Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, said Wednesday that he will need to “pull out all the stops” to get enough GOP support for a 6-month extension to unemployment benefits that could come up for a vote next week.
“I have to pull out all the stops to try to pick up another Republican vote, it’s not Democrats I have to worry about,” he said. “It’s getting the Republicans to allow these millions of people who are desperate long-term unemployed a shot in the arm.”
Mr. Reid said the weather, which cancelled two days of votes in the Senate this week, has made it difficult to fit everything on to the schedule, but that he plans to make a decision on when to bring up the unemployment insurance vote soon.
First, Republicans had to teach their members how to talk to women. Seems the knuckle – draggers needed some help in that department.
Now, after voting to deny unemployment insurance to the unemployed, another memo has surfaced. This time, Republicans are trying to teach their members how to appear as if they care about the unemployed.
Of course, this too is all a sham intended to fool the American people into thinking Republicans care. But they are not fooling anybody, except the sad folks who watch Fox News.
In the memo, which was obtained by The Washington Post, House Republicans are urged to be empathetic toward the unemployed and understand how unemployment is a “personal crisis” for individuals and families. The memo also asks Republicans to reiterate that the House will give “proper consideration” to an extension of long-term insurance as long as Democrats are willing to support spending or regulatory reforms.
A bipartisan Senate bill that would extend benefits for the long-term unemployed cleared a procedural hurdle Tuesday, with six Republicans joining Democrats to vote for it. But the bill faces an uncertain future in the upper chamber, where it will have to clear another 60-vote hurdle before moving to a final vote.
A Fox News contributor is perplexed. He is demanding that Republicans stand up and fight against extending unemployment benefits for the unemployed. Contributor Steve Hayes even went as far as calling congressional Republicans “a little too wimpy” for not forcefully standing up against Democrats on the issue.
While Democrats have always been for extending unemployment insurance, most Republicans have steadfastly been against it. These Republicans are demanding that any extension in benefits must come from cuts in other social programs. Steve understands their reasoning, but thinks they’re being “wimpy.”
“They make a very pragmatic, practical argument about deficit neutrality,” Hayes said. “I think that’s a fine argument, as far as it goes. But I think Republicans are being a little too wimpy on this. I think it’s time to make a moral argument against extended unemployment insurance forever.”
Like a majority of Republicans, it is Hayes view that extending unemployment benefits for these out of work Americans is in essence, holding these Americans back. Hayes, and others like him think providing this temporary assistance to those in need will lead to a society of lazy Americans depending on entitlements, thus, making unemployment a “way of life.”
“We’ve been hearing that it’ll be cut off now for the better part of five years,” Hayes said. “There used to be widespread, bipartisan agreement in Washington that unemployment insurance was sort of the last place to go, the last place that somebody who was down on their luck could turn. Now, it’s increasingly becoming a way of life.”
“What’s surprising to me is that Republicans aren’t making a moral case about how often unemployment insurance that goes on forever leads to more unemployment.”
Got that? Considering that a minimum of three applicants apply for every one job opening, it is the Republican’s opinion that any help to these people is wrong. The apparent believe is if an unemployed cannot bully his/her way into getting that one job opening, then they and their family need no help.
Remember North Dakota congressman, Rep. Kevin Cramer? He tried to justify his vote to kick veterans, the elderly and children off of food assistance by misrepresenting and misquoting a passage in the Bible, saying ‘If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.’ Well that same ideology is being played out here in the unemployment insurance fight – if they don’t work, they shouldn’t eat.
Democrats have shocked the political world by defeating Republican obstruction and moving on to a final vote on extending unemployment benefits by a margin of 60-37.
All Democrats voted for the bill, and were joined by Republicans co-sponsor of the bill Dean Heller, Susan Collins, Kelly Ayotte, Rob Portman, Ben Coats, and Lisa Murkowski. These 6 Republicans deserve praise for doing what is right for their constituents who are out there looking every single day, but are struggling to find a job.
Before the vote, Majority Leader Harry Reid said that, “It’s true that the rich are getting richer, and everyone else is getting squeezed.” Reid said that among the unemployed who need an unemployment extension are 20,000 veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Reid said, “For many Americans these benefits make the difference between being able to live a decent life and becoming homeless.”
The last time emergency jobless benefits were allowed to expire was in November 2008. At the time, benefits were extended for three months by a voice vote in the Senate. Republicans in both the House and Senate supported an extension under President Bush that was not paid for, but they are objecting to the same extension under President Obama, and demanding that it be paid for.
President Obama used his first weekly address of 2014 to urge Republicans to joint Democrats in doing what they should for the unemployed – extending unemployment insurance.
For decades, Republicans and Democrats put partisanship and ideology aside to offer some security for job-seekers, even when the unemployment rate was lower than it is today. Instead of punishing families who can least afford it, Republicans should make it their New Year’s resolution to do the right thing, and restore this vital economic security for their constituents right now.
After all, our focus as a country this year shouldn’t be shrinking our economy, but growing it; not narrowing opportunity, but expanding it; not fewer jobs, but doing everything we can to help our businesses create more of the good jobs that a growing middle class requires.
President Obama used his weekly address to continue his call for Congress to extend unemployment benefits.
… if Members of Congress don’t act before they leave on their vacations, 1.3 million Americans will lose this lifeline. These are people we know. They’re our friends and neighbors; they sit next to us in church and volunteer in our communities; their kids play with our kids. And they include 20,000 veterans who’ve served this country with honor.
… We also have to look out for the Americans working hard to get those jobs. That’s why, as a country, we offer temporary unemployment insurance – so that job-seekers don’t fall into poverty, and so that when they get that job, they bounce back more quickly.
For many families, it can be the difference between hardship and catastrophe.
It makes a difference for a mother who suddenly doesn’t know if she’ll be able to put food on the table for her kids. It makes a difference for a father who lost his job and is looking for a new one. Last year alone, it lifted 2.5 million people out of poverty, and cushioned the blow for many more.
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