Unemployment extension cloture vote to be held in Senate Wednesday afternoon

This is dispicable. With unemployment nearing 10%, how many of you can say thas it will not personally affect you, or someone you know?

Jim - by "you" I assume you're meaning the GOP senators who are stalling? Or are you saying that this is such a widespread problem that we all know people who are affected? Either way I agree - you're right. I know many people affected (including myself).

Mike: My son-in-law was out of work for 7 months, got rehired at a lower wage, & two weeks later my daughter got laid off after 14 years. 90% of us are affected, & nobody gives a crap.

Does Anyone Know for sure if your unemployment has run out, that they will get this new extention ? mine ran out three weeks ago..thanks

Everyone is talking about the Senate version and those of us unemployed are concerned about the timing, however this thing will be passed, but then the Senate bill and House bill must be reconciled. Considering the House version didn't want to support ANY extension to states below 8.5% unemployment, where is that going to end?

My benefits run out in 3 weeks and it has been langushing in the Senate longer than that. REVENGE IN NOVEMBER 2010 AD 2012. DUMP ALL OF THEM AND START OVER.

Unfortunately you're right, blaean - but hopefully they can come to an agreement quickly. The House passed its version with a pretty big margin if I recall; I would be surprised if they quibbled over the nationwide extension at this point.

But Congress continues to disappoint, so who knows?

I believe the House passed what it was certain to pass as quickly as possible. And they did. Within days of the bill being introduced, it was on its way to the Senate.

My benefits ran out more than 2 months ago - during their August recess. They had already run out before the House even introduced THEIR version.

Revenge can start as early as Nov 2010 - and every 2 years after that. They're in office for 6 years, not four, and it's on a "revolving" basis. Some were elected to office just last year and will be there until 2014. Some are up for election in 2010 and still others in 2012.

I am simply disappointed in both the Senate and Congress. They are just not doing their jobs. That is strictly my opinion.

My point is simply that while the Democrats could have made concessions early on, and they have made some subsequently, what the Republicans have demanded has absolutely nothing to do with this bill. They are things that they can't get passed on the merits so they are holding unemployment extensions hostage to get some very partisan crap thru. The original bill was very clean; it addressed the needs of the long term unemployed, many of whom, myself included, are in dire circumstances, so forgive if I am putting this squarely on the Republicans. God forbid the whole Congress should just agree to set aside agendas long enough to simply do the decent thing and help Americans in trouble thru no fault of their own. Again, reference Wall Street...

What's with all these cloture votes? If they hold one this afternoon, there won't be any "final" vote until 30 hours after that. Thirty hours after this afternoon would put it late Thursday at the very earliest.

I just found another article on the timing of the votes. I don't know how Sen. Durbin pulled it off, but his zeal has made me want to move to Illinois so I can vote for him next time he runs. Here's the article:

The Senate will hold a procedural vote tomorrow at 12:15 p.m. to limit debate on legislation extending unemployment benefits in all states, Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) just announced on the chamber floor. Senate rules mandate that the final vote can’t come earlier than 30 hours after the cloture vote. To expedite final passage, however, Durbin also stipulated that the 30-hour clock be considered started at 11:45 p.m. Tuesday night — meaning the final vote could come Thursday morning, rather than much later in the day. Unless, of course, an agreement is struck with Republican leaders on amendments to the bill, in which case the proposal could pass the Senate even earlier.

Oh, it was dated yesterday, so the "tomorrow" it speaks of is actually today.

Thanks Mike.
This is the political machine at work.
I do not think anything will change without a demonstration.
Until we are a nation united we are a nation divided.
While people are hungry and homeless, other people in this country are taking vacations. Buying new cars, and watching TV. We or someone we know is struggling, but as long it is not all of us, we will keep watching TV and keeping up with the Jones'.
Obama is not going to save us or he would have invaded the senate like Bush did Iraq. My late friend passed at 82 and he never trusted government or politicians. I use to think he was just old; Now I know he was right. Until we as a people revolt, have another tea party like the colonies did when they committed treason against their government, the king of England, until we are ready to sacrifice everything, there will never be a change, never.
We will fall like Rome. I am sorry, but it's over. 
Until we are a nation united we are a nation divided.

John,
Your post has such a ring of truth that it is near deafening.

I'm confused. Looking at the Senate calendar yesterday, I noticed a blank schedule thru Tuesday of next week. Will these lawmakers be able to pass a final vote before then?

Sometimes I wonder if the Republicans have lost their ability to think. They claim their opposition to almost everything the Obama administration proposes is based on economics - they don't want to raise the national debt. Yet if unemployed people become homeless, taxpayers will their last hope to stay alive, pay for emergency room care, and pay for their cremation etc. If they can be kept in their homes and given the boost they need to find employment, they will become contributors to society, not a drag on it. It will pay off in the long run to extend unemployment benefits now.

I voted for Obama but he needs to stay off the TV my god I see more of his face than my husband and we both are unemployed. Talk about wagging the dog and saying the economy is better what planet is he on. Take care of the unemployed in this country. I agree with all of you that want to get rid of the senate. Yes it will take a while to get rid of them but I will never forget what they are doing to my family and all the rest of the family's that are unemployed.

I wouldn't mind seeing Obama on TV declaring UE a national emergency and passing the bill without congress or senate :)

John, I would love to see his face if he would do that but he is to busy going for world peace so he can go down in history as the great peace maker. He does not care about the country that voted for him. He will only be a one term president.

You got it right. He is som evolved with himself and his wife that he practicaly do not care about all the promises he maid before election.;

Did anyone see last week's Dateline about the stock trader that started robbing banks to pay his bills after he got fired? I'm not advocating crime or violence but desperate times call for desperate measures. I really don't the republicans take this seriously. I'm going to write a script for Hollywood similar to John Doe with Denzel Washington about the guy that couldn't afford to pay for his kid's heart transplant, but this story is about a family that lose work and the house and they do what they have to do. We are all walking in steps of history and we can all make a difference by making phones and writing letters to our representatives and joining groups to march to Washington DC if we have to. Boy that would be something. Why can't we organize like that... Probably because we're broke :)

John, change the picture. You scared my grandson. Do not do that.
You look like the personnality of all politicians. Never trust any party. They all come and go and what happens. Rich get ritcher and poor get zilch, Nada, and just may be some carrots.

Woa now, that's what the repubs want you to think. By stalling on every bill, it makes Obama fail, it is all out of spite. Please don't let that negative propaganda drain your brain, it's the oldest trick in the book. The republicans lost the election and plan to make a democrat look so bad in office that we will elect a republican next time. It's a scam. They don't care if we riot and burn down the country as long as they can say "I told you so" Do Not Forget Who Got Us In This Mess To Begin With" Also Pam, Obama didn't ask for the Peace Prize; it doesn't work that way. If it did, George would have one. Keep a level head and do not let them manipulate your common sense. Democrats care about the poor, Republicans care about the Rich, it's not an opinion, it's a fact.

John, You are right he did not ask for peace prize. I'm just upset becuase he knows the shape we are in and that is what he needs to talk about right now. I blame the republicans for all of this. I just think Obama should work harder to help push this through. Health care is important becuse I have none. But being able to have roof over our heads and eat is a now problem.

Here are the senators who are blocking and stalling
the unemployment extension. Who are being,
vindictive, and very spiteful. WHO ARE MAKING SURE
THAT THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS CONTINUE TO
GO HUNGRY AND WITH NO INCOME ARE LOOSING
EVERYTHING! And I have a feeling that these same
senators will be re-elected.

THERE NAMES ARE ..
Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY)
Sen. Christopher Bond (R-MO)
Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY)
Sen. Thomas Coburn (R-OK)
Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX)
Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC)
Sen. Michael Enzi (R-WY)
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK)
Sen. Jefferson Sessions (R-AL)
Sen. David Vitter (R-LA)
Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ)
sen. Mitch MC Connell (R-KY)

Please call your senators

Is there no end to this? I am now very confused about this closure votes. This is number 3 and if it passes they have wait 30 hrs to vote again. Does this goes on and on and on as long as the GOP wants to? Is there not a stopping point?

Fortunately it's been agreed that the 30 hour clock on the cloture vote will begin as of 11:45PM Tuesday. This means that they can proceed as early as 5:45AM on Thursday after today's vote.

Thanks Pam, you are smart cookie :)

I'm watching republican lamar alexander now, talking about how much it's going to cost for health care and how the repubs have a better idea? Where was their idea during the 8 years that george hid in Crawford or behind the terrorist campaign? As long as we can spend a trillion on a war taxpayers didn't agree on, we can spend a trillion on Americans that need health care. Billions bailing out thieves and incompetents and working taxpayers (NOT WELFARE) have to beg for attention. Hey Lamar, sit down, shut up and get a conscience.

WT, why don't the Dems just ram it up the Republicans butt like they did healthcare for 1.2 trillion. What would a couple more billion matter?

BTW, there has been no interruption in Welfare payments to never working, non-English speaking people on Welfare. I propose, and I promise to be the first, I propose every single taxpayer out of work goes down to the Welfare office and applies for Welfare. Either give us the UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE we paid for or send us a Welfare check like the illegals and lazy's are getting (not to criticize legitimate needy American Citizens receiving Welfare support).

Even you scared my grandson, but I agree 150% with you on this. There are over 38 million people on welfare that never worked in this country.(they get SSI check every month). What the F#@K.!!

Folks,
I understand everyone being upset but lets not sound like a bunch of "OWED WHINERS". I need this money bad, but WE ARE NOT OWED IT. John Public is Obviously a big LIBERAL who thinks the DEMS are our SAVIORS. Don't think for one second that when the Republicans are in power that the DEMS aren't doing everything they can to make the Republicans look bad. Granted there is political play going on here and yes it's frustrating, but I realize the Republicans are using this to try and get some good amendments through as they are in the mnority. The DEms would be doing the same thing if they were in the Republican's place. We will get this extension, just not as quickly as we would like. Lastly, John Q talks about this "UNITED NATION" which will NEVER HAPPEN because you have MARXISTS wanting and currently having the power in a nation of people that are mostly Conservative Capitalists and want this nation to continue as a REPUBLIC. Obama got elected because Bush did not stick to the conservative ideology and of course the PRESS just crucifies any conservative. Plus there were so many people who never have voted in their lives wanting to elect the first Black President that they never even considered his ideology. This nation united will never happen. Marxism and Capitalism is like mixing oil and water and never will the two mix. The scary part is that it's EASIER to become lazy and indifferent to Marxist Policies because people begin to believe the lies and that government will take care of us in our day to day lives. It's ridiculous but like I said, it's easier to keep saying we are the greatest nation in the world rather than actually fight to keep that status. This Health Care take over by government is just one example of Marxist values and it must be defeated. Anyway, I hope we get the vote today as baby needs a new pair of shoes.

I used to be a firm believer in capitalism. The problem is, we've been sold down the river by corporate bigwigs. In an effort to pinch every penny of profit they can, they've outsourced jobs to Asia.

Unemployment is not going to end until the jobs come back. The jobs won't come back until corporations are forced to bring them back. It's too bad we haven't seen anything from the government that would cause this to happen.

To say the re pubs never had any healthcare plan shows that democrats just talk among themselves. Republican healthcare plans have been out their for years. Tart reform-health savings accounts- insurance companies allowed to sell policies across state lines just like car insurance-Geico- Progressive type companies.
ALert these conservative health plans were advocated by Reagan in the 80's but the democrats refused to join and democrats killed any chance for reform...
Either you liberal Obamacare, devotes, are ignorant of the facts or are just fibbing?.
Obama and his party do not want to anger their leaders Trial Lawyers.
Democrat butt-ramming, who gets that spot, Barney Frank?.

Obviously Micky is very well informed and understands the history of this healthcare issue. Tort Reform is the answer. I'd even go as far as removing Hospitals and Doctors from being liable in the courts. Each state should have several panels made of up Doctors and lay people who can distinguish between Dr/Hospital ineptitude and just plain bad luck for a patient. If the Hospital and or Dr. Screw up, there is a CAPPED amount of money provided to the patient unless the mistake causes patient an inability to work and care for themselves or family. Then another TIER of financial compensation should be provided. That system would stop the HUGE MULTI-MILLION dollar judgments that drive up the cost of medical care and liability insurances for these hospitals and Doctors.

Jim
Don't lose faith in Capitalism. I have worked for the big billion dollar corporations and completely agree with you in that there has been problems. However, understand that the problems are mostly the result of the same problems we have had as a country. That is, STOCKHOLDERS are not holding the BOARD of DIRECTORS Accountable for the corporate leaders who the allow to have CONTRACTS that bascially provide that corporate CEO a huge payoff, whether they do well with the company or not. In addtion, they make even bigger money if they do well, but that is measured by "THE QUARTER" and not by whether or not these decisions affect the LONGEVITY of the company. So if you are a CEO (or any C-level Executive) and you can sucker a board of directors into signing a contract with you that pays you millions in bonuses if you make the numbers look good for a couple of calendar quarters, OR get made a fewer million if you screw up....your going to do it! Do you folks know that CEO's and these others with aspirations to run companies actually have MANAGERS just like ballplayers and actors? It's the Managers job to get as much money for their client as they can. So yes, capitalism does have it's downside, but that can be changed if stockholders start raising hell with boards of directors threating to get them booted if they continue paying out these huge sums of money for success AND/OR Failure. What really screws things up is GOVERNMENT Involvement. That is Government setting a MINIMUM WAGE and GOVERNMENT dictating TAX rates on corps and GOVERNMENT telling businesses who they have to hire and government not protecting our borders. One answer is to remove income tax and go to a complete sales tax scenario while cutting back on government costs. Okay, nuff said.

Comrades Ren and Stimpy
I am a recovering republican that voted for President Obama, not a black man, a senator representing my values. We were created as the UNITED States, and we need to be UNITED if we are going to get past politics and rebuild our economy. You said, "the Republicans are using this to try and get some good amendments through" Thank you for admitting this, but if they were good amendments, they wouldn't need another bill to attach to. Simply put their bills through on their own merit. And I wouldn't compare auto insurance to health insurance. When you're old, or poor, you don't even have a car. Now I liked the Gypper, he was a Dem first and Lincoln was a Repub, so what? It's not the party, it's the agenda. If our government puts our economy in this current state we are ENTITLED, that's why we pay taxes. The scary Marxist warning you are spreading is only PROPAGANDA. But I am a Marxist, a Groucho Marxist: What do you call a Republican that agrees with the Obama agenda - Unemployed.

Let's face it folks the haves don't care about the have nots!
These politicians are drunk on power and the republican theory, If it's good for BIG business it's good for the country. BS!
The all mighty dollar in their pocket is all that counts to them not the people of the Great Country.

John Q,
I do like your sense of humor. What do you call a Republican that DOESN'T agree with the Obama Agenda? The same...Unemployed. :-)
However, John, these people in the White House and the so called "Czars" are in fact Marxists. This is NOT propaganda. These folks idolize Chairman Mao and Chavez. Their policies are transparent in that they want GOVERNMENT to run everything because they really believe GOVERNMENT is the answer where as a Conservative believes INDIVIDUAL FREEDOMS are the answer. Anyway, enjoy your Groucho Marxism and hope we get this extension soon, though I realize I'm not OWED it.

Frankly, NYS and our senators has been remarkably proactive on this, but without passage we are all in a world of hurt. This is a list of the senators who have continued to attach unrelated amendments so keep this legislation stalled. No doubt they have never gone without. THEY ALL HAVE EMAIL: LET THEM KNOW THIS WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN.
Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) [6.8%]
Sen. Christopher Bond (R-MO) [9.5%]
Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) [10.9%]
Sen. Thomas Coburn (R-OK) [6.7%]
Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) [8.2%]
Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) [11.6%]
Sen. Michael Enzi (R-WY) [6.8%]
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) [11.6%]
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) [6.2%]
Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK)[6.7%]
Sen. Jefferson Sessions (R-AL) [10.7%]
Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) [7.4%]
Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) [9.2%]
Sen. Mitch McConnell is the minority leader and nothing happens without him. Really, if there's time to blog there's time to make their lives a living hell. Their staffs especially enjoy mail from other constitutencies if you have the cost of postage. Seriously, these guys need to be miserable.

ALSO, if you are on unemployment and running out of places to apply and submit to the Dep of Labor, try this website: www.usajobs.opm.gov. You will never get contacted but there are thousands of jobs posted to apply for so at least you're not stumped looking for things to apply for.

These will be the same soul-less so-n-sos who will block Healthcare Reform and Banking Regulations. Put them on speed dial. Speaking for myself, I am not laying down for this. They will be sick of hearing from me.

Can any one explain to me why US is involved in wars since world war two.
Why US has spend over 7.3 trillion dollars in the past 40 years on wars.
The wars that caused death of 4.96 million innocent Civilians.

I think that is what the Obama Administration is asking right now: all this money and all these young lives for no quantifiable gain. I don't think he is "dithering" at all, I think he's about to start a firestorm and wants team lined up. We may not pull out abruptly or all at once, but I bet we do pull out. And that will be criticized as an outrage by the same people that are stalling these benefits: if Obama proposes it, they will decry it.

If the Democrats care so much then why do I hear nothing about this on the tv shows? Why isn't the President holding one of his prime-time speeches about this. All I hear about is a healthcare takeover plan that will cost even more jobs and devalue the dollar even further. Both parties are a bunch of power hungry jerks who don't give a rats @$$ about anything but power.

God bless your heart. Well said.

No more talks, just pass the bill! just pass the bill!

just passed 98-0! Thank God!

I THINK THE REPUBLICANS ARE THE WORST SCUM OF EARTH.THEY DONT CARE ABOUT THE SMALL GUY.ONLY THING THEY THINK OF IS THERE SELF THEY DONT KNOW WHAT IT IS TO GO WITH OUT AND NOT BE ABLE TO GIVE YOUR CHILD THE SMALLEST THING TO MAKE THEM SMILE CUZ YOUR BROKE BUSTED NOTHING.I HAVE BEEN A UNION IRONWORKER IN BOSTON FOR 28YRS I HAVENT WORKED IN OVER A YEAR CUZ THERE ISNT ANY WORK NO WHERE.THESE SCUMBAG REPUBLICANS ARE ALL TO BLAME JUST ALL THE NON-SENSE WE HAVE ADORED AND FEELING IT NOW FROM THE BUSH YEARS THE WORST PRESIDENT THIS COUNTRY HAS EVER SEEN AND PROBALLY EVER WILL.YOU DONT SEE HIM GOING WITHOUT DO YA?SO TO ALL YOU LIBERALS THAT VOTE THIS SCUM INTO OFFICE AGAIN YOU DESERVE TO GO HUNGRY.THATS ALL IT IS IS REPUBLICANS SORRY IF I OFFENDED ANYONE BUT LOOK AT WHATS GOING ON.LETS HOPE THEY PASS THIS BILL TPMMOROW BUT IT STILL MEANS ABOUT 3 MORE WEEKS BEFORE U SEE ANY MONEY HAPPY HOLIDAYS TOO ALL.

IM SORRY CONSERVITVES NOT LIBERALS I MADE A LITTLE ERROR VENTING