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Thursday, March 31, 2011

Lucky Missouri. Lucky us

News out this afternoon:

Mo. to drop extended benefits for unemployed

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Thousands of people in Missouri who have been unemployed for more than a year soon will lose their jobless benefits, marking a significant victory for Republican fiscal hawks who are crusading against government spending.
Okay, that's bad luck, by my way of thinking.
Here's the "good luck":
When eligibility ends Saturday, Missouri will become the only state to voluntarily quit a federal stimulus program that offers extended benefits.


So, the result?   "...more than 34,000 unemployed residents in Missouri could miss out on $105 million in benefits over the next nine months.  In Missouri, about 10,000 people would immediately be cut off from additional jobless payments, according to the state department of labor. And extended unemployment benefits would be denied to about 24,000 additional residents who otherwise are projected to become eligible."


As St. Louis resident Peter Gordon, who has been unemployed for a little over a year is quoted as saying:  "They can provide money for government programs to take care of the elite and rich," Gordon said. "But when it comes to a small person like me — people who are just trying to make ends meet — it seems like the rights are being taken away."


Not enough to leave things alone there, "Republican senators also are holding up federal stimulus money for education."


There's another fantastic idea--keep money for education away from the state.
Thanks, Republicans!  We appreciate the empathy it takes to bring this about!

This will be terrific for the state economy, too!
We'll be sure to remember you come election time, for sure!
Link:  http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110331/ap_on_bi_ge/us_jobless_benefits

For information on a plan to re-build our unemployment insurance program that is deficit-neutral, go here:
http://www.nelp.org/page/-/UI/UI%20Solvency%20Report%20FINAL.pdf?nocdn=1

2 comments:

Sevesteen said...

How long should someone be allowed to collect unemployment?

Mo Rage said...

I don't know. Care to put a time frame on it.

The gentleman, though, makes a great point--we're more than ready, willing and oh-so-able to bail out banks that screwed the American public for millions and billions of dollars, then let them go back to what they were doing with nary a fine or penalty, but when it comes to helping the recently laid off? Screw 'em. Go find a job.

Being wealthy, I know you don't have to be concerned about this.

(yes, I'm joking)