population will skyrocket while millions of homes set vacant. Children will starve, because their parents can’t afford to feed them. People will lose their transportation (you know that thing that they need to even have hope to get a job), their houses will be returned to the greedy mortgage companies that lead how many thousands of people down a setup for failure path. Yes I can really see how our economy is going to rebound. The rich will still be getting richer and there will be a hell of a lot more poor folk to push around. For shame Senators, for shame Congress. When you’re paying your bills next month say a little prayer of thanks, because after November it may be you that is out of a job.
md
June 30th, 2010
1:07 pm
“I’d say its more closer to greed than tyranny. I got mine, didn’t you get yours?”"
That one is the oldest cop out there is. The grandest excuse of excuses.
Effort is the key – by someone.
Okie Dokie
June 30th, 2010
1:08 pm
So Mr. Bookman, I guess you are a fan of deficit spending?? The reason people stay unemployed “LONGTERM” is because of government handouts!! There are people making more money out of work. The Libtards want to blindly give money (like they have it), while piling up the deficit. I can tell you this; it’s not the GOP wanting the Obama Admin to fail. Obama has done that without any help.
Midori
June 30th, 2010
1:08 pm
I’d like to dedicate this clip to all you righteous people out there:
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-june-29-2010/blame
Captain
June 30th, 2010
1:08 pm
I hope there have been more cloture votes than ever. This is the MOST RADICAL AND SOCIALIST attempt at taking over this country in our history. Thank God someone is trying to stop this madness.
Captial Gains Tax? Come on Jay, surely you jest. What Capital Gains? Estate Taxes? You actually SUPPORT taxing Death? FYI Jay, if the Tax cuts expire, the economy will sink further. INcreased taxes does not equal increased revenues. What laughable yet sick on the part of you Liberals is you somehow “feel” that income is owed to the Gov’t, and you argue that a tax cut is somehow lost revenue. That’s BS, my money is my money, a tax cut doesn’t cost the Gov’t anything, they never have received the money thus it isn’t LOST revenue, they are not refunding me my money.
You failed to mention, ObamaCare will be funded with some substantial tax increases. In addition to increasing the Medicare tax, there will be a 2.8% tax on Capital Gains, the cost of employer provided medical benefits will become taxable as income to employees, and coupled with other pass down taxes and the expiration of the Bush Tax cuts, the loss of taxes and royalties from oil drilling since Obama is shutting down offshore drilling,we are all in for being butchered by the Democrats. Get ready folks, your taxes are headed skyward.
You want unemployment extended? No problem, how about paying for it by cutting something. Why not begin by cutting the National Endowment for the Arts, reduce foreign aid, research on the mating habits of various insects, birds, etc., and maybe Obama could give up a few of these White House shindigs he’s spending millions on, and Nancy Pelosi could fly commercial and stay put in her current office instead of moving to a new one at 3 times the cost to taxpayers. This isn’t Jerry Maguire, Democrats can’t continue to play “Show me the Money”
songbird
June 30th, 2010
1:09 pm
Jon Stewart did a hilarious segment on his show last night showing how Republicans did nothing but blame Clinton for everything that went wrong in Bush’s Presidency, but now they say Obama can’t keep blaming Bush for everything. Watch the segment. He has clips from Fox showing them blaming Clinton so there’s no saying he made this up. Jon Stewart does a great job keeping people honest. You really can’t get away with lying anymore because everything is on video.
theyeshaveit
June 30th, 2010
1:10 pm
Steve, unless you are mathematically challenged, you should know that there are not 60 Democrats in the Senate. To overcome filibusters and get anything done, at least one among the Party of No, must vote “Yes”. You know this, but you choose to ignore the fact.
mike, and once again you sound like the author of the Wrath of Sour Grapes.
Libertarian
June 30th, 2010
1:10 pm
@Jay
Veronica is right- there is a Federal Unemployment tax. Its paid on a form 940. You can find it on the IRS website here:
ww w.irs.gov/businesses/small/international/article/0,,id=104985,00.html
theyeshaveit
June 30th, 2010
1:11 pm
Midori, Hello!
Mick
June 30th, 2010
1:11 pm
**There is no difference between you and Paris Hilton **
I don’t think so.
**That one is the oldest cop out there is. The grandest excuse of excuses.**
I think your tyranny effort falls in that category.
“What shall a man profit if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?
JC – right on..
md
June 30th, 2010
1:11 pm
Sheryl,
Do you even have a clue why one party is holding out?? They aren’t against it, they just want it paid for.
Simple concept. One party wants to put it on a maxed out credit card, while the other wants to pay with “cash” (which happens to also be borrowed money). What is so hard about that??
Dee
June 30th, 2010
1:12 pm
I know I say this every time that I stop by the Board (and I am sure you are thankful that I do not do so very often)…here goes — WHEN are y’all going to stop with this Republican versus Democrat crap and realize that it is US versus THEM? The People versus the Political Class (and their cronies)? The creation and rise of a political class is what will result in the ultimate demise of this great land, this light on the hill. This R v D stuff is just a means of keeping us all busy bickering while they rob us of the magnificent country that was created by our forefathers and left in our care. We need to stop squabbling amongst ourselves and turn to face THEM and demand that they do what is best for US and our country. Geez people, it is like being in high school arguing over which cheerleader is prettiest when you have to know that neither would ever consider dating you and both would just as soon spit in your face than even speak to you. THEY do not care about US, not a single one of them. Democrat? Republican? all the same crap.
md
June 30th, 2010
1:13 pm
“Steve, unless you are mathematically challenged, you should know that there are not 60 Democrats in the Senate.”
Ahh, but there were.
Left wing management
June 30th, 2010
1:13 pm
Captain, I’ll ask you the same thing I asked “Raymond”: why you so angry my friend? You really ought to try weening yourself off the steady diet of Limbaugh and Hannity and other second rate fare. You can change if you really try, it IS possible you know, despite what these characters want you to think.
You think you have an ideology and it’s air-tight, and that emboldens you to unleash your hatred. But there are powerful movements in history (not the bowel type represented on the AM waves) ready to run you over if you try to block them. C’mon buddy, get with the program.
big jim
June 30th, 2010
1:14 pm
What about the stealing the country from Natives comment.
Republicans are too busy being disgusting too remember
this is a disgusting system.
theyeshaveit
June 30th, 2010
1:14 pm
md, I looked at the link that you gave me on the topic of Muslims getting an exemption from mandatory participation in health care. As John McEnroe would say, “You cannot be serious!” What you printed as fact, was pure b.s. That site is a RUMOR site, is labeled as such, and you knew it.
john
June 30th, 2010
1:14 pm
I want to understand how Liberals are always complaining about the war on terror and say how it is unjustified.
I’m sorry but if you had a wife, husband, CHILD, father, mother, in the World Trade Center, Pentagon, or one of the planes, I think your view would be a little different. Over 2,000 innocent US citizens were murdered and somehow you think it is not justified to go to war…I guess Bush should have just sat on his butt and waited for them to kill another 2,000 US citizens. Who knows, maybe it WOULD have been someone you cared about…not just some person you saw on the news..
It is astonishing the ignorance of some people
Larry
June 30th, 2010
1:15 pm
In regards to extending the tax cuts to fund this, what you are proposing is to take $35 billion out of the hands of the people that earned it in the private sector where it fuels the economy and put it in the hands of the idiots in Washington who will spend it on numerous things, mostly on vote getting. If I could believe that the the $35 billion would go directly to the temporarily unemployed, I could support it, but these people don’t have a clue about fiscal responsibility. They are addicted to the current process of spend, spend spend. We voted the Rep’s out & now the Dem’s have shown they are no better. I don’t agree with obstructionism, and I know the pain of the unemployed, but it may be the only way to stop the madness. Both parties are bad; the issue is the party in power got what they asked for and now they don’t remember why they got elected. Spending is a bandaid, not a solution and until our politicians start to govern with restraint, neither party will succeed.
md
June 30th, 2010
1:15 pm
“I think your tyranny effort falls in that category.
“What shall a man profit if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?
JC – right on..”
OK, ask yourself then – would JC take it from him, or allow him to lose his soul on his own and then forgive him??
It is not for others to decide……………..
theyeshaveit
June 30th, 2010
1:17 pm
md, that there were 60 at some point in time is irrelevant today in that we have been discussing the extension of unemployment benefits.
md
June 30th, 2010
1:19 pm
“md, I looked at the link that you gave me on the topic of Muslims getting an exemption from mandatory participation in health care. As John McEnroe would say, “You cannot be serious!” What you printed as fact, was pure b.s. That site is a RUMOR site, is labeled as such, and you knew it.”
You may want to revisit my posts – I never said muslims exclusively, I said religions. And there is no bs whatsoever – it is irs code. I’ll be more than happy to debate anything you can point out as being untrue – just post it.
williebkind
June 30th, 2010
1:19 pm
The progressive liberals have to dish out more money to keep the people happy in the democratic plantation. Now git back to watching OPRA!
Deborah
June 30th, 2010
1:21 pm
Maybe someone should remind the Republicans that the unemployed vote!
Sandra
June 30th, 2010
1:21 pm
Mike,
I don’t know Jay and I don’t know you; however, based on what I read and understand based on cross checking facts unlike getting my information from a single source, I will have to go with Jay on this. You are one mean sounding person. I have never heard anything either positive or necessarily based on fact from you at all. It’s all opinions – yours!
Barack Obama
June 30th, 2010
1:22 pm
I am clueless:(
Veronica Policano
June 30th, 2010
1:22 pm
Raymond hope your job is very secure. Shame on you. Have you had to look for a job recently?
md
June 30th, 2010
1:23 pm
Deborah,
And how many more will be unemployed if the deficit leads to bankruptcy or actions taken to avoid bankruptcy??
williebkind
June 30th, 2010
1:23 pm
Speaking of unemployment! Jay why hasnt Thurmond resigned? He is running for another office is he not? Is this a ploy to keep a Republican governor from appointing a conservative in Thurmond’s office.
williebkind
June 30th, 2010
1:27 pm
Obama puts his socialist agenda before jobs, the American people, or economy!
Deborah
June 30th, 2010
1:27 pm
md, people vote with their wallets, they always have. They are not going to care about anyone’s deficit or bankruptcy but there own.
williebkind
June 30th, 2010
1:31 pm
Veronica Policano
June 30th, 2010
1:22 pm
“Have you had to look for a job recently?”
Neither have those who are receiving unemployment checks.
Karl Childers
June 30th, 2010
1:32 pm
Some People are stupid, Jay, et al.,
At this point in our history there is no such thing as NON-deficit spending. The government doesn’t produce anything so the “revenue” comes from wage-earners. If you believe in the balanced-budget fallacy how do you account for the OASDI projected present-value defecit of 13.6 trillion dollars? Money we owe to ourselves? These benefits are going to be paid and when they are paid the “trust fund” will either have to borrow it or “raise revenues” through taxation. Or maybe they’ll just print more dollars so that your Social Security check can stretch to buy a loaf of bread AND a can of Spam.
To your other point, I’ve always been a proponent of a flat-tax rate somewhere in the range of 19 to 21 percent with no deductions (no, not even a mortgage interest deduction). Easy preparation, fair treatment for all, and a very predictable stream of “revenue” for the politicians to spend.
Now that’s what I call a permanent tax cut.
md
June 30th, 2010
1:34 pm
“md, people vote with their wallets, they always have. They are not going to care about anyone’s deficit or bankruptcy but there own.”
Well, there is responsible passage of this extension and irresponsible passage of this extension, why are you in favor of the later??
Mr Right
June 30th, 2010
1:35 pm
Jay
June 30th, 2010 Veronica, the unemployment tax is a state tax, assessed and collected at the state level. Most states, including Georgia, blew through that money a long time ago because those funds just weren’t designed for a collapse of this magnitude and length.
That’s why the feds have to step in.
12:48 pm
Do the Feds have the money to give? Jay and all the Libs seem to think you can give give and spend spend even though there’s no more to give! It has to stop somewhere!
Mick
June 30th, 2010
1:36 pm
**OK, ask yourself then – would JC take it from him, or allow him to lose his soul on his own and then forgive him??**
Clear case of convoluted logic..
williebkind
June 30th, 2010
1:36 pm
KC:
Nope, I want to soak the high wage earners! Leave business alone but those 5 plus million dollar wages and 100million dollar bonuses must be taxed a 95% to include rich democrats.
Still Looking
June 30th, 2010
1:38 pm
I am one of the unemployed…5 months and counting witout as much as an interview. anyone who thinks a person can “live” off of $330 per week is stupid. I hate this situation..all resources depleted….perfect credit gone south…behind on my mortgage and car payments. I worked in the mortgage industry and since my credit has suffered I can’t get a job at a bank doing mortgages. I am college educated and I have only had 2 jobs in the last 20 years. This is my first time being unemployed since I was 16 years old. How long should benefits last? Good question. Right now all it allows me to do is pay utilities and buy food. No one wants to live on unemployment because it isn’t possible.
The On/Off Switch Of Majority Rule | Blackinformant.com
June 30th, 2010
1:42 pm
[...] GOP continues to stiff-arm America’s unemployed [...]
Dee
June 30th, 2010
1:46 pm
“those 5 plus million dollar wages and 100million dollar bonuses must be taxed a 95% to include rich democrats”
Just curious – how did you settle on those wage and bonus amounts as being the ones that should be taxed at 95%? And does that tax start at the first dollar (so $4.75m and $950m in taxes, respectively) or is it a progressive tax so that a person pays 95% only on amounts over that? Are you serious about this, or is it just some sort of “I don’t think anyone is worth that much money so they should have to give it to the government” thing? I ask because there seems to be a very wide swing out there in terms of what people perceive as being “rich enough to soak” and I cannot for the life of me figure out where the real line is drawn. To be honest, if they started taxing any portion of my income at 95% (or even 50%), I would have to talk to my employer about reducing my wages and hiring someone else to work with me because there is no way that I will continue to work 60+ hours per week and skip holidays and work on my vacations if I am paying to the government 95% of what I perceive I am earning by busting my hump so much. No thanks, I would rather shoot down to 40 hours per week and be with my family on holidays and vacations and receive a salary that is in line with that.
reservoirDAWG
June 30th, 2010
1:47 pm
Taxed at 95%? Really? Yes, it is a great idea to discourage people from trying to earn more. Clueless.
Veronica Policano
June 30th, 2010
1:47 pm
My heart goes out to the unemployed. I know quite a few that can’t find work. they are either under qualified or over qualified. I know of a company in Norwood Ohio that moved to Kentucky because Kentucky is giving them this huge tax break to hire so many people each year for 5 years and they get this huge tax break. This would not have happened if some New York firm, they know who they are, had bought the company. Now these employees that make good money are slowly being let go so they can hire someone in KY. these employees have been there 10 to 30 years. Do you think they cryed about tax dollars when other people were unemployed? They were thankful that they had there jobs and contibuted to charities every week. How do you think they feel now that they are being dogged for drawing unemployment? Take a moment to think on that one. I also know someone that had to have surgery and when it was time for him to go back to work a couple of weeks later the plant was shut down. Think about that one. I could sit here all day and tell you so many unfair companies but I don’t have all day. Keep your mouths off the unemployed and start asking these companies what the —- they are doing.
md
June 30th, 2010
1:49 pm
Dee – there are many that don’t care how you get it, only that you have it.
williebkind
June 30th, 2010
1:52 pm
95% taxation?
Wow maybe the employer will stop offering those insane wages and hire more people like Dee stated. If you dont earn it then you wont be taxed. I think it is a great idea for me and America.
williebkind
June 30th, 2010
1:53 pm
Veronica Policano
June 30th, 2010
1:47 pm
Stop taxing them and they will hire!
md
June 30th, 2010
1:53 pm
VP – you and any others are always quite welcome to start your own business at any time – it is a choice.
As for the company you mention – for all we know, they moved to Ky to save more jobs than they lose – could that be a possibility??
theyeshaveit
June 30th, 2010
1:53 pm
md, I re-read every word at the Snopes.com Rumor site. First of all, the site attempts to deal with rumors . The idea that there is a clause in the Health Care Law that exempted certain religions came up. As it turns out, there is a section of the law that addresses “conscientious objectors” whose religions reject insurance on a broad scale (including Medicare, Social Security, etc.). However, unless one is an Anabaptist (like a member of the Amish Community) that exemption is highly unlikely. There are a number of provisions that must be met to allow for such an exemption, but one’s religion must have been establish at least by 1950, and t hat religion must not permit social security payments. Instead the religious community must provide for its elderly in lieu of social security. If the criteria is met, that may qualify an individual in that religion for an exemption. But a long history of such denial of government benefits must be established; otherwise, no dice. So, do not go off to Pennsylvania to join the Amish just yet. And, of course, the mandatory stipulation does not kick in until the year 2014.
theyeshaveit
June 30th, 2010
1:54 pm
I’m going upstairs now.
williebkind
June 30th, 2010
1:58 pm
reservoirDAWG
June 30th, 2010
1:47 pm
So you are worth more than 5 million a year? Wow, you dont get to blog with many of those.
Veronica Policano
June 30th, 2010
2:01 pm
Stilllooking I wish you and all the others good luck and God Bless! Williebkind take a walk.
Veronica Policano
June 30th, 2010
2:04 pm
The company in mind was GREEEEEEED!
Some People are stupid
June 30th, 2010
2:09 pm
KC-
First off you have to understand how the unfunded mandates are calculated. That’s looking at everyone in the system and projecting a one time cost. This is the first year SSI has paid out more than it has taken in.
A 19 to 21% tax rate is not a tax cut for some. That is raising the taxes on some professions that are in the lower tax brackets. So the notion of a permanent tax cut only applies to those higher than 21%.
Veronica Policano
June 30th, 2010
2:09 pm
Libertarian good job. Maybe you can convince some of these others. I haven’t been doing payroll and taxes 20 years for my health. It’s really very stressful.
Some People are stupid
June 30th, 2010
2:11 pm
Its amazong how williebkind in one comment said tax at 95% then the next comment sais to stop taxing the corporation.
Raymond
June 30th, 2010
2:12 pm
For Mr. LeftWing Management:
I have every right to be angry. You should be angry too. And I can tell you are a real liberal becuase you change the topic every time someone confronts you with truth and logic.
I bring up how absurd it is to pay 99 weeks of unemployment benefits, you respond with a comment about Bernie Madoff. LOL.
You and your ilk practice a game of “change the topic” because you speak with your heart, not with your mind and not with any logic or truth. And your lack of logic is why your type never succeed on radio talk shows.
A private sector employee
June 30th, 2010
2:12 pm
Mick said: “We’ve wasted more money on war and corporate welfare than any paltry sum for those in need.”
That’s some brain dead thought. Because we have wasted money on XXX is not a reason to waste money on YYY. Sooner or later, someone has to be responsible and stop the fiscal bleeding.
Obama is not Clinton is not Carter. Bush is not Reagan. Just because one party did something in the past does not mean that they will do the same in the future. Just because one party did something in the past does not mean that the other party has a right to do whatever they want in the future. At some point, you have to look at what is being done TODAY by the people in office TODAY. The Dems in office TODAY are, at the very best, driving us towards a decades-long malaise like the one that has gripped Japan for 20 years. They are on their 13th stimulus with no turnaround in sight. At the worst, the Dems are driving us off a financial cliff. What they are doing is not justified by what Bush did, or what Clinton did, or what Reagan did. What they are doing is only justifiable by the results that they achieve…which have been very limited at best. To do something over and over again and expect a different result is stupid. Increasing unemployment beyond 99 weeks is stupid. There *may* be some value to reauthorizing up to 52 weeks. Those unemployed more than a year need to form a new plan and get off the public dole.
Fix-It
June 30th, 2010
2:15 pm
And Jay thinks the GOP is stiff arming people? Jay wake up the dimacrats did this to themselves. They passed the Pay-Go, not the GOP, so are you telling Pay-Go means nothing, or that the dimacrats make rules that don’t ally to them? $375 million in Medicaid assistance, I hope you are just joking or are you really that stupid? This is NOT Medicaid assistance this is paying back what they borrowed…..If both parties would keep Medicaid/Medicare/Social Security monies in those accounts and use them ONLY for the purpose that they were intended then we would not have this issue. But since they spent all that money they now act like they are loaning “assistance”. How sad that liberals believe the drivel of people like Jay Bookman.
A private sector employee
June 30th, 2010
2:26 pm
SPAS wrote: “Its amazong how williebkind in one comment said tax at 95% then the next comment sais to stop taxing the corporation.”
williebkind suffers from an acute case of wealth envy. A man should not ask how much another man has, or whether he needs it or whether he deserves it. A man should only care that the conditions that allowed the man to earn his wealth is a reasonably level playing field, and that anyone with the brains and the desire to accomplish a similar feat should be allowed to do so.
Side note: To the extent that the playing field is not level… and especially if that imbalance is caused by government… it should be abolished. (Note: is very difficult for the government to remove barriers to or encourage truly free markets without creating a new barrier that shifts the imbalance somewhere else. For example: the government gives preference to electric powered vehicles, and the worker on a gas powered vehicle assembly line suffers.) Pretty soon, we end up with literally MILLIONS of pages of regulations and huge imbalances in markets (like the mortgage market in 2007) that cause more harm than good. It is a balancing act that will always contain imbalances or else be universally repressive. The wealth envy crowd prefer the system to be universally repressive… like Cuba or Venezuela… than to allow a Warren Buffet or George Soros to exist.
A private sector employee
June 30th, 2010
2:29 pm
Fix it, Jay is telling you that Pay-Go is fantastic, unless is infringes on any benefit of the less fortunate. Then it should be discarded.
This means that the Democrats want to champion Pay-Go as an election cycle “win”, but want to simply ignore it in practice.
rudy
June 30th, 2010
2:42 pm
The republicans are losing the battle of public opinion. Consumer confidence down, foreclosures on the rise, consumer spending waning, real estate markets tanking and 8 million jobs lost and counting.
I am an independent and judging from the comments on the left and right I would have to say that the republlican message is beginning to go on deaf ears.
This Friday’s employment numbers are going to work more against the republicans than the democrats and for once the WH has kept its mouth shut and said nothing about the projected expectation which worked against them last month.
You would think that bad employment numbers would work against the democrats and the President however it is MHO that the tide of sentiment regarding fiscal conservation is starting to swing in the opposite direction. The insensitivity regarding the unemployed by republicans is starting to win public opinion. Consumer confidence took a big hit and these same Americans are worried about job preservation and they too are viewing the republicans vote with angst. Surely those who are employed should be thankful that they have one however I do believe that many of the employed are starting to understand that they could be part of the growing unemployed and any decision against helping the unemployed could very well be seen as a move against them. These tea bagger idiots like Angle have already started to lose steam and as the economy begins to tank further Americans will begin to question why we are funding 2 wars with no win in sight. Americans are tired of the war effort and it is incredulous that we are still supporting the crook Karzi. Our economy is on the brink of double dip recession because there are no jobs. Both parties are to blame here especially considering an election year however I would have to say that republicans are working with a fractured party and haven’t had the balls to tell the right wing tea baggers to take a hike. Democrats on the other hand have a united front to work on and the republicans have killed any opportunity of winning favor with the American people for their inability to have empathy with the unemployed. Any hold up of the financial regulation bill will also be seen as obstructionist republican politics and without question republicans will not win favor with the American public for siding with big banks and WS the culprits of our economic collapse.
Lastly I will point out some eye popping numbers. G W Bush Jr. left office with negative job growth. Bill Clinton left having created 11.5 million jobs. Obama hasn’t served a full term and his numbers also show negative job creation however many Americans realize that you can not create 8 million jobs overnight and the republicans that do perhaps should be drug monitored by Senator Hatch.
big jim
June 30th, 2010
3:31 pm
Are the liberal-bashing conservatives unemployed? No.
Are you guys even young enough to work???
Are you firmly entrenched in a business that has
it’s roots in something unethical/illegal, like the Kennedys
or Bushes? Like countless families who still prosper from
money/land from slavery? Most likely I presume.
Perhaps,your parents/grandparents/greatparents
raised you guys to believe that God only favors you,and not
those filthy,lazy “liberals”. Perhaps,there is no God to
allow creatures such as yourself to procreate and prosper.
Were you raised with humility and compassion,
or with a “crab” mentality? I think that crabs/Repubs
are the kids that go tell the teacher that little Timmy
has something that they want, but don’t have. Or they
have, but they don’t want Timmy to have the same
opportunity to acquire on his own.
I’m sorry, but that may make me a socialist. Or communist.
Or satan-spawn. Or anything but a hard working father,son,
brother,uncle,etc. I have family that legitimately are unemployed.
Why can’t people understand that human beings are out of work
for a real reason? There is that facet of the unemployed that is milking
the system. Still doesn’t change the fact that factories,department stores
and malls, industrial parks are not open or not hiring!!!!! What is the
deal with Conservatives and their views on the unwealthy
and minorities????
Mr Right
June 30th, 2010
4:11 pm
big jim
June 30th, 2010
3:31 pm
Still scratching my head trying to figure that one out!
Alatsea
June 30th, 2010
5:05 pm
Matti
Not the same thing. You morons have NO, NONE, ZERO, NADA budget for EVERYTHING. Your a typical left wing idiot. Smoke and mirrors.
Sheryl Sutter
June 30th, 2010
5:13 pm
md
They want it paid for…maybe they should have thought about that before they bailed out the bank…no one was looking for that to be paid for…even after AIG flagrantly wasted money they still handed them more…maybe if they would stop some of the pork spending there would be enough for the people that need it. Maybe if we cut the governments salary by 50% we could afford to help out the people that have been the backbone of our country…just maybe…
RF
June 30th, 2010
6:01 pm
In all the back and forth here, and I read a lot of it (amazing how stubborn some folks can be), we seem to take party lines and forget what this is really about. I can’t say, in all honesty, that I like the fact that extension of those benefits is even necessary. But it is, and will be for a while. How about this- as job numbers begin going up, cut benefits on a sliding down scale to “encourage” those who might be milking the system to get busy. In the meantime, what else can we do? 8 million jobs aren’t readily available, even in pizza delivery or Wal-Mart greeters. This is a conundrum, isn’t it?