[Before the November Congressional elections, this one notable legislative success - coming on top of financial sector regulatory mechanism and heath care reforms and sacking of General McChrystal amidst a lot of stumbles - may very well indicate a turning of tide for the falling fortunes of the Obama Administration. Rush Limbaugh and his acolytes would of course be frothing at their mouths.]
I/III. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/21/us/politics/21jobs.html Jobless Benefit Extension Clears Senate Hurdle By CARL HULSE<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/h/carl_hulse/index.html?inline=nyt-per> WASHINGTON — The Senate cleared the way Tuesday for more unemployment pay to reach millions of Americans who have been out of work for six months or more as the Democratic-led Congress pruned one more item off the list of issues it hopes to tackle in an intensely polarized election year. Minutes after Carte P. Goodwin was sworn in as the new Democratic senator from West Virginia to replace the late Robert C. Byrd<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/b/robert_c_byrd/index.html?inline=nyt-per>, the Senate voted 60 to 40<http://politics.nytimes.com/congress/votes/111/senate/2/209> to break a partisan logjam and end debate over the jobless pay, overriding Republican objections that the $34 billion cost of the additional compensation should not be added to the deficit. “One vote made a difference today for millions of Americans who have been out of work waiting for their unemployment benefits,” Senator Jeanne Shaheen<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/s/jeanne_shaheen/index.html?inline=nyt-per>, Democrat of New Hampshire, said about Mr. Goodwin’s arrival to cast his decisive vote. The Senate must still give final approval to the unemployment bill, though the procedural victory assured passage as early as Wednesday. The House was expected to give quick final approval followed by the signature of President Obama<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/o/barack_obama/index.html?inline=nyt-per> . Even after the vote Tuesday, Democrats accused Republicans of needlessly stalling the bill by using their procedural power to delay the vote by a day rather than allow final consideration. Two Republicans, Senators Susan Collins<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/c/susan_collins/index.html?inline=nyt-per> and Olympia J. Snowe<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/s/olympia_j_snowe/index.html?inline=nyt-per> of Maine, joined 56 Democrats and 2 independents in mustering the minimum number required to advance the plan to provide jobless pay through November for those who have exhausted the standard 26 weeks of benefits. Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska was the only Democrat to vote with 39 Republicans against the bill. Republicans said they supported providing more jobless pay for struggling Americans but argued that the costs should be offset with spending cuts elsewhere to avoid adding to rising federal deficits. They proposed that money not yet spent from last year’s economic stimulus plan<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/u/united_states_economy/economic_stimulus/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier> be used to cover the costs. “When given the option to pay for these benefits with unused stimulus funds, the president and Congressional Democrats chose adding to the country’s red ink over fiscal responsibility,” Senator John Cornyn<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/c/john_cornyn/index.html?inline=nyt-per>, Republican of Texas, said. Democrats argued that diverting stimulus money would weaken federal efforts to create jobs for the very people they were helping with the unemployment pay. They said unemployment pay had often been treated as an emergency need free of any deficit considerations. About two million Americans have seen their benefits run out since the legislation stalled at the end of May. The difficulty that Democrats had in moving ahead with what has traditionally been a popular vote has forced the leadership to scale back expectations for what it can yet accomplish this year given the requirement to produce at least 60 votes in the Senate on every bill. Before breaking for the August recess, Congressional leaders now hope to wrap up the unemployment aid, another bill to provide loans and incentives to help small businesses, and an overdue measure to provide money for combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Senate Democrats also intend to confirm Elena Kagan<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/k/kagan_elena/index.html?inline=nyt-per> to the Supreme Court<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/s/supreme_court/index.html?inline=nyt-org> after her nomination cleared the Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. But many lawmakers say they believe the main legislative action of the first half of President Obama’s term is approaching an end. Though Senator Harry Reid<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/r/harry_reid/index.html?inline=nyt-per>, the Nevada Democrat and majority leader, also hopes to debate an energy measure, he acknowledged on Tuesday that his plans for the bill were in flux even as others said there was not enough time to take a serious run at a comprehensive energy proposal. “We’re going to make a decision in the near future,” Mr. Reid said. “We’re not really at a point where I can determine what I think is best for the caucus and the country at this stage.” To most Democrats, the added unemployment pay was a priority, given the persistently bad employment outlook back home. Senator Tom Harkin<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/h/tom_harkin/index.html?inline=nyt-per>, Democrat of Iowa, accused Republicans of a “shameful effort” to hold up the unemployment aid, bristling at suggestions by some Republicans and their conservative allies that the stream of jobless money was keeping people from seeking jobs. “There’s one job for five to eight people out there and to say somehow by giving them $15,000 a year, $300 a week, this is going to keep them from going to work,” Mr. Harkin said. “Preposterous. Absolutely preposterous.” Republicans said their position was being mischaracterized by Democrats, who they said were forced to extending unemployment pay because their efforts at job creation had failed. “The people in this country are not looking for those government-driven solutions,” Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, a member of the Republican leadership, said. “Most of them are looking for government to get out of the way, to back off so that they have that ability to create those jobs.” Mr. Goodwin, who at 36 became the newest and youngest member of the Senate, made a notable entry, taking the oath of office from Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/b/joseph_r_jr_biden/index.html?inline=nyt-per> on Tuesday afternoon and then quickly providing the clinching vote for the stalled unemployment pay. Friends and family members in the Senate gallery applauded his first roll-call vote and drew a gentle chiding from the chair for violating Senate rules. After the showdown, Mr. Goodwin, who is to serve until a special election in November, said he felt privileged that his first vote was one “that helps millions of Americans and over 12,000 West Virginians who are still looking for work as the economy continues to turn around.” “These are real issues that affect real West Virginians and real Americans in very real ways,” he said. Both parties expect the unemployment fight to play out in midterm election campaigns, and the White House is planning a signing ceremony for the measure. II. http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/93101 <http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/93101>Jobless to benefit from US Senate vote Wednesday 21 July 2010 Unemployment benefits will be restored to millions of people after the US Senate backed a Bill supporting those affected by the market meltdown. The vote was a formality after the Democrat-controlled Senate voted 60-40 on Tuesday to support the Bill, despite Republican delaying tactics. The measure will now go to the House of Representatives for a final vote and then to President Obama for approval later this week. At issue were payments averaging $309 (£200) a week for almost five million people whose 26 weeks of state benefits have run out. They are eligible for a federally financed programme providing up to 73 additional weeks of unemployment benefits. Such jobless benefits are a lifeline to millions of people struggling to find work in what has so far been a "jobless recovery." But about half of those currently eligible have seen their benefits cut off since funding expired on June 2. Pennsylvania Secretary of Labour and Industry Sandi Vito claimed that some 200,000 people had lost unemployment compensation coverage because of Senate inaction. "I can't tell you how relieved we are," he said. "Folks need this money for their mortgages, for food. Our goal is to get them their payments as quickly as possible." The obstacle to a final vote was removed after Democrat Carte Goodwin was sworn in to succeed West Virginia Democrat Robert Byrd. Mr Goodwin was the crucial 60th senator needed to defeat Republican legislative manoeuvres to block a final vote. The Senate gallery was packed with Goodwin supporters, who broke into applause as he cast his "aye" vote. Although Republicans claimed they supported the benefits extension, they had insisted that they were financed by cuts in the $3.7 trillion (£2.4 trillion) federal budget. But the White House and the Democrats have argued that putting money in the pockets of jobless families would stimulate economic growth. "This Bill is about jobs, because unemployment insurance goes to people who will spend it immediately," said Democratic Senator Max Baucus of Montana. "That would increase economic demand. And that would help support our fragile economic recovery." III. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2114725520100721 Republicans delay vote on U.S. jobless benefits 12:46pm EDT By Andy Sullivan<http://blogs.reuters.com/search/journalist.php?edition=us&n=andy.sullivan&;> WASHINGTON, July 21 (Reuters) - Senate Republicans on Wednesday delayed action to restore U.S. unemployment benefits for those who have been out of work the longest, prolonging a partisan standoff even though the measure is certain to pass. Some 2.5 million jobless Americans have seen their benefits lapse since the end of May as the Senate has deadlocked over how to cover the $34 billion cost of extending them through November. Congress is all but certain to restore those benefits by the end of the week after Democrats broke a Republican procedural hurdle on Tuesday afternoon. But Republicans appeared to be running out the legislative clock, delaying a final vote until as late as 9 p.m. on Wednesday (0100 GMT Thursday). "Perhaps the overwhelming majority of Republicans think that since they've turned their backs on the unemployed for so many months, what's another few days?" Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid said. "Perhaps they think that when unemployment goes up, their poll numbers do too." With congressional elections looming in November, Democrats are eager to show voters they are doing all they can to bring down the 9.5 percent unemployment rate and help those struggling to emerge from the worst recession since the Great Depression. Republicans, meanwhile, are raising the alarm about a budget deficit that is expected to come in near last year's level of 9.9 percent of GDP. They say Congress should cut spending elsewhere to cover the cost of extending benefits. Congress could have renewed the expired benefits months ago if Democrats had agreed to cut spending elsewhere, said a spokesman for Republican Senator Tom Coburn. "Reid, and many politicians in Washington who are addicted to spending, don't want to do the hard work of choosing between funding unemployment benefits or the obscene amount of waste in the federal budget. They want both," said Coburn spokesman John Hart. Democrats said the additional delay served no purpose other than to prolong the difficulties faced by those who are struggling to make ends meet. Nearly half of the unemployed have been out of work for more than six months, the highest level of long-term joblessness since the government began keeping track in the late 1940s. "This latest move gives the partisan minority 30 more hours to stall in the Senate, but that means 30 more hours of suffering for these hard-working families trying to get by," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said. (Additional reporting by Patricia Zengerle<http://blogs.reuters.com/search/journalist.php?edition=us&n=patricia.zengerle&;>; Editing by Eric Beech) -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB.
