Unemployment Extensions

[Becky Sternadel]

Why did employers get a tax break on unemployment insurance and people who are unemployed did not get an extension on their unemployment benefits? Something is wrong here. Does anyone else think this is wrong?

When you have someone who is earnestly seeking work and cannot find a job that will support their family, why cut off their unemployment benefits? That is the only money they have coming in.

[Scared in NJ]

I was let go of a brokerage firm back in September. I applied for over 100 jobs now and not one response. My benefits expired last month and I am living off cold savings. I have a spouse who helps, but there is stagnation in companies NOT hiring. They're just not. And yes, we need an extension. Atleast 3 months, but no word at all. I feel like the Administration is looking away at this because Bush doesn't even acknowledge the lack of jobs. There is a quiet crisis right now that has not been acknowledged. It is scary and I am really nervous for my family and those whose benefts have ran out and No Companies Hiring!!!

[Tim]

First off lets stop blaming Bush for everything that goes wrong in the world...I am unemployed and want an extension too..its the friggin Corporate Companies that have screwed this up, sending work to mexico yet the bastards are climbing the fence coming here taking our jobs! Really sit back and think why we dont have jobs before we start finger pointing at the man in the white house, granted im not suoer fond of the guy, but there are more powerful things at work here like wal-mart who cant pay there employees a desent wage yet have hundreds of millions of dollars to blow on go knows what BS charities!

[lisa]

I have been looking for work since i have been laid off work since December of 2007, I have applied for numerous jobs.and I have found nothing. jobs are very limited today. my unemployment will end very soon. I think they have to extend it. otherwise, there will be in increase of forclosures. I think there is something wrong, why they dont pass this! the should of passed it yesterday.

[Scared in NJ]

I'm not blaming Bush for the unemployment. But you have to admit, he's putting a blind eye on it right now. He doesn't even acknowledge the problem. Companies Are Not Hiring! That's a fact. In fact, you will find jobs on career sites where they read "Not Filing this Position at This Time." But Bush thinks my money is going to go out to Walmart and buy a new tv?!?!?! It's going to have to pay for groceries and gas for one more month. And if I was working, I'de SAVE THE DOUGH! And he's not counting on that either, he thinks we'll blow it. But guess what,most Americans are going to hold onto the money, and the Fed and the Administration is not going to like that. So you see Tim, I don't blame Bush, hell I even voted for him, but do you think he'll find those WMD? Hhhhmm, guess he put a blind eye on that too.

[Tim]

I dont care abiout the whole WMD controversy, in my opinion it means nothing, iraq is a piece of turd that needed to be flushed anyway..no excuses needed in my opinion, and israel is the bigger toilet that needs to be flushed as well...we send alot of money and military weapons to them every year and you think maybe they would send something to help back, of course not, there jews, they only take, not give.....Ok so anyway back to unemployment, the bill was already signed, it made no media coverage cause we are to busy about trying to hire the first black or female president....thats what the focus is on, trying to get a minority in office...thats why we are ignored! And all the democrats want to do like obama wants is to raise our taxes....fu$#ing please.

[Debra]

So the benefits are being extended? Is that just for certain states? I have been on the internet for some days hoping to find out something. I have only one more check of unemployment and I don't know what to do after that. I worked for 12 years at the same company and lost my job in November. If they extened it will they let me know or will I have to request it? I would have thought the news channels would have let us know.

[Tim]

Any extensions which are approved will be on a state by state basis, they should notify yuo if anything is done because from what i understand it may only be for a few states and not nationwide, i cant get any real info updates either.

[Cindy--New York]

I was let go from a job back in August 2007. I have submitted about 150 resumes to various companies since and have had only 4 responses. I've been on 4 interviews and even downplayed my experience and was willing to take a lot less money. Never even got a call back. I am 53 and I'm afraid jobs for individuals over 50 are far and few in between. I exhausted my benefits the second week of March. Thank goodness I am married and my husband has been carrying the weight of 95%the bills. I've dipped into my savings many times to help pay for medical expenses (COBRA) and food, and if I continue to do so, there will be nothing left for the future. The price of food and gasoline is astronomical and we live from paycheck to paycheck. What's the matter with Bush and our Administration? I guess if the economy impacted him personally, you better believe the unemployment extension would have passed? My husband and I also help support a severely emotionally handicapped son and it's been really rough the last month. I will continue to apply for "any" type of job because I am "desperate." You cannot survive on one salary alone today. The cost of living just keeps escalating, and there is no end in sight! I am hoping and praying the job market opens up soon--but until then that extension would really help with the medical and food bills!!

[food4thought]

I'm sorry, but Tim is a complete idiot!!! Gee Tim, do you ever wonder why our borders are so loosely patrolled, and people are jumping the fenses? Why not google/ you tube "The North American Union". Also, your comments about Iraq and Israel are completely ignorant. Innocent people are being killed and this war is a f--ing hoax. You apparently believe everything the media throws your way.

[Kathy]

lisa wrote:

I have been looking for work since i have been laid off work since December of 2007, I have applied for numerous jobs.and I have found nothing. jobs are very limited today. my unemployment will end very soon. I think they have to extend it. otherwise, there will be in increase of forclosures. I think there is something wrong, why they dont pass this! the should of passed it yesterday.

Lisa, I TOTALLY agree with you. I am in the same exact situation, layed off in Dec. 2007, applied to 2 to 3 jobs a day since then, and interviewed for 1, which I didn't get.
My unemployment runs out in 4 weeks. When I called IDES to see if I could get an extension, the guy actually laughed at me when he said only the president can do that, and it hasn't happened since 2001! What a jerk!
I've been forced to take a home equity line of credit, WITH MY SON AS CO-SIGNER, to be able to stay in my home & pay my bills, including making payments on borrowed money with "borrowed money"!
This is so wrong!

[Kathy]

This is a great forum to vent, but what can we actually do to change the situation?

[arleen]

I have seen worse times in South West Florida then this and they extended unemployment benefits.I am going to apply for jobs at fast food restaurants and convenience stores,retail stores. I was told and it is true,all jobs have value.I have two university degrees in counseling and sociology and 16 years work experience in case management and counseling. I will do whatever it takes now.

[Chuck Wow]

Michelle Malkin seems to believe that unemployed people are a bunch of lazy bastards and extending unemployment benefits would only increase unemployment and allow us to sit on our asses that much longer.

F*** HER !!

[Chuck Wow]

Michelle Malkin also believes that extending unemployment insurance will do nothing to stimulate the economy.

However, according to themiddleclass.org ,
(http://themiddleclass.org/bil l/economic-stimulus-act-2008) "extending unemployment benefits is one of the most effective stimulus measures yet conceived, providing $1.64 in stimulus for every dollar spent."

Who are you going to believe ?

Again - F*** HER !!

[Karren]

I am in the same situation I live in California and we have a very serious problem here in this country. Gas prices are out of control, food prices have gone through the ceiling, ect. Bush is only interested in his own economic situation and could care less about any of us. With gas prices the way they are I think the clerks in the gas station should start pumping the gas for us. Our gov. won't be happy until they take every penny we make including our umemployment wages.

[Karren]

I have more to vent our Gov out here in California has his head up his a-- he refuses to extend benefits but is willing to approve wage increases for state workers and etc. He wants to borrow money from the lottery and increase taxes to pay it back. We are already in the red why would he think this will help our economy out here.....he is a true idot............

[BMo2_E-L]

Scared in NJ wrote:

I was let go of a brokerage firm back in September. I applied for over 100 jobs now and not one response. My benefits expired last month and I am living off cold savings. I have a spouse who helps, but there is stagnation in companies NOT hiring. They're just not. And yes, we need an extension. Atleast 3 months, but no word at all. I feel like the Administration is looking away at this because Bush doesn't even acknowledge the lack of jobs. There is a quiet crisis right now that has not been acknowledged. It is scary and I am really nervous for my family and those whose benefts have ran out and No Companies Hiring!!!

Why not apply at an unconventional job to have at least some money coming in rather than saving yourslef for the type of job you had previously? Say, the mall? Money is money and beggers can't be choosers.

[BMo2_E-L]

arleen wrote:

I have seen worse times in South West Florida then this and they extended unemployment benefits.I am going to apply for jobs at fast food restaurants and convenience stores,retail stores. I was told and it is true,all jobs have value.I have two university degrees in counseling and sociology and 16 years work experience in case management and counseling. I will do whatever it takes now.

Let me give you guys a heads-up on a place that is hiring guaraunteed:
www.cancercenter.com
There's one in IL, AZ, PA, and OK. Jobs range from Social Worker, Admin Assist., Nurse, Internship, Doctor, CNA, Radiology Tech., Oncology Tech., etc. Numerous openings. If you live near any of these places, please apply online. They are ALWAYS hiring.
Good Luck!

[Leena]

To the post above, you have to be trained in some of those jobs.