Obama to meet with those who lost unemployment benefits

[mystery-ak]

http://washingtonexaminer.com/obama-to-meet-with-those-who-lost-unemployment-benefits/article/2541550?custom_click=rss

Obama to meet with those who lost unemployment benefits
By BRIAN HUGHES | JANUARY 3, 2014 AT 3:31 PM

President Obama on Tuesday will meet with Americans who lost unemployment benefits at the start of the year, as the White House ramps up pressure on Republicans to extend the federal aid for three months.

Labor Secretary Thomas Perez announced the White House gathering during a conference call with reporters, the latest attempt by the Obama administration to highlight the 1.3 million Americans no longer receiving federal unemployment insurance.

“This was not only the right thing to do; it was the smart thing to do,” Perez said of the economic repercussions of halting the jobless benefits.

“These programs don’t get in the way of people looking for work. They assist people looking for work," Perez added.

The Obama administration estimates that failing to extend unemployment beyond 26 weeks — the limit during good economic times — would cost the U.S. economy roughly 240,000 jobs.


However, some Republicans argue that such benefits keep Americans perpetually unemployed and limit their motivation to return to the workforce.

A bipartisan bill sponsored by Sens. Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Dean Heller, R-Nev., would extend the unemployment benefits for three months and is expected to receive a Senate vote next week, according to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

Obama has called on both chambers to pass the legislation as a short-term fix. GOP lawmakers, particularly in the House, are unlikely to support the bill unless the costs are offset somewhere else.

The labor secretary in the conference call Friday was noncommittal on where Obama stood on offsetting the billions of dollars in benefits.

The average monthly stipend for families is $1,166.

The White House is clearly using the issue as part of an increasingly progressive pitch to argue that Republicans are out of touch with Americans struggling to find work during a down economy.

“Too many people,” Perez said, “are working hard and falling further behind.”

[evadR]

What a load.

[happyg]

By BRIAN HUGHES
President Obama on Tuesday will meet with Americans who lost unemployment benefits at the start of the year, as the White House ramps up pressure on Republicans to extend the federal aid for three months.

Labor Secretary Thomas Perez announced the White House gathering during a conference call with reporters, the latest attempt by the Obama administration to highlight the 1.3 million Americans no longer receiving federal unemployment insurance.

“This was not only the right thing to do; it was the smart thing to do,” Perez said of the economic repercussions of halting the jobless benefits.

“These programs don’t get in the way of people looking for work. They assist people looking for work," Perez added.

The Obama administration estimates that failing to extend unemployment beyond 26 weeks — the limit during good economic times — would cost the U.S. economy roughly 240,000 jobs.
 
However, some Republicans argue that such benefits keep Americans perpetually unemployed and limit their motivation to return to the workforce.

A bipartisan bill sponsored by Sens. Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Dean Heller, R-Nev., would extend the unemployment benefits for three months and is expected to receive a Senate vote next week, according to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

Obama has called on both chambers to pass the legislation as a short-term fix. GOP lawmakers, particularly in the House, are unlikely to support the bill unless the costs are offset somewhere else.

The labor secretary in the conference call Friday was noncommittal on where Obama stood on offsetting the billions of dollars in benefits.

The average monthly stipend for families is $1,166.

The White House is clearly using the issue as part of an increasingly progressive pitch to argue that Republicans are out of touch with Americans struggling to find work during a down economy.

“Too many people,” Perez said, “are working hard and falling further behind.”
 
http://washingtonexaminer.com/obama-to-meet-with-those-who-lost-unemployment-benefits/article/2541550

[Cincinnatus]

When does his Highness intend to meet with those who have lost their health insurance coverage due to ObamaCare?

[mystery-ak]

When does his Highness intend to meet with those who have lost their health insurance coverage due to ObamaCare?

Haven't you heard..unemployment is O'bama's number one priority in 2014...lol

[Cincinnatus]

Haven't you heard..unemployment is O'bama's number one priority in 2014...lol

Holy smoke. His number one priority? Does that mean he intends to make it even worse?

[Chieftain]

Symbolism over Substance.  He's just going to blame it all on Republicans.

[Oceander]

If the GOP had a single lick of common sense they would lickety-split take this issue off the table now - and I mean like yesterday - before the democrats start gaining traction from it.  What better way to distract the public from those who've lost insurance under Obamacare by parading around a whole bunch of people who won't have food on the table and blaiming the GOP for that.

God damn it, GOP, when are you going to regrow the basic common sense you had when Reagan was president?????

[happyg]

If the GOP had a single lick of common sense they would lickety-split take this issue off the table now - and I mean like yesterday - before the democrats start gaining traction from it.  What better way to distract the public from those who've lost insurance under Obamacare by parading around a whole bunch of people who won't have food on the table and blaiming the GOP for that.

God damn it, GOP, when are you going to regrow the basic common sense you had when Reagan was president?????

 

[Cincinnatus]

If the GOP had a single lick of common sense they would lickety-split take this issue off the table now - and I mean like yesterday - before the democrats start gaining traction from it.  What better way to distract the public from those who've lost insurance under Obamacare by parading around a whole bunch of people who won't have food on the table and blaiming the GOP for that.

God damn it, GOP, when are you going to regrow the basic common sense you had when Reagan was president?????

And where will that kind of manipulation based on emotional extortion end?

You are aware the Dems didn't include extension of unemployment benefits in the budget agreement? I know the MSM will not tell the truth about it but they are just as responsible.

The real key here is to point out again and again, by any means possible, how the poorly the Obama economic policies have performed, which is why these people have no jobs and thus they are on unemployment for such a long period.

[Rapunzel]

If a person has not found work after 99 weeks they don't want to find work and likely is an Obama-voter anyway.

[Oceander]

If the GOP had a single lick of common sense they would lickety-split take this issue off the table now - and I mean like yesterday - before the democrats start gaining traction from it.  What better way to distract the public from those who've lost insurance under Obamacare by parading around a whole bunch of people who won't have food on the table and blaiming the GOP for that.

God damn it, GOP, when are you going to regrow the basic common sense you had when Reagan was president?????

And where will that kind of manipulation based on emotional extortion end?

You are aware the Dems didn't include extension of unemployment benefits in the budget agreement? I know the MSM will not tell the truth about it but they are just as responsible.

The real key here is to point out again and again, by any means possible, how the poorly the Obama economic policies have performed, which is why these people have no jobs and thus they are on unemployment for such a long period.

Hammering away on why the economy is so bad should be part and parcel of it, and is something else the GOP sucks at doing.  But the bottom line is this:  if the GOP blocks an extension of unemployment benefits, Obamacare won't matter a hill of beans and the GOP will lose the House.  I guarantee you that.

[mountaineer]

Wasn't it the budget bill - the one Obammy signed while vacationing - that ended the unemployment benefits? If he didn't like it, perhaps he should have vetoed it.

[Oceander]

If a person has not found work after 99 weeks they don't want to find work and likely is an Obama-voter anyway.

See my reply to Cinncinatus:  http://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php/topic,125127.msg508243.html#msg508243

If the GOP blocks an extension of unemployment benefits, Obamacare won't matter a hill of beans and the GOP will have just handed both houses of Congress back to the democrats.

So, what do you want; a Congress dominated by the democrats, or another extension of unemployment benefits?  You can have one, or you can have the other, but you cannot have both and you will get stuck with one.

[Rapunzel]

See my reply to Cinncinatus:  http://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php/topic,125127.msg508243.html#msg508243

If the GOP blocks an extension of unemployment benefits, Obamacare won't matter a hill of beans and the GOP will have just handed both houses of Congress back to the democrats.

So, what do you want; a Congress dominated by the democrats, or another extension of unemployment benefits?  You can have one, or you can have the other, but you cannot have both and you will get stuck with one.

We're not going to lose congress over unemployment.  And, like I said.  99 weeks and still unemployed... they are not trying.

[sinkspur]

If the GOP had a single lick of common sense they would lickety-split take this issue off the table now - and I mean like yesterday - before the democrats start gaining traction from it.  What better way to distract the public from those who've lost insurance under Obamacare by parading around a whole bunch of people who won't have food on the table and blaiming the GOP for that.

God damn it, GOP, when are you going to regrow the basic common sense you had when Reagan was president?????

Exactly.   Why the GOP would delay voting for this even one day is beyond me.

DO THEY NOT GRASP THAT THIS IS THE ISSUE OBAMA WANTS TO USE TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT FROM OBAMACARE? 

They're going to do it.  Do it now and avoid two months of getting the hell beat out of them over it!!!

[Rapunzel]

Anyone out of work for two years getting a free ride from the taxpayers is not going to vote for Republicans anyway.  I'm sick of the GOP being Democrats-lite.  Make Obama own the unemployment rate.    Is Texas going to suddenly vote for Democrats because of unemployment when companies are moving there at a fast clip?  Or North Dakota or all the other states which are doing well under Republican governors and legislators?   Nope it is states like Colorado which already votes Democrats and they are bleeding jobs because of the Democrats - not Republicans.  There is no reason to make this easy on Obama.

[happyg]

Anyone out of work for two years getting a free ride from the taxpayers is not going to vote for Republicans anyway.  I'm sick of the GOP being Democrats-lite.  Make Obama own the unemployment rate.    Is Texas going to suddenly vote for Democrats because of unemployment when companies are moving there at a fast clip?  Or North Dakota or all the other states which are doing well under Republican governors and legislators?   Nope it is states like Colorado which already votes Democrats and they are bleeding jobs because of the Democrats - not Republicans.  There is no reason to make this easy on Obama.

I tend to side with you on this one. Many laid off employees are working under the table, making more money now than when they were in the work force. For most, losing their weekly checks will be an inconvenience, and they will be back working in short order. Those who really want to work will want a leader who stays out of the job creation business and allows the free market to work. Many of the others were probably bad workers in the first place. I don't think this will be a deciding factor.