GOP Propose reducing maximum benefits to 59 weeks

DITTO!!

The House GOP bill – which is still being put into final form – would also gradually reduce the current maximum of 99 weeks of coverage for the long-term unemployed to 57 weeks while giving states the right to use some of their federal unemployment funds for experimental programs like job training, Republican participants said. They said these changes also helped round up GOP support.

WE NEED MORE WEEKS, NOT LESS!!! THEY ARE GOING THE WRONG WAY!

Sick & Tired wrote:DITTO!!

The House GOP bill – which is still being put into final form – would also gradually reduce the current maximum of 99 weeks of coverage for the long-term unemployed to 57 weeks while giving states the right to use some of their federal unemployment funds for experimental programs like job training, Republican participants said. They said these changes also helped round up GOP support.

WE NEED MORE WEEKS, NOT LESS!!! THEY ARE GOING THE WRONG WAY!

Sounds familar to me - HR 1745, that has already been through Committee in May, then the GOP decided not to introduce it. There is a sister bill in the Senate - S. 904, sponsored by Orrin Hatch.

Paragraph 9:

"Rather than continue the current benefit extension set to run out early next year at a maximum of 99 weeks of benefits, Republicans would gradually reduce the maximum to 59 weeks and also allow states to require a work provision to receive benefits."

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/09/us/politics/house-republicans-unveil-plan-to-extend-payroll-tax-cut.html?_r=1

The House Republican plan, among other things, would increase premiums for affluent Medicare beneficiaries, end food stamps and unemployment insurance benefits for millionaires

could someone please tell me if they know ONE millionaire that gets food stamps??? I know some get unemployment but I cant think of any reason a millionaire would qualify for food stamps. Its all smoke and mirrors.....

Its just like the GOP to try and shorten the length of time to receive benefits when people are begging for (and desperately need) MORE weeks. I swear they do it on purpose!!

pitchforks wrote:Paragraph 9:

"Rather than continue the current benefit extension set to run out early next year at a maximum of 99 weeks of benefits, Republicans would gradually reduce the maximum to 59 weeks and also allow states to require a work provision to receive benefits."

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/09/us/politics/house-republicans-unveil-plan-to-extend-payroll-tax-cut.html?_r=1

Work provision? Does that mean community service or a real job???

What I want to know is WHAT WORK? If people had jobs they hopefully wouldnt even need benefits.

What does "Gradually" mean? Does this imply that come January the extensions are only for 59 weeks versus 99 or will this happen in time? Strange...

If you're not in the 1%, Republicans think you have too much money, and they have to fix that. Don't you know that the problem with this country is that the poor people have all the money?

pitchforks wrote:Paragraph 9:

"also allow states to require a work provision to receive benefits."

I think the writer meant to say "require a work search provision"

Although ALL of the states now require work search anyways, AFAIK. The feds have never forbidden the states from requiring work searches...

"It extends unemployment insurance benefits while gradually reducing the maximum number of weeks of benefits from 99 weeks to 59 weeks in a two-step process. The measure also requires beneficiaries to be searching for work and to be participating in re-employment services. And it allows states to require drug testing as a condition of receiving unemployment benefits."

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/198389-house-gop-introduces-payroll-tax-package

"Some Democrats want to increase the total number of weeks of benefits, not reduce it.

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) and other members of the Congressional Black Caucus want to add an additional 14 weeks of benefits beyond the 99 weeks now offered for more than 2 million workers.

She told The Hill that any cuts to benefit programs would be “devastating,” given the nation’s 8.6 percent unemployment rate, a figure that doesn’t include millions of people who have given up the search for a new job.

While Republicans have not offered specific language, talk in the halls on Thursday was that their proposal would gradually reduce the number of weeks for eligibility, first to 79 weeks and then to 59 weeks, possibly by next summer."

http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/1007-other/198327-gop-seeks-to-cut-federal-unemployment-benefits

Barbara Lee is wonderful! I've called her a couple of times now. She's trying very hard to help! I hope that she can!