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Unemployed Workers Win Jobless Aid Extension
Congress this morning extended for two months unemployment insurance (UI) for America’s jobless workers. Republicans in the House earlier this week had blocked the UI extenstion, but after suffering badly in opinion polling, they announced they’d join with 89 out of 100 senators from both political parties who’d already voted to renew unemployment aid for two months—with no cuts and no strings attached.
Media headlines throughout the week–including the conservative Wall Street Journal–and Republican stalwarts such as Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), had decried House Speaker John Boehner’s (R-Ohio) refusal to move the UI bill, which gives a lifeline to 2.8 million jobless Americans who otherwise would lose UI after Dec. 31.
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka described the victory for jobless Americans as “not a hnndout or a free ride” but “a lifeline.”
In the fight to extend aid for the jobless, the 99 percent went on the offense against 1 percent politicians. And we won. And if working people keep it up, we’ll score more victories and build a better future. Not every time—two steps forward, one step back. But look around. People all across the country are saying our economy and our democracy are out of balance. And they’re winning the public debate.
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11 Comments
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The problem in this bill that no one is talking about is Keystone. An unprecedented protest ringed the White House to stop this environmentally damaging pipeline. Tying the pipeline to unemployment insurance and other social benefits in the same bill was insanity.
The president has delayed approval of the Keystone XL pipeline because of popular mobilizations by tens of thousands of protestors who in person and via email, petitions, faxes and letters warned that this project would endanger the nation’s largest aquifer and agriculturally productive ecosystems, provide enormous profit for Texas oil who plan to send the resulting product to China, and further, that the promise of jobs to lure in union support was a lie.
Congress needs to pass unemployment benefits and oppose the pipeline. Tying these two issues together is what caused confusion and delay. Unions need to rise to their members level of intelligence and understanding about these complexities. If we force Congress to propose clean legislation and stop burying their true motivations we could fight on an issue, instead of being divided by behind the scenes manipulations.
Very strange how it’s not really mentioned Where the refined oil goes…3/4 goes on the world market! Also very strange how it’s not mentioned that the pipe itself IS already MADE and by foriegners with foriegn steel! Very strange how it’s not mentioned WHO these BIG corporate investers ARE…KOCH! Very strange how it’s not reported WHO our political winners ARE that GOT money from lobbiests to promote this pipeline. Very Stupid that this was put in this BILL HR 3630 which SHOULD have been a stand alone bill. VERY CORRUPT it is not reported WHO owns the land this pipeline will cross over ( insider trading by our polotitions)….Pleas do your reshearch AFL-CIO and THEN let our membership know the TRUTH!
No cuts?
The Senate cut the lifeline from 12 months to two months.
12 months would have been a real victory.
…From a collection of aphorisms: ” Postponed, is avoided “.
Passing…..
It is really sad that this president cannot get the economy to provide jobs. His policies are failures and his presidency is a sad case of socialism gone mad. 47 million people on food stamps. 23 million unemployed. 15 trillion debt. Keep bringing it on Prez.
Here is the list of identified Communists that are or have recently been in the United States Government:
http://www.commieblaster.com/progressives/index.html?v=zCaJ8uYEY1U
This is no victory. Overturning that anti-labor law in Ohio, that was a victory. I look forward to the day when workers call the shots, and bosses have to come to us every two months begging for a peanut.
You must be smoking weed. LOL
Oh you’re so silly, Swearto !!!! LOL !!!!
so two months from now the debate over unemployment and tax cuts will begin all over again? How did we win on this round of debate? As far as the oil or gas going on the world market who cares it’s refined here by Americans! During the stimulus debate ( 09 ) the made in America language was stripped out of the bill and this is when the Democrats controlled both houses and the President’s office. We need new leadership on ALL levels of government.