It's Official - JOBS Act: Committee Approves GOP Bill That Would Let States Redirect Jobless Money

In a party-line vote Wednesday, a congressional panel approved a Republican bill that would allow states to divert $31 billion worth of federal money for the long-term unemployed and use it to pay down state debt instead.

"Calling this a jobs bill is a cruel hoax for the millions of Americans who could see their unemployment benefits disappear under the legislation," Rep. Sandy Levin (D-Mich.), top Democrat on the committee, said. Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) said the bill amounted to reneging on the deal struck between congressional Republicans and the White House in December, which preserved federal benefits through 2011 and tax cuts for the rich through 2012.

The National Employment Law Project, a worker advocacy group, has said the bill would "steal" from the unemployed by diverting benefits funds to other parts of the unemployment insurance system.

NELP also criticized the bill because it would deny benefits to workers who lack a high school diploma or GED who are not enrolled in classes or training. "While better educating and training our workforce is a priority shared by all, [the measure] would be a cruel club, used to deny subsistence-level support to those who need it most in these tough times," NELP said.

exhaustedandtired/1208 wrote:Meaning its approved to go thru the house and then to the senate, right??? If this thing gets put in place, man 4 million suddenly drop off benefits. Oh Boy,, they'll be mad!
BTW! JIM, I did 't take your comments about those coming out of the woodwork while drawing their benefits and now that they'res is in jeopardy now they'll come to this site and ask and fight what happened??? I have been out of benefits over a year. and have been on all forums from the beginning!!! And advocated so much that I get the same replies back!!

Jobless_in_Ma wrote:1208 I wasnt speaking about you. I was speaking about all the folks who are on federal tiers who once they got their extension scrammed thinking they were all set till end of year if needed. Those are the ones who are going to be devasted if this should become law.

mistermunster wrote:The Dems NEED to stand up and PROTEST this LOUDLY. This will UNDO THE BILL PASSAGE last Dec that the Scumpuglicans AGREED upon. This is nothing MORE than tactics by snakes, lying, thieving, cheating snakes. They continually do nothing but rig the table, fix the dice, stack the deck and MARK the cards in their favor. Criminals...every last one.