Stimulus Bill Extends and Increases Jobless Benefits.

NELP
75 Maiden Lane
Suite 601
New York, New York 10038
United States

February 14, 2009.

Greetings-

As many of you may have seen in the news, the Senate and House voted in favor of the economic stimulus legislation. You can read about the details below which include a $25 per week increase for everyone receiving UI benefits and a new government subsidy to help workers get health care by paying for 65 percent of their health benefits obtained through the COBRA law.

A provision added at the last minute is likely to be of particular interest to unemployedworkers.org members. The final package included reforms that could help as many 850,000 workers get additional benefits after they run out of EUC this spring.

This is result of changes to the Federal Extended Benefits program (EB) which could provide 13-20 weeks of extra benefits after EUC depending on the state's unemployment rate and state law provisions.

NELP will be working hard to make sure states change their laws so that as many as workers as possible can get these benefits. We'll be posting more about this soon. You can see where your state stands now by viewing the table below. All of us at NELP appreciate the major stresses facing today's unemployed, but hope that this federal action will ease the challenges you and your families are facing.

Sincerely, Andy, Maurice, Judy, Christine, Rick & Debbie
National Employment Law Project

NELP Press Release: HERE. Extended Benefits (EB) Summary: HERE. P.S. NELP has been having problems with its unemployedworkers.org website. While we are fixing those problems, we encourage you to visit here for more information, and we hope to have the unemployedworkers.org site fixed by late next week.

LET THE REVOLUTION BEGIN!

Thanks for all you do!
Live your values. Love your country.
And, remember: TOGETHER, We can make a DIFFERENCE!

FAIR USE NOTICE: This blog may contain copyrighted material. Such material is made available for educational purposes, to advance understanding of human rights, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. This constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

Senate Passes Expansion of Federal Joblessness Benefits.

Photo: "Baby REBEL, "Bailout is BABBLE!"", N.Y., N.Y.: A. Golden, eyewash design - c. 2006.

Friends, it's official! The Senate just passed the expansion of federal jobless benefits, and there's every indication the President will sign it into law right away (see press release below).

Thanks to NELP and members of the Unemployed Worker's organization who put tremendous time and energy into this effort. Hundreds contributed their stories (and souls) to testify in Congress, appear before major events in D.C., and talk to reporters for all the major papers, to help ensure that Our elected officials do the right thing.

Our voices have been heard in Congress, with large numbers of calls and emails to those responsible for making the right call. These are incredibly tough times, but our actions led directly to the passage of this important extension and it goes a long way to help more than two million families get back on their feet, with a little more hope and determination to get by. For that, NELP thanks you!

Best wishes to you all,
Chris, Maurice, Judy, Andy, Debbie & Rick

NELP Applauds Today's Senate Action Providing Necessary Relief to Two Million Jobless Workers & the Struggling Economy

Today, the U.S. Senate passed legislation expanding jobless benefits for over two million workers who were scheduled to run out of their limited 13 weeks of federal assistance. The Senate adopted a measure passed overwhelmingly by the House of Representatives before the Congressional recess.

Christine Owens, the Executive Director of the National Employment Law Project said, "Today's significant action by Congress sends a message loud and clear to all the nation's families, not just those who now find themselves unemployed, that help is on the way." Ms. Owens continued, "We applaud Congress for taking this action, and we hope it's the first step of many necessary reforms that reflects the serious needs of everyday families and those communities hardest hit by the recession to help bring about an economic recovery. The President should sign the legislation right away to make sure the benefits are available without delay to all workers in need and the struggling economy."

According to state by state estimates prepared by NELP, today's action helps more than 1.16 million workers who have already run out of their limited 13 weeks of extended benefit or who were scheduled to do so before the end of the year during the holiday season. By March 2009, when the program expires, 2.11 million workers would have been left jobless without any additional federal assistance if Congress had not acted to expand the program of federal jobless benefits.

The measure passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives, the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2008 (H.R. 6867), includes the following key provisions:

1. 20 Weeks for All States: Increases the basic 13 weeks of Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC), which was enacted in June, by 7 more weeks (to 20 weeks) for workers in all states.

2. 33 Weeks for High Unemployment States: Increases the basic 13 weeks of EUC by 20 weeks (to 33 weeks total) in states with unemployment rates over 6 percent (averaged over the latest three months). Nineteen states, plus the District of Columbia, now qualify for these extra weeks of EUC (Alaska, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee). More states will qualify for extra weeks of EUC when their rates of unemployment exceed the required 6-percent threshold (the new state unemployment numbers are released on Friday, November 21).

3. Extra Benefits Not Paid Retroactively: Workers who ran out of their EUC benefits in October and November will qualify for the additional weeks of EUC going forward provided they are still unemployed and looking for work. They do not qualify for additional weeks of EUC retroactively, that is, for the period between when the new law was enacted and their benefits previously expired.

4. EUC Deadline Still March 2009: The EUC will be available to workers who exhaust their state benefits before the end of March 2009. However, anyone who qualified before the deadline will continue to receive their full weeks of EUC benefits under the new program (with all benefits ending in August). Thus, Congress and the President will have to take up another extension of benefits early in 2009 before the program expires.

LET THE REVOLUTION BEGIN!

Thanks for all you do!
Live your values. Love your country.
And, remember: TOGETHER, We can make a DIFFERENCE!

FAIR USE NOTICE: This blog may contain copyrighted material. Such material is made available for educational purposes, to advance understanding of human rights, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. This constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

Last Chance to Voice Support for Extended Unemployment Benefits.

ALERT- Last Chance to Voice Support for Extended Unemployment Benefits!

November 17, 2008

Dear Friends,

The Senate is back in session this week to complete unfinished business from before the election. Top among that unfinished business is unemployment benefits. On October 3, 2008, the House of Representatives passed, by an overwhelming margin, a bill (H.R. 6867, Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2008) to extend unemployment benefits by an additional 7 weeks for workers in all states, and a further 13 weeks for workers in states with unemployment levels exceeding 6%. The Senate left town without doing the same. Now is your last chance to call your Senator and tell him/her you, your family member, your fellow Americans', need a further extension before the holidays. Too many have already been left in the cold already!

Please call 1-800-473-6711 and ask to speak with your Senators' offices. Tell them that unemployment is a national crisis and that you need them to pass the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2008 to help all the hard working men and women who simply cannot find jobs during this recession. Citi group just made history by laying off 52,000 workers today in addition to laying off 20% of their worldwide workforce.

Please take action and call! The outpouring of constituent calls led the House to pass H.R. 6867 before it went into recess, and the pressure that constituents have brought to bear during the recess has brought us very close to passing the bill in the Senate, but America's workers need your voices to help make sure we have the breadth of support needed to carry the effort to success. A call to your Senator can help make a further extension a reality. Tell every one you know to call tomorrow!

Don't wait ! The Senate may only be in session through Wednesday, and the agenda is being set as We speak. Please call right away and let them know that they cannot leave town AGAIN without helping unemployed workers.

Thanks to you all, and thank you to our friends at the Coalition for Human Needs for allowing us to use their 800 number to allow you all to take action on this important matter. That number is 1-800-473-6711, so please call tomorrow!

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: National Employment Law Project

LET THE REVOLUTION BEGIN!

Thanks for all you do!
Live your values. Love your country.
And, remember: TOGETHER, We can make a DIFFERENCE!

FAIR USE NOTICE: This blog may contain copyrighted material. Such material is made available for educational purposes, to advance understanding of human rights, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. This constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

PLEASE Tell YOUR "Reps" to vote for the Unemployment Extension! NOW!

Poster Curtosey: Print the truth.org - c. 2008

NOW is the Time for Congress and the President to Extend Jobless Benefits! I'm asking you to PLEASE call your "representatives"! If they DID NOT vote for the extension, tell them you'll be voting for their opponent in a few weeks time. If they DID, don't forget to congratulate them FOR ACTUALLY DOING THEIR JOB & tell them they MUST do everything possible to make sure this resolution passes on Nov. 17 - 19, because in doing so, YOU'RE going to help save THEIR jobs by voting for them on election day. Get a petition going - e-mail petitions fly like wildfire. The more people in your area who make this pledge, the more signatures you deliver to your "representative", the more seriously you'll be treated. Politicians only "care" during election years. So, MAKE 'EM CARE about YOU and their constituents'! This works, I swear.

In the meantime, let's get on to the meat of the matter. But, to do so requires we go back a bit, so please bear with me - who knows, you might even learn something. In September, the U.S. lost the most jobs in FIVE YEARS and earnings rose less than forecasted as the credit crisis deepened in the then already slowing-d own economy. This 6.1% equals the HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT rates since mid-1994. Payrolls fell by 159,000 - more than anticipated - after a 73,000 job decline in August, the Labor Department said recently. The jobless rate --> the last reported BEFORE the coming presidential election <-- remained at 6.1%. Hours worked reached the lowest levels since records began being reported, in 1964. This figure represents 8.5 million people who do not have jobs but are actively seeking work.

This 6.1% unemployment rate initially climbed in August ~ cutting around 84,000 jobs ~ then, what should have been dramatic proof of the mounting damage of the DEEPLY troubled economy and how it was inflicting on workers / businesses alike . Before, in July, the jobless rate jumped from the 5.7 percent as the US economy lost 60,000 jobs. In June, a whopping 100,000 jobs were lost! The latest snapshot was worse than forecasts by their economists who were predicting payrolls would only drop by around 75,000 in August and the jobless rate would go up a notch - to 5.8%. Boy were they wrong! Way wrong.

In fact, according to the U.S. Labor Department, job losses in August were not only numerous, they were widespread ~ perhaps an even better economic forecast indicator than merely counting rising numbers. Call it the closest thing to a crystal ball prediction as we could have had. Factories cut 61,000 jobs; construction firms eliminated 8,000 jobs; retailers axed 20,000 slots; professional / business services slashed 53,000 positions and leisure / hospitality axed 4,000 employees. Though, it doesn't seem Wall Street has suffered the seemingly no-brainer losses most would think are deserving. Anyone have the numbers on this sector's job losses in the last week? Guess we'll have to wait until after the election.

What's even more telling is that these widespread losses swamped employment gains in the government, education and health sectors. Also, that job losses at ALL private employers — excluding government — came to 101,000 in August and WORKERS AGES 25 AND OLDER ACCOUNTED FOR ALL THE INCREASE IN UNEMPLOYMENT, in that month. So, what do all of these numbers and economic forecasting really mean? Well, how about we're in deep do-do and we really have to do something to pull ourselves out of this hole? Except, anyone caught in the quagmire certainly understands this is easier said than done! How does starting with extending those exhausted unemployment benefits to the millions of people who've exhausted their benefits (and extension) sound?

Q: Why are federal extended jobless benefits so important?
A: Unemployment benefits help families get back on their feet after losing a job, but they also go a LONG WAY to help boost the struggling economy when families spend their benefits in communities hardest hit by the recession. Of special relevance to today's housing crisis, one major study also found that unemployment benefits REDUCE the chances a worker will be FORCED to sell the family home by almost ONE-HALF! Thus, unemployment benefits save family homes, which also helps save those communities where foreclosures are having a major impact on the economy. Think unemployment's not a problem in your area? Just give it a little more time and I guarantee, you'll be thinking again and wishing you had paid closer attention. So, before this happens, SNAP OUT OF YOUR DOLDRUMS and DO SOMETHING! Of course, there are always exceptions, say, like those wealthy Wall Street wanker-bankers living in the top five most wealthy (of the top 25 most wealthy) US zip codes in NY, including: 11765; 11976; 11975; 10013 and 10007. Anyone got a 100 dozen eggs to spare?

Photograph: "Help Me Help Myself", A. Golden, eyewash design - c. 2008.
NYC Wall Street BAILOUT demonstration: September 25, 2008.

Q: Why extend federal jobless benefits now? A: Despite the MASSIVE $850 BILLION Wall Street bailout, winning the far smaller, simpler and more affordable expansion of jobless benefits to help the 800,000 Main Street workers who have now RUN OUT of their limited 13 weeks of federal emergency aid (as of October 5th), has proven a much rockier road. A report from the Labor Department last week showed a surge in long-term unemployment (now up OVER 2 million workers unemployed LONGER than six months, 600,000 just since January) should have been MORE than ENOUGH to underscore the need for Congress AND our lame duck President to act without delay, but somehow, it DIDN'T. Compared to prior recessions, MORE workers are UNEMPLOYED TODAY for MUCH LONGER PERIODS. Thus, making it critical to provide the help they need when their state unemployment benefits run out (after only six months).

Photograph: "Alexis de Tocqueville's turning in his grave.", A. Golden, eyewash design - c. 2008.
NYC Wall Street BAILOUT demonstration: September 25, 2008.

Our "representatives" need a wake-up call & they need it NOW! Want to make a difference? Use your vote to jolt them from their slumber! To see how your "representatives" represented you (I.E.: Voted on the bailout), go here.

AND, REMEMBER THEM ON ELECTION DAY!

In January 2008, there were 1.4 million workers STILL UNEMPLOYED after ACTIVELY looking for work FOR MORE THAN SIX MONTHS (or, 18.3 % of all jobless workers). That's MORE than TWICE the number who were long-term unemployed when the last two recessions began (in March 2001 and in July 1990). The National Employment Law Project (NELP) estimates 3.2 million workers will run out of state unemployment benefits by the 2008 alone (READ: this ONLY 11 weeks and 3 days from now, folks!).

Q: How long should extended benefits last? A: Given the significant increase in long-term unemployment compared to prior recessions, it's ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT for jobless benefits to be extended for at least 20 weeks, or MORE than the limited 13 weeks provided after the last recession (a mere few weeks ago, waaaaay back in June). Legislation was introduced in the Senate (S. 2544) to extend benefits by 20 weeks in all states, while also providing another 13 weeks (or, 33 weeks total) to states with especially high unemployment (above 6 percent). During the 1990s recession, (the other) President Bush and Congress provided 20-26 weeks of extended benefits to workers in ALL states. Recognizing the record increase in gas and food prices, the current Senate bill additionally calls for a $50 increase a week in each worker's unemployment check. WoW! - A w-h-o-l-e $50 dollars, peeps! Compared to $850 BILLION bailout, this seems like chump change, doesn't it? So...stop be a chump! REMEMBER THIS chimp-handling on election day! Let's divide the chimps from the chumps.

Q: Where are the Congress and the President on the need to extend jobless benefits? A: Last week, the President issued a message threatening to veto the extension of jobless benefits ~ AGAIN! Despite the mounting job losses, the President said he opposed the extension on the grounds that, "Unemployment benefits should be temporary in nature to encourage a return to work as quickly as possible." This is like McSame's, "The fundamentals of our economy are sound." - just days before wall Street's meltdown. Heck, even former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan has noted this ridiculous argument doesn't "hold water" in an economy in which BOTH job losses AND unemployment are RISING!

Photograph: "The DECIDER", A. Golden, eyewash design - c. 2006.

NYC anti-war demonstration: April 29, 2006.

F.Y.I.: Bush was against the June extension and it only passed because he was strong-armed into signing as the extension as it was lumped together with the last Iraq War funding bill (US$190.39 BILLION). So, should We be surprised he's against this new extension? Fool me once...Well, you get it. In a twist of irony, Bush found it MOST NECESSARY to expediently demand an $850 BILLION bailout of his PRIVATE CORPORATION cronies using TAXPAYER$ DOLLAR$, but won't support national health care, NOR monies to extend the benefits of some THREE MILLION unemployed workers. Pardon? Where's the Main Street L-O-V-E?

To add insult to this MOST EGREGIOUS injury, leadership in the House of Representatives made a fateful decision NOT to include an extension of jobless benefits in the economic stimulus package they did pass (in just five days time). DUH! The Senate pushed to include an extension of jobless benefits as part of the package, but the measure was defeated after falling JUST ONE VOTE SHY of the 60 votes needed for the initiative to pass. JUST ONE VOTE! Last Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made a last-minute motion on the Senate floor for "unanimous consent" to adopt the Senate measure (S. 3507) to expand jobless benefits. It was defeated when Colorado Republican Senator Wayne Allard objected to the motion. As a result, the Senate left town for the elections recess WITHOUT passing the extension. Just like that, our "representatives" cold-heartedly left MILLIONS Americans hanging ~ with LITTLE-TO-NO hope on their horizons. REMEMBER THEIR NAMES! WRITE THEM DOWN! when YOU go to VOTE on whether or not to KEEP THEM EMPLOYED!

Last Friday, however, the House of Representatives - in an overwhelming bi-partisan vote of 368 to 28 - weighed-in convincingly IN SUPPORT of the extension measure (H.R. 6867). Coinciding with last Friday's announcement of major job losses last month, the House vote sent the message LOUD and CLEAR to both the Senate AND the President that action MUST BE TAKEN RIGHT AWAY to address the desperate needs of the families hardest hit by the economic downturn. Well, if six weeks later is considered RIGHT AWAY, anyway.

Photograph: "Bullsh*t.", A. Golden, eyewash design - c. 2008.
NYC Wall Street BAILOUT demonstration: September 25, 2008.

Amazing how things work when WE're asleep at the wheel, isn't it? I mean, it took barely five days to bail out Wall Street...handing private corporations $850 BILLION in TAXPAYER DOLLARS was a IMPERATIVE. YET, We the People are forced to wait SIX WEEKS for a, "Maybe you'll get a temporary 7-13 week reprieve, maybe not.

You're just NOT THAT IMPORTANT, Main Street. Sorry, we have to break now to go forward to get your votes."

That's a mighty long time to ask People to hold their collective breath and to stay above the murky waters already drowning them! This is beyond reprehensible! Anyone else feeling sick here?

It's ok. Breathe...just breathe. This measure the House passed would provide seven more weeks of extended benefits to workers in all states (20 weeks total) and 13 more weeks to workers in "high unemployment" states (33 weeks total). The 8,000 workers who are members of www.unemployedworkers. org were instrumental in moving their members of Congress to support this effort with such an overwhelming show of support from both Democrats and Republicans in the House of Representatives.

Now, the focus shifts BACK to the (lame) Senate and this "lame duck" session of Congress will take place - according to Majority Leader Reid, on NOVEMBER 17th -19th. SIX ~ WEEKS ~ IS ~ A ~ LONG ~ WAY ~ AWAY for the families of workers who are struggling to get by with no job and no jobless benefits to support them RIGHT NOW. As Senators of both political parties will be home campaigning these next six weeks, they SHOULD HEAR - IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS - that it was ABSOLUTELY WRONG TO LEAVE TOWN WITHOUT EXTENDING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AND this NEEDS TO BE THEIR FIRST ORDER of BUSINESS, should they be fortunate enough to return to Washington. TELL THEM YOU WILL VOTE FOR THEIR OPPONENT IF THEY DON'T SUPPORT THIS ~ PERIOD!

LET THE REVOLUTION BEGIN!

Thanks for all you do!
Live your values. Love your country.
And, remember: TOGETHER, We can make a DIFFERENCE!

FAIR USE NOTICE: This blog may contain copyrighted material. Such material is made available for educational purposes, to advance understanding of human rights, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. This constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.