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[quote:e0dc45d951] [b:e0dc45d951][size=18:e0dc45d951]Jobless benefits extension clears Senate hurdle[/size:e0dc45d951] Will restore benefits to millions who have been out of work[/b:e0dc45d951] WASHINGTON — Legislation to restore unemployment benefits to millions who have been out of work for more than six months broke free of Senate Republican delaying tactics on Tuesday. Senators voted 60-40, clearing the way for passage of the bill later on Tuesday. The measure would restore jobless checks for 2.5 million people whose benefits started running out seven weeks ago in a stubbornly jobless economic recovery. The vote was a modest victory for President Barack Obama and Democrats, whose more ambitious hopes for a jobs agenda have mostly fizzled in the face of GOP opposition in the Senate. A battle has raged for months over whether jobless benefits should be financed with additional federal debt as Democrats want or through cuts to other government programs as most Republicans insist. The vote came moments after Carte Goodiwn was sworn in as a successor to West Virginia Democrat Robert Byrd, who died last month at the age of 92. Goodwin was the crucial 60th senator to defeat a Republican filibuster that has led to a lapse in benefits for 2.5 million people. The Senate gallery was packed with Goodwin supporters, who broke into applause as he cast his "aye" vote. Two Republicans, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine, voted to end the filibuster. Ben Nelson of Nebraska was the lone Democrat to break with his party and vote to sustain it. After a final Senate vote, the House is expected to approve it and send it to President Barack Obama on Wednesday. Story continues below More below Advertisement | ad info Sponsored links Marketplace "This bill is about jobs because unemployment insurance goes to people who will spend it immediately," said Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont. "That would increase economic demand. And that would help support our fragile economic recovery." But Republicans say that while they support the benefits extension it should be paid for with cuts elsewhere in the $3.7 trillion federal budget. "We've repeatedly voted for similar bills in the past. And we are ready to support one now," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. "What we do not support — and we make no apologies for — is borrowing tens of billions of dollars to pass this bill at a time when the national debt is spinning completely out of control." Under the bill, millions of people stuck on the jobless rolls would receive an extension of unemployment benefits averaging $309 a week. Democrats had stripped the unemployment insurance measure down to the bare essentials for Tuesday's vote, which is a do-over of a tally taken late last month. "I can't tell you how relieved we will be when Congress passes this. We have in Pennsylvania about 200,000 people who have lost their unemployment compensation coverage because of their inaction," said Pennsylvania Secretary of Labor and Industry Sandi Vito. "Folks need this money for their mortgages, for food, and so our goal is to get them their payments as quickly as possible." If all goes as expected, about 2.5 million people will receive jobless benefits retroactively, injecting almost $3 billion into the economy once they're paid out. Instead of being dropped from a federal program that extends benefits for those whose six months of state-paid benefits have run out, millions of others will continue to receive payments that would help prop up consumer demand to the tune of about $30 billion more over the coming year. Democrats tout the economy-boosting effect of unemployment checks since most beneficiaries spend them immediately. But the numbers amount to less than one-quarter of 1 percent of the size of the $14.6 trillion economy, and are far smaller than last year's $862 billion stimulus legislation. Republicans have blocked Democratic add-ons, such as aid to state governments, that could have meant a greater economic boost. "It's too small to have any noticeable impact on the economy's growth rate," said Joel Naroff, president of Naroff Economic Advisors. "But the benefits do provide an important safety net for people during these difficult economic times." Obama and his Democratic allies are pressing the issue for maximum political advantage, blaming Republicans for the impasse that halted unemployment checks for people unable to find work as the jobless rate remains close to 10 percent. Obama launched a fresh salvo Monday, demanding the Senate act on the legislation — after a vote already had been scheduled — and criticizing Republicans for the holdup. "The same people who didn't have any problem spending hundreds of billions of dollars on tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans are now saying we shouldn't offer relief to middle-class Americans," Obama said. Story continues below More below Advertisement | ad info Sponsored links Marketplace Republicans say they do favor the benefits but insist they be paid for with spending cuts elsewhere in the government's $3.7 trillion budget. After initially feeling heat this winter when a lone GOP senator, Jim Bunning of Kentucky, briefly blocked a benefits extension in February, the GOP has grown increasingly comfortable opposing the legislation. The providing of additional weeks of jobless benefits in the midst of bad times has been regarded as routine, and the latest cycle of additional benefits began in 2008, the last year of George W. Bush's administration. "For a long time, there has been a tradition under both Democratic and Republican presidents to offer relief to the unemployed," Obama said. "That was certainly the case under my predecessor, when Republicans several times voted to extend emergency unemployment benefits." But with conservative voters and tea party activists up in arms about the deficit, conservative Republicans have adopted a harder line that has caused three interruptions of jobless benefits. "We've repeatedly voted for similar bills in the past. And we are ready to support one now," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Tuesday. "What we do not support — and we make no apologies for — is borrowing tens of billions of dollars to pass this bill at a time when the national debt is spinning completely out of control." http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38325301/ns/business-stocks_and_economy/?GT1=43001[/quote:e0dc45d951] Long overdue.

Good deal! So unfortunate that McConnell never acknowledges the debt the Bush tax cuts put us in. But great for those out of work.

Any thoughts on [b:4b768d8568]Meg Whitman[/b:4b768d8568]? One of the richest most powerful women (or people) in America, running on the republican ticket for California Governor? I haven't done all of my research on her, but because of her ebay has become a haven for fraudulent sellers and unwary buyers. She fucked me over as CEO of eBay as well as many other ISS members over who sell on eBay. FYI, many people think she will end up running for president in 2016, and I honestly think she will. :down:

[quote:a863d3f4c9="langox510x"]Any thoughts on [b:a863d3f4c9]Meg Whitman[/b:a863d3f4c9]? One of the richest most powerful women (or people) in America, running on the republican ticket for California Governor? I haven't done all of my research on her, but because of her ebay has become a haven for fraudulent sellers and unwary buyers. She fucked me over as CEO of eBay as well as many other ISS members over who sell on eBay. FYI, many people think she will end up running for president in 2016, and I honestly think she will. :down:[/quote:a863d3f4c9] In California we have two idiots running for governor (and we already have one idiot serving as governor)...I think I might like Meg Whitman a bit better than Jerry Brown but...I couldnt in good conscience vote for her knowing her stance on immigration (she was running ads out here talking about how she'd send the national guard to patrol the border and stop undoccumented migrants from gaining access to Cali) I will never understand this ridiculous fear mongering that the right is using to try to get people to blame all of our state's financial problems on undoccumented workers (yeah, I guess the DECADES of wasteful spending going all the way back to the time when Reagan was governor have NOTHING to do with this current financial crisis, right???)...on the other hand you have Jerry Brown...ummm...Brown is just out of his mind; some of the taxes that he's already proposing should raise concerns with alot of voters too, and once again, I could not vote for a man who openly opposes prop 13 (I dont see how that's gonna help save the state any money when we have a bunch of seniors who cant afford to pay their property taxes any more and will probably end up living on welfare or out on the streets)... It's kinda like when all you want is a Coke, and you can only choose between sprite and dr pepper...

[quote:09453ce5d9="Sonny_G"][quote:09453ce5d9="get em gurl"] Dont get me wrong both parties are to blame for not listening to the needs of the people years ago, it is a shame that the benefits were not extended, how will people pay for bills, food, and rent/mortage? Like you said it surely won't stimulate the economy or promote job growth but this "controlled" spending or "capping" the deficit pitch has gotten out of control at the expense of everyday folks. I think one of the BIGGEST misconceptions in this country is that people who receive such benefits and whom are out of work for more than the standard time WANT to be unemployed and barely making it. I don't believe it no one wants to scrape by and barely make it month to month and that included people of all social and economic classes, I think. Both parties were proponents of deregulation and "free enterprise" although the pitch from the democrats was that they were less so but the voting told that tale. As we both can see over the years of companies specifically global conglomerates thriving with profits unchecked in their practices has not produced a climate where small business can flourish and drive the economy once again, the funny thing is in my opinion I agree with republicans in their argument to boost small business but they present this with one hand and with the other they would continue to let big business thrive and cheat and then call it "free enterprise" It just makes me so upset when I see dichotomy like that within both parties the democrats play a slipery role in this themselves not wanting to appear too extreme to anyone with makes their ability to conform and address the political talking points of the time easy, really makes me question their principles as a whole in the first place, though I do lean towards their advocation for social programs.[/quote:09453ce5d9] Oh without question...I mean, I couldnt have said it better myself...the funny thing is, the concept of "free enterprise" is actually a really great thing, but it has been so abused and manipulated that there really is no such thing any more. As far as the social program issue, I dunno, every time I think I have formed a solid opinion on the matter, my feelings change; We as a country need to help people out when they are having a tough time (like you said, I dont think anybody wants to struggle), but they are open to so much abuse that it isnt even funny, I remember a few years back when I was in high school, I worked at the grocery store, and even as a kid, it always pissed me off to see some person who obviously wasnt poor (nice clothes, expensive jewelry, etc) pay for their groceries with food stamps, then break out a wad of cash to pay for their alcohol and all the other stuff that wasnt covered, then have me help them take their groceries to their Mercedes or equally as expensive car...to me that's an insult to the American taxpayer. At the same time, I realize that not everybody recieving govt assistance is cheating the system, and those who really need it shouldnt be punished just because of the ones who abuse it...I just wish there was more checks and balances enforced when it comes to social programs.[/quote:09453ce5d9] ^ I'm all for gov't assistance and whatever but I strongly believe that it would be a lot less used and abused if we implemented financial education in our school systems. Like you said, I don't believe that everybody is cheating the system, but I am positive that a lot of those who spend as if they are cheating the system only do so due to lack of financial education. But then of course there are also those people who are just greedy bastards. But like I said, a sound financial education needs to be apart of our school system. Lack of it is the reason why so many need assistance, abuse assistance, and screw up their mortgages. "Our prosperity as a nation depends upon the personal financial prosperity of each of us as individuals." Now how can we prosper as a nation a 2008 poll by YoungMoney.com found that only 24 percent of people felt they have a decent knowledge of personal finances. I'm sure a poll in 2010 would prove no different...

But a solid financial education won't get you a job, at least not now, and no one can save on an average of 300 bucks a weeks

^ Solid financial education and you might not necessarily need a job.

[quote:5d71ca3410="Sonny_G"][quote:5d71ca3410="langox510x"]Any thoughts on [b:5d71ca3410]Meg Whitman[/b:5d71ca3410]? One of the richest most powerful women (or people) in America, running on the republican ticket for California Governor? I haven't done all of my research on her, but because of her ebay has become a haven for fraudulent sellers and unwary buyers. She fucked me over as CEO of eBay as well as many other ISS members over who sell on eBay. FYI, many people think she will end up running for president in 2016, and I honestly think she will. :down:[/quote:5d71ca3410] In California we have two idiots running for governor (and we already have one idiot serving as governor)...I think I might like Meg Whitman a bit better than Jerry Brown but...I couldnt in good conscience vote for her knowing her stance on immigration (she was running ads out here talking about how she'd send the national guard to patrol the border and stop undoccumented migrants from gaining access to Cali) I will never understand this ridiculous fear mongering that the right is using to try to get people to blame all of our state's financial problems on undoccumented workers (yeah, I guess the DECADES of wasteful spending going all the way back to the time when Reagan was governor have NOTHING to do with this current financial crisis, right???)...on the other hand you have Jerry Brown...ummm...Brown is just out of his mind; some of the taxes that he's already proposing should raise concerns with alot of voters too, and once again, I could not vote for a man who openly opposes prop 13 (I dont see how that's gonna help save the state any money when we have a bunch of seniors who cant afford to pay their property taxes any more and will probably end up living on welfare or out on the streets)... It's kinda like when all you want is a Coke, and you can only choose between sprite and dr pepper...[/quote:5d71ca3410] Love the analogy at the end. I don't care much for either Brown or Whitman. I dislike both of them. There's an idiot in office right now, and 2 more idiots fighting to get in.

[quote:10748c3a4e="Diplomat Muszik"]^ Solid financial education and you might not necessarily need a job.[/quote:10748c3a4e] At this point and time? Please elaborate

[quote:2c7b2503cc="get em gurl"][quote:2c7b2503cc="Diplomat Muszik"]^ Solid financial education and you might not necessarily need a job.[/quote:2c7b2503cc] At this point and time? Please elaborate[/quote:2c7b2503cc] Yes at this point in time, in fact this is the best time. If you are financially literate this is the best time to capitalize on the market whether it be real estate, wall street, whatever. And like I said before, Employers would not be laying people off left and right had it not been for the subprime mortgage mess...which is a direct result of people(working-class) being stupid with their money. Point blank.