Kristen Said:

Unemployment extension benefits,?

We Answered:

There is discussion regarding the unemployment extension bills here...

http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h35…

http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/sho…

Right now, the Senate has not scheduled any discussion or votes on the bill HR 3548 that passed in the House and sent to the Senate on 9/22. There is talk that several congress people do not like the bill as it only gives the extended 13 weeks to states with unemployment at 8.5% and higher.
A new companion bill in the Senate S1699 ( almost identical to the House bill HR3548 ) maybe be voted on next week.

Dustin Said:

What are your thoughts about the senate adjourning before the extension of the unemployment issue was complete?

We Answered:

One lone ornery Republican senator held up the vote and absolutely REFUSED to back off. The bill authorizing this extension is still pending, so maybe this lone hold out will hear enough fury from his constituents that he will back off of his mean-spirited grand-standing for the cameras and get our out-of-work-thanks-to-the-GOP-policies workers some help they need!

Felix Said:

Has the senate voted on the unemployment extensions?

We Answered:

.
Yes.
Finally.
Seems like Republican Senator (CORNYN or KYL, I forget which one...they're pretty much the same: only 2 moving parts, their mouths and their @ssholes and THOSE are interchangeable...) was "DITHERING" over some political dickering and dilly-dallying.

Maybe one of the delays whether was that 1 plan was to give 13 weeks to under-10% unemployment states and 20 weeks to over-10% unemployment states. But I think that the final vote was for just a flat 13 weeks for everyone.

Anyway, try Googling "extended unemployment benefits" or something close to that.


This is from yesterday, Oct. 27; there was surprisingly little else that's up to date:

"The House passed a less generous benefit extension more than a month ago, but Senate Republicans, at odds with Democrats over what amendments they can offer to the bill, have blocked Senate consideration.

As the Senate voted, Senate leaders were still trying to reach agreement on a formula to extend the homebuyer credit and whether it would be combined with the unemployment bill or brought up separately. The Senate expected to begin taking up amendments on Wednesday.

Various proposals are on the table, including one by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., that would extend the $8,000 tax credit through March 31. The value of the credit would then drop to $6,000, $4,000 and then $2,000 over the next three quarters. Another idea would extend the tax credit to home buyers who already own homes, as long as they have been in those homes for at least seven years.

Democrats are also mulling a plan to extend the ability of money-losing businesses to claim refunds on taxes paid during profitable times up to four years ago.

Republicans, meanwhile, were demanding that they be given a chance to offer amendments on federal aid to the beleaguered community activist group ACORN and on requiring that people receiving unemployment insurance be processed through E-Verify, an Internet-based system that employers use to check on the immigration status of new hires.

Democrats, in floor speeches and news conferences, have voiced frustrations at the delay. "If the American people knew that legislation to help jobless workers pay their bills and purchase necessities was being held up to score political points, they would be outraged," said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., a leader on the unemployment benefit issue.

Reid calculated that in the three weeks that action on the bill has been stalled nearly 150,000 people have lost their benefits. "To say that I am disappointed is an understatement."


.

Duane Said:

when is senate voting on unemployment extensions?

We Answered:

Harry Reid invoked cloture on the bill forcing it to the Senate floor,
It is scheduled for hearing Tuesday 10/27 at 2:30 PM ET/11:30 AM
PT

http://progressillinois.com/2009/10/22/r…

More information with discussion regarding this bill can be found here...There are a couple of people with some good info, but also a few trolls
http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-s16…

Cspan 2 will be covering this if you want to watch on tv or online here...
http://www.c-span.org/Watch/C-SPAN_wm.as…

Adam Said:

Has the Senate voted on the unemployment extension? Yea or Nay? If yea how many weeks were given?

We Answered:

.
The President signed it on Nov. 6; it takes effect from Nov.8 onward. It's for 13 or 14, 'maybe' 20 weeks in some states with higher unemployment (Calif., Michigan, etc.) but the extra 6 or 7 weeks have to be made an extension into 2010, because they expire within the 2009 calendar year.

Stay tuned: California said that it's a bit more complicated (partly because California's unemployment fund is over OVER 7+ BILLION DOLLARS in the RED) due to apportioning Fed-State funds requires a whole new computer software re-programming, so Cal EDD said "This will take several weeks, but claims will be honored going back to (starting at) Nov. 8, but not for any period of unemployment prior to that date."
.

Theresa Said:

Does any one know if the senate voted on the unemployment insurance extension bill S1699?

We Answered:

The Senate voted on and passed the bill today, 11/4. It has been sent to the House (since it was amended) and will be voted on Thursday, where it is expected to pass. With any luck it will be signed by Obama by Friday.