Republicans must stop playing politics with unemployment benefits (Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand)

[tonysam]

More than 7,000 people across the country are losing their unemployment benefits every single day because Republicans are playing politics. Hardworking, middle class families, who are already cutting coupons and squeezing pennies to make ends meet, are now going to have the last strand of the safety net pulled right out from under them, simply because Republicans are obstructing progress.

Last week, the majority of my colleagues and I moved twice to extend unemployment benefits for millions of hardworking Americans who have been laid off and unable to find work in this difficult economy. These are our families, our friends, our neighbors. We all know someone who has been thrown into this situation.

But rather than do what is right, Republicans did what was politically convenient, twice blocking the extension in an effort to derail other economic recovery programs.

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Congress needs to cut the crap and help people for once.

[Ruby the Liberal]

1. No kidding. This isn't a joke.

We are going to be a nation replete with empty domiciles and Bushville Tent Cities in no time.

:(

[tonysam]

2. I like the one comment which said the following:

First of all I am not buying the fact just because u have this article on msn that u want to help. Both dems and rep r both wrong, because you too also get your fat check and pay raise. With unemployment at 15% more like 20% here, the ENTIRE SENATE should be tried for murder for every person that dies because of you and your senate friends… you can go to HELL GILLIBRAND



They are all well-heeled, and they just don't fucking care. They've known about extended benefits running out for MONTHS.

[wolfgangmo]

12. Best comment.

I am a non-violent person, but I am moved to frothing, get a pitchfork rage whenever I hear about shit like this.

They are playing politics with peoples lives. They are no different that someone who comes into your house and holds a gun to your head.They took an oath. They either need to uphold that oath or they need to be held accountable. I don't agree with some that they should be put to death for murder but the emotion behind that sentiment has some validity.

[Hoopla Phil]

3. What I don't understand is why states with a lower rate are not going

to get the extension. Unemployed is unemployed. Just because one state does not have as high a rate as another in no reason not to help the people in the first state. Doesn't seem right to me.

[tonysam]

4. The logic is this:

If a state has a 4.9-percent unemployment rate, that means the unemployed person in that state has a better chance of getting a job than somebody in a 13- or 15-percent state.

It has nothing to do with "fairness" but instead with need.

[Demeter]

5. Do Tell, Where Is Unemployment "Only" 4.5%?

and is this a state with people living in it, or just army bases, like Wyoming?

[tonysam]

9. The Dakotas

for one. Those states' unemployment is just below five percent. Iowa's is also low. So is Wyoming's.

[wolfgangmo]

13. Interesting fact.

N Dakota is one of the only states to be running a surplus in the their budget and they also have low unemployment. And they are also a state that has a central bank that's mandate is to make sure that business growth is supported for the LONG term.

We need to get rid of the fed and get a central bank as does every state.

[wolfgangmo]

11. The problem with statistics is that

they break down on an individual level.

Every one of those 4.5% unemployed is a person. We either have a safety net for every PERSON or we are playing politics.

[BR_Parkway]

6. Once again, why did we bother getting them a 60 vote majority? Where's

the leadership to make the Democrats buckle down and do what's right for the people? Screw all this blaming the Repubs all the time as a freaking distraction from the fact that we have super majorities in the House, the Senate and we have the White House. Nothing the Repubs do can really prevent our platforms and policies from passing - they're just noise along the side of the road.

[TheWraith]

8. 60 votes doesn't trump a proceedural objection, which is what's used here.

That's simply the way the rules of the Senate work. There's plenty of tricks to stall or slow down business even if you're standing there lonely at the bar of justice.

[Seldona]

15. Senate rules? What was the phrase the repubs coined?

"The Nuclear Option?"

60 is not a majority, 50 is. Repubs need to be reminded of that.

[mother earth]

7. It's time to make some incumbents unemployed.

If these bums had to live one day like the average joe and had to pay for their health insurance and had to have cuts in hours/wages just to keep a job in the current economic environment, while struggling to pay their bills and put food on the table, they'd have a bit more empathy. It's time to vote out those who have grown arrogant. Massive lay offs have put us into this mess and there are still no jobs put into place by the stimulus package.

These bums have blood on their hands, there's no other way to frame this.

[tonysam]

10. Exactly

People's well being is being sacrificed because of procedural quirks in the Senate rules.

Is that fucked or what?

[winyanstaz]

14. I agree with this...

I just want to add that there are also many hard working POOR families in the same situation...they have just been there longer..with Congress not helping them and outsourcing jobs etc.
Just saying..it is not just the middle class that works hard.

[katty]

16. Wall St still stacking up their bonuses?! Pass the Extension!!

stat!!