Earlier this week, the House passed a bill to extend unemployment benefits to 29 states in which the average unemployment rate over the last 3 months has been 8.5% or higher. Now it is time for the upper chamber of Congress to act on the bill. There are some problems here. Despite the fact that people are clamoring for the Senate to act quickly on this vital legislation for thousands of Americans, the pace of action in Washington tends to be glacial. Also, the Senate Finance Committee - through which the bill would have to pass - is currently overwhelmed with the health care bill. There is also talk about tweaking the bill so that it would extend to all states, not just those with the highest unemployment rates.
I wonder if this restriction placed on the bill by the House might affect its speed of passage in the Senate? I can't see them dilly-dallying for too long here; I'm no expert on legislation but I would imagine we'll see something come out of the Senate in the next couple weeks.
For the thousands of Americans out there whose benefits are running out, however, every day counts.
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Comments: 33
This legislation won't affect me, my benefits run out next year.
The extension is federal tax money so why shouldn't it cover all states? The excuse Bush used was unemployment had to reach five and a half percent before an extension could kick in now its up to 8.5% lol. What will it be by Christmas 12%
Reminder! The country is me!
I do not owe anyone anything except my family. But you want to tax me to pay for your being lazy.
Social Security, Medicare, Medicade, unemployment are just a sucking of the hard earned $ from me.
What made this country great, years ago, was the self suffient people who worked hard, asked the government to leave them alone, except for protecting them.
Now we have an attitude of" WHINE WHINE i lost my job, give me $, I sick, have no health plan, give me $"
Be respnosible, get off your buts, take care of yourself and your family
Unemployment comes out of state and federal taxes paid by companies, not your taxes as an employee. One could argue that these costs are passed on to you in the form of lower salary, of course, but if you lose your job - you benefit from this insurance just like anyone else.
The attitude you bring to this discussion is unnecessarily antagonistic, childish, and not productive in trying to solve problems in a way that would favor you or anyone else.
Your arguments fail on your own words. You state the unemployment is a result of taxes paid to state and federal government, wrong, the comppanies pay to the state, not the federal government.
It is the federal government (my taxes) which have been supporting the 4 extensions for unemployment. I do not believe in unemployment payments..
At the age of 74, I have never applied unemployment payments, even when i was unemployed.
Your childish comment is typical of those who have no counter.
It's fine if you don't believe in unemployment insurance, but perhaps you could offer your views without attacking others? It's apparent that your view of them comprises your argument against it, but even this you could frame in a more civil manner.
How was my comment childish?
The far right, and far left are a burden on us all.
Mike, I have a business for over 50 years. Don't tell me where the $ come from for the unemployment extension. They come out of the general fund. If you doubt me contact your rep. in washington, i did and he confirmed all the extension $ are comming out of the general fund.
It is sad you find my comments "un civil".
People who have known me for many many years would disagree, I have been sited, many time over the years for my Giving and caring deeds.
I am a 76 old man, ho has raised 8 children, put all through private grade and high schools and college (without govemnment$), 5 onto grad school. i have 9 grand children, 2 great grand children.
I and my kids and grand kids have never collected unemployment. I do not collect social security, medicare or Veteran benefits( I am a combat vet).
I hope you understand, now, where i am comming from: Work hard, save your $, raise a family on the best values and do not depend on the government for anything escept for protection.
I've been unemployed since last November. Never had been out of work since I was six. I have methodically tried to apply to every storefront that I can get to on the bus. One by one, block by block.
I was unaware you are a business owner. So yes, the extension is paid out of the unemployment tax you pay as a business owner.
I an sorry you find yourself in your current position.
As a child i was told to save 1/2 of any $ I received for use if things go bad. I followed this through my life, therefor i never had to get a loan for any houses, cars boats ar any other thing I wanted.
At a cook out a month ago, I was aproached by a man who said he was having problems finding work. He was laid off from his job as a software developer. He asked me for help. I said: you can get a job at the local MiciDs and another shift ant the local berger king. It only added up to 16 hours a day. He was ofended.
If I was in his position, I would jump to such an oportunity.
Hense the difference.
I called my CPA, he said no business in this state pays an unemployment tax to the fereral government!
Which state are you in? I'm going based on what I've read. Here's the text from IRS.gov about the Federal Unemployment Tax Act:
"The Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA), with state unemployment systems, provides for payments of unemployment compensation to workers who have lost their jobs. Most employers pay both a Federal and a state unemployment tax. A list of state unemployment tax agencies, including addresses and phone numbers, is available in Publication 926, Household Employer's Tax Guide. Only the employer pays FUTA tax; it is not deducted from the employee's wages. For more information, refer to the Instructions for Form 940 (PDF). "
It says "most" businesses. I'm certainly no expert.
Anyone else know about this?
My CPA want's to know the line on a corporate form for payment to FEDERAL unemployment tax.
You're the business owner and you have the advice of your CPA; that goes beyond my knowledge and experience. Seems odd that it's counter to everything I've read on the subject, however (including the IRS.gov).
Good luck to you and to all who find themselves in bad situations. 50 years ago I understood I could not help everyone so I set about helping my self so I could help my family and thru my business help those who wish to help themself.
I believe it has worked. I have has very low employee turn over, I do have now three generations of employees working.
Depend on NO One, except yourself. I can guarentee my kids, grand kids and )hopefully) great grand kids will follow thru with this because they see how well it has worked for them.
The joker ws the law mandaded the employey match their contribution. (welfare).
Fast forward 30+ years: President JHohnson, the guy who micro managed our loss in Vietnam, comes with the big leap.
#1 take all the $ accumulated in the SS account and merge them into the general fund.
#2 Lets have Medicare, paid for with the SS $
#3 lets give ss $ to kids, disabled etc.
Is it any wonder the SS $ are in trouble?
You can thank me, who has contributed both my own $ and also matched the contributions of my employees over the years.
Thats 50 years of contributing for an average of 225 employees a year.
I still do not collect social secutity and medicare or unemployment ( After 50 years i am not unemployed)
I am not bitter, if i was i would take every $ I am emtitled to. I am disapointed with the people expectinf Uncle sam to bail out their lack of $ planning.
Both you and your accountant are ignorant idiots. There's 1 job available for every 6 people looking. Don't sit there and call anyone lazy; If you said that to my face I'd knock everyone of your teeth out. Or is it dentures? What they said was correct. We have a consumption based economy controlled by a bunch of irresponsible rich people who were given the authority to play craps with the money supply. They were allowed to have that authority by their rich friends in Congress. Let me ask you something. How much money do you think employers like yourself would have if nobody showed up for work ever again? You essentially make your income via the exploitation of labor whether you own a company or invest. Your employees produce $5 an hour worth of output and you pay them $4. The only one really screwing anyone is you. In regards to the social security and all that jazz, it is screwed up. However, it can't be privatized because that would be handing it to the corporate wolves who would simply steal it all. Many unfortunate and disabled persons are dependent on assistance for their survival. There were some people who subscribed to your way of thinking in the 30's. They wanted us to join the fascists in the WWII. Roosevelt stated that Social Darwinism stood against every ideal our country was founded on. We fought that war to protect the weak and unfortunate from people like you.
Unemployment Insurance (UI) is a federal-state program jointly financed through federal and state employer payroll taxes (federal/state UI tax). Generally, employers must pay both state and federal unemployment taxes
It seems like the holdup is because the legislation won't cover all 50 states.