Republicans To Unemployed: Drop Dead ~ MIDTERMS!!

February 6, 2014 | Bill Scher

[Time to get real, time to hang up the Unicorn nets and Both-Same megaphones, we don't want to add to the phenomenal damage that the 2010 midterm tantrum caused, is still causing and will continue to cause until the T-Bags & Cons (which the tantrum let in) are no longer controlling, obstructing and flagrantly sabotaging Congress. Rendering our government, our democracy, paralyzed!]

Republicans today ended all doubt: They do not want to help the long-term unemployed. Given a bill that would help for a mere three extra months without adding to the deficit, Republicans refused to let the majority rule and filibustered the legislation.

If only one more Republican had voted “aye,” more than 1 million long-term unemployed would again have access to unemployment insurance.

But two Republicans voted “no” who had previously voted “aye” to prevent a filibuster earlier in the process: Sens. Rob Portman and Dan Coats.

Portman has not yet given an explanation, but Coats complained that Democrats did not incorporate his amendment to, in his words, “prohibit individuals from receiving Emergency Unemployment Compensation benefits if they fail to accept any offer of suitable work or if they refuse to apply for suitable work referred to them by a state employment agency.”

Such a provision would force family breadwinners to choose between taking massive pay cuts for low-wage “suitable” work or being cut off from unemployment insurance. Yet for Coats, if Democrats won’t agree to put these heads of households in cruel Catch-22s, then he will just cut them off now.

Another Republican with some explaining to do is Sen. Mark Kirk, who voted for a filibuster earlier after saying, “If Harry gave us an offset, I’d be a yes.” Today, Harry did, and he still voted “no.” As of this writing, he has yet to explain why.

But all 42 Republicans need to answer for this vote. Why did they decide now was the time to cut off aid to the long-term unemployed, when we could help them at no cost to the taxpayers, at a time when there are three unemployed workers for every one job opening and those out of work for more than six months have the hardest time getting job interviews?

The Republican Party is now standing squarely against help for the unemployed, at any cost. And unless they shift before November, they will have to take that message to the voters.
http://ourfuture.org/20140206/republicans-to-unemployed-drop-dead

Unemployment Bill Defeated by GOP Filibuster

Senate Republicans just blocked a vote to extend jobless benefits to millions of families. These are families struggling to keep their homes and to feed their children because they lost their jobs through no fault of their own.

Senate Republicans said no. Democrats gave them every concession they demanded. It wasn't enough.

They filibustered and blocked the will of the majority. Already 1.6 million jobless Americans have lost what little support they had. Millions more will be hurt over the next year if nothing is done.

This isn't, in the end, about policy. This is about identity. Republicans were, yet again, telling us who they are and what they stand for.

There is hope - that the American people begin to recognize the Republicans for who they are and what they have become.

Campaign for America's Future needs your help to spread this message. On our website, in the media and in paid advertising - we are going to tell this story. Please make a donation to support us so we can continue to support you.

Thanks for all you do,

Robert L. Borosage
Co-Director, Campaign for America's Future

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