Update on CBC - Obama Meeting: Cleaver Says Cost of 99ers Bill “Prohibitive”

In Rep. Cleaver’s words: “It was what I expected because my staff had done a lot of research on it. And we found that the cost of that program would be between $14 and 20 billion dollars which is cost prohibitive. So there was no point in the President saying, ‘yeah I support it…’ when I laid it out I said to him, ‘Mr. President, I’m going to raise this, and this is one of our issues because this is one of our issues — it’s an issue among our members…’ I ended it by saying, however, I understand that the cost is enormous. He (President Obama) said (to Rob Nabors sitting on the sofa) ‘Rob how much is it?’ And Rob said, ‘between 14 and 20 billion’ and I said, let’s move on. Because there was no point — that’s not going to happen,” recounted Cleaver.

Lee, a member of the Appropriations Committee, has said in the recent
past that there is a way to pay for the bill. The other factor is that
the legislation has not been scored by GAO. The total price of the
legislation has always been a point of discussion. Reps. Lee and Bobby
Scott have a meeting with Speaker Boehner and Eric Cantor on H.R. 589
later this week. I already called around for reaction and response
regarding this exchange has been slow or non existent — not unlike most
things on Capitol Hill.

Interestingly, unemployment extensions
and the plight of the 99ers was one of five subjects brought up by the
five members of the CBC meeting with the President on Wednesday. The
members present were Reps. Emanuel Cleaver, G.K. Butterfield, Yvette
Clarke, Andre Carson and Del. Donna Christensen of the Virgin Islands.

Falcon7 wrote:Face it, it's OVER!

Falcon7 wrote:Face it, it's OVER!

Judi58 wrote:You REALLY think it can or will pass... I am sorry and you can kick me off this site... BUT read what you posted ...I cannot and wont keep the hope anymore...
In November you can bet I will work for any campaign that is not Obama...




I understand that the cost is enormous. He (President Obama) said (to Rob Nabors sitting on the sofa) ‘Rob how much is it?’ And Rob said, ‘between 14 and 20 billion’ and I said, let’s move on. Because there was no point — that’s not going to happen,” recounted Cleaver.

lendmeflight2 wrote:Yeah, the article makes it sound like Cleaver said to move on. If this was his attitude why did he ask for the meeting to start with? He knew how much the bill would cost. I am not banking on it but I think is a chance this could pass. It seems the EB program is ending in North Carolina for some reason and I still have some hope of this going through. It does have to be paid for however.

“Rep. Lee is encouraged that the Speaker and Leader Cantor have agreed to meet within the next few weeks to discuss how to provide emergency benefits for millions of long-term unemployed workers. Despite her strong belief that this should be considered emergency spending, the Congresswoman is committed to exhausting every possible option for passing this bill.”

Falcon7 wrote:Face it, it's OVER!

Agent Smith wrote:

Falcon7 wrote:Face it, it's OVER!

Yes. Fudge them You can throw me out for this. I will not have internet not an appartment anymore anyway end of this month and no Fudging job. 1500 resumes so far and only 3 interviews.

DesperateInRI wrote:

Agent Smith wrote:

Falcon7 wrote:Face it, it's OVER!

Yes. Fudge them You can throw me out for this. I will not have internet not an appartment anymore anyway end of this month and no Fudging job. 1500 resumes so far and only 3 interviews.

We aren't throwing anyone out! Believe me, we know how you feel. Same story here. There was an update that came out after this release late this afternoon. The meeting with Boehner and Cantor is on Thursday. Lee has promised that she will do everything she can to get this passed.

Please don't give up. Your voice matters. We need everyone in this fight. We can't let them win this one.

Falcon7 wrote:Face it, it's OVER!