Unemployment Benefits Extension One Step Closer To Passage (UPDATE: Senate Finally Passes It!)
After attempting to derail the process because their counterparts
would not hear a series of unrelated amendments, Senate Republicans
have finally exhausted all of their options for blocking a bill
extending federal unemployment insurance to jobless Americans. Moments
ago...
After attempting to derail the process because their counterparts would not hear a series of unrelated amendments, Senate Republicans have finally exhausted all of their options for blocking a bill extending federal unemployment insurance to jobless Americans. Moments ago, the Senate passed its third cloture vote on H.R. 3548 by a 97-1 margin. Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) was the only dissenter.
On Monday night, the Senate voted to end debate on an amendment written by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) tacking a business-friendly tax write-off benefit onto the bill. Today, the upper chamber approved the final language of the complete measure, which includes an extension of the popular $8,000 homebuyer's tax credit. In 30 hours, they can officially pass the legislation, 26 days after the House passed their own, less-generous version.
The good news is that House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) has promised that his chamber will take up the Senate bill as soon as it arrives. That's likely to happen Friday morning. Stay tuned.
UPDATE (4:40 p.m.): The Senate moved on final passage quicker than we thought. They're currently voting. We'll have the final vote tally shortly.
UPDATE II (4:53 p.m): The tally is in. H.R. 3548 passes by a 98-0 margin. It now will move back to the House, which is expected to take up the bill quickly.
UPDATE III (5:45 p.m.): Here is Hoyer's latest statement (via commenter "Mystic 1982"):
“I am pleased the Senate has passed legislation that is vital to Americans who have lost their jobs as a result of the deepest recession in over three-quarters of a century. For too long, Senate Republicans blocked progress on extending unemployment insurance, which would provide immediate and tangible help to those who need it most, while also boosting our economy. Democrats remain focused on doing everything we can to assist Americans struggling to make ends meet, and extending unemployment benefits is part of that effort. Now that this legislation has passed the Senate, I will bring it to the House Floor for a vote as early as tomorrow.”
Comments
Thank you for the update Progress Illinois!
This could have been passed months ago if they would stop trying to stick all their pet bills on it and let it go through on it's own. Both parties suck on this one.
So, Its looks like all is good. Pres. should sign before the weekend!!
That said, The real question is after it becomes LAW, When can we get our money? I hope some of the posters math is incorrect!! I just ran out of benefits, and dont want to wait 'til Christmas!!!
Any other opinions?.......
There is no way the president is going to sign this by the weekend. If the Senate passes it tomorrow, it probably won't be taken up by the House until Friday or early next week, at which point it's going to collide with the health care bill being rolled out there. Right now it's just impossible to tell when it will reach Obama's desk.
I hope a couple weeks. Do you know how long it took your state for the last one?
Hi Adam,
Per below from earlier, does this mean we're not done yet? Still waiting until Friday for a final vote? Thanks.
The good news is that House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) has promised that his chamber will take up the Senate bill as soon as it arrives. That's likely to happen Friday morning. Stay tuned.
I posted this in the previous forum, but here's my take on a timeline;
Let's say it does pass this week, and the president signs it into law on, say, Friday. Since it is not retroavtive, the first week you will be eligible to claim is next week; week ending Nov. 14. Since you file two weeks at a time, the earliest you could file is Sunday Nov. 22, for the weeks ending 14th and 21st. If you E-File with Direct Deposit, funds should be in your account no later than Wednesday the 25th. This is the absolute earliest I see any extended unemployment benefits actually being paid out. Other methods of filing obviously would be later, and since offices are closed on Thanksgiving, and The Day After Thanksgiving, if you use regular mail, you're certainly looking at no sooner than a December delivery. In addition, with all of the gov't employees and mail personnel taking vacation days to extend the holiday weekend, and all of the hillbillies taking extra days off for hunting season, normal office procedures would obviously be slowed even further. So, I think most people should plan on a Dec. delivery date, with MAYBE a handful possibly receiving before Thanksgiving, at best. Of course, that's if it passes and the president signs it this week. Any delay into next week (or beyond) means no payments until later, possibly the second or even third week of December.
So the we will be put on hold again for the health care bill? Does the senate have to wait the 30 hours or could someone motion to go ahead and take the final vote? They all just want us to wait and wait
"question is after it becomes LAW, When can we get our money?":
This is the kind of stuff that is random chatter and then they want other useless opinions. I guess to make themself feel better. You're going to get your money, but wanting other unemployeds opinions doesn't make it happen any faster.
So where can one find the full text of the bill, including the ammendments that are included? I want to research the details regarding the ammendment for the home-buyer tax credit extension and expansion. I've found some text on THOMAS, but am not sure what wound up as part of the final package.
http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h3548/text
This DRAMA is killing everyone.
Senator Chris Dodd from Connecticut stated that they are about to vote on the extension within 15 to 30 minutes on C-Span 2.
Votes are possible between 4:30PM to 5:00PM est.
http://www.senate.gov/galleries/pdcl/
Thanks Unemployed_Troll. Trouble is, I don't see where one can find the ammendments that have been applied and are still attached. This shows the text as it was introduced.
I and all the others here, have been going thru some weeks of hell, i have been glued to this cspan2 for almost two weeks and i even dream of them at night, Jesus, this has been some hellish weeks, we are awaiting desperately for that vote to come. it's almost 5 pm.
Good news everyone...(well sort of) the Senate is voting on the final passage of the Unemployment Benefits bill right now!!
hopeful in new york!!
As it looks, this could very well be signed by the President by Friday if the House moves on it tomorrow!
why cant we hear the ayes and nos?
Does this then have to go the house or is this it???
it has to go to the house
Yep, they're finally voting on final passage. For those not watching C-SPAN, we'll post the results as soon as they've finished voting.
The bill does have to go back to the House, but as Kevin notes above, they could pass it as soon as tomorrow.
I feel like a load is taken off my chest! :-)
I'm watching C-Span, I can't believe I'm actually watching this, this is the first time I've collected unemployment in my life, and I'm 49 - WOW
sounds pretty unanimous
The Senate Parliamentarian earlier said there were no "Nay" votes. The reading of the Yes votes is procedural only.
all but a done deal
it was always going to pass..just a matter of when!
Okay everybody, all together now...can I get an AMEN!!!
98-0
it's official guys, it passed!
PASSED!!!
AMEN BROTHER!!!!
AMEN BROTHERS AND SISTERS!
Great...hope thats the end of all those useless questions that can't be answered here!
Well now that it has passed the senate House Majority Leader Steny will be bringing the legislation as early as tomorrow. Hopefully, by tomorrow morning!
"Now that this legislation has passed the Senate, I will bring it to the House Floor for a vote as early as tomorrow," said House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland.
AMEN!!!
WASHINGTON, DC – House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today after the Senate passed legislation extending unemployment insurance benefits, the homebuyer tax credit, and net operating loss carryback provisions:
“I am pleased the Senate has passed legislation that is vital to Americans who have lost their jobs as a result of the deepest recession in over three-quarters of a century. For too long, Senate Republicans blocked progress on extending unemployment insurance, which would provide immediate and tangible help to those who need it most, while also boosting our economy. Democrats remain focused on doing everything we can to assist Americans struggling to make ends meet, and extending unemployment benefits is part of that effort. Now that this legislation has passed the Senate, I will bring it to the House Floor for a vote as early as tomorrow.”
http://majorityleader.gov/media/press.cfm?pressReleaseID=3547
Adam (or anyone else who may know), are there any other hurdles this bill may still encounter even after approval by the House and President? I'd read something somewhere about it possibly having to be approved by a Finance or Appropriations Committee before any of the states actually receive the funds. Just wondering. Thanks in advance.
ellekaygee,
I contacted the appropriations committee yesterday and they told me that the bill goes into effect once the president signs the bill.
The senate finance committee was the one who actually put the legislative bill together.
So at this point the only one who could hold up the bill would be the House of Congress. But, if they vote on it and pass it by tomorrow as they stated then nothing else can stop the bill...except the president.
we have to watch CSPAN tomorrow when they start business.
Oh joy...more CSPAN!!! I'm having nightmares with this channel already!
But, yes we definetly have to watch it!
i am assuming that will be on CSPAN and not on #2 or #3
Yup on CSPAN! House of Representatives
YES, it is just CSPAN. not 2 or 3. as early as they start tomorrow.
my question is this, as I understand it, the house bill and senate bill are very different, the house bill is for 13 or 14 weeks only for states with 8.5 or higher, and as we know the senate bill is 14 weeks for all states and 6 addt'l for 8.5 states, will this tie things up further?
I have been tracking this all the way through CSPAN 2. which CSPAN will have live coverage as it goes back to the House?
CSPAN-1 will have coverage of the House, as it always does. The bill's differences from the original House Bill have already been agreed to, so the House should pass it without issue.
Thanks!
found this on the unemployedworkers.org webpage....
"Senate Votes 97-1, on Final Round of Cloture (November 4, 2009)
Friends – shortly before 1 pm today, the Senate voted on its final round of cloture on the unemployment extension bill. The vote was 97 – 1. Jim DeMint (R-SC) was the only dissenting vote. At the very latest, the Senate will pass this bill tomorrow morning, at which time it will be sent back to the House for passage and then to the President for signature. We anticipate this will all be done before close of business on Friday at the latest"
url: http://www.unemployedworkers.org/sites/unemployedworkers/index.php/benefits
Thanks!
hey Mystic1982
This was voted later than that, I watched it on C-Span 2 live about 5:00 CST. 98 - 0, passed unanimously, it's done!
I know.... it's just what the NELP website had up... lol. Trust me, I was glued to Cspan for the past 5 weeks as well!
;-)
If my unemployment ended in September do I qualify for this extension?
Tamjo, here's an explanation (left in our comments section last week) from the National Employment Law Project:
Friends – we understand that many of you may be under the impression that once the unemployment extension bill is passed, it won’t apply to anyone who has already run out of benefits. Let us assure you that is NOT correct. If you have exhausted your full range of federally funded benefits before the passage of this bill, you WILL be eligible for these additional weeks. In that sense, the bill is retroactive in its reach.
However, in another important aspect, the bill is NOT retroactive. You will not receive a lump sum payment dating back to the time when you exhausted benefits. The benefits will only be paid going forward. We know this creates a huge hardship for many of you who exhausted benefits weeks or months ago, and it is one of the things we have been speaking about most strongly as this bill has been delayed time and time again. We know you are falling deeper into debt with each passing week, and we are sorry to say that there is just no possible way that these benefits could have ever been designed to be paid retroactively. However, once the bill is passed, you will know that you will have an additional 14 or 20 weeks to depend on going forward, and we hope that provides you with some measure of reassurance.
Thank you Josh!
Two months ago we kept saying, "if we do not do anything else other than bitching in blogs and just sending emails to our senators it will be Thanksgiving or Christmas before we see any checks"...Well, it is a good thing that they are finally getting their act together without the unemployed having to do such strenuous - ekxmm, proactive things, such as marching peacefully - holding peaceful protests. Most folks decided thats this is too much - let's just bitch from the comfort of our homes... 4-5 monts from now I bet we will be back here bitching again watchin C-SPAN and writing on blogs, instead of looking for jobs or doing something more proactive such as protesting Congress' delays in passing this bill.
Well, 14/20 weeks folks is about 4-5 months. Is everybody going to wait until the last week of their benefits to let Obama and Bella Pelosi know that we need "jobs jobs jobs", besides the unemployment cratch? Is anybody going to protest the fact that this administaration has done absolutely nothing to create the 3 million jobs in one year that President Obama promised when he asked for our vote?? Or, are you all going to keep crying for another extension on the 11th hour?
WAKE UP! THIS EXTENSION WILL BE OVER BEFORE YOU REALIZE THAT IT PASSED AND BEFORE YOU FINISH PAYING YOUR PAST DUE BILLS. THE TIME TO ACT TO HAVE OBAMA FOCUS ON JOB CREATION IS NOW - NOT 4-5 MONTHS FROM NOW!
Tanya,
Perhaps you are correct. The frustration is high especially with folks that are used to working. For those that have not and receive social services perhaps not.
I would love to say I disagree with you as there is a possibility job availability will not improve in the next 4-6 months. However, I will say this mess was created by G.W. Bush. The former president did not pay attention to the US economy being so intent on going after Iraq - not for US or American safety but for revenge. Back then, US troops were supposed to be in Iraq maybe 2 years - well it has now been 8 yrs and growing. Our children, husbands, wives, family members, etc... are getting killed and maimed. The govt is not doing much to help them. My son has done two 15 month tours and I am sick of it! Bush put us in this mess and being the coward many have always thought, he is laying low and saying nothing while a democrat, Obama (black at that) is taking the heat for attempting to something about the numerous issues Bush did not. How is it the US can spend BILLIONS of $$ on war, not take care of the soldiers 'protect' America, when there is huge unemployment, no health care for unemployed, homelessness through the roof. Quite frankly, I cannot pay my rent not less qualify for a low interest loan. How is it people from other cultures can come to the U.S. and now we can no longer say Merry Christmas or the Pledge of Alligence without offending someone. Go to another country and people must abide by country culture rules/laws or face horrible circumstances, even death. But, no, they come to the U.S. and then they spend decades with 3 hots and a cot.
The U.S. is in a sad state. We need to take back our Nation instead of giving away all the rights/freedoms fought for that the Constitution and Declaration of Indenpendence intended.
I'm really sick of what the Senate is doing. I need money two weeks from yesterday. I have children. Borrowed the last I could to pay November rent - previously had my house foreclosed on. I would like to be able to put a dinner on the table for Thanksgiving - if only to worry about what December will bring. Those in Congress and the Senate, they spend millions getting elected and re-elected. They do not have the financial problems of those they "say" they represent. They will be in Florida, Colorada, Europe, Caribbean and we will be singing for a dime or getting arrested for solicitation.
Oh, and before I forget, the infrastructure jobs, aka contruction, how many women can fill those positions?
Why do people feel the urge to share all thats gone wrong with them...have some pride! Even if I was worried about the rent payment I certainly would'nt want tell people I was. But maybe you can because of the anonimity of a blog.
Don't you have anything better to do than to "Troll" around anonymous blogs? Why would you waste your time taking illogical cheap shots at people who you don't even know? Was your question even serious? I mean, were you really asking why people go on a blog and communicate with other people on the internet? Come on now, I'm sure you're smarter than that! And let me tell you something; PRIDE is when you have the proverbial "balls" to be honest and unashamed of your life situation. I would ask you if the current economic situation has forced you to make any hard choices, but obviously, you'd just lie, due to your "pride". You're a pseudo-intellectual, and a troll, so do us all a favor and just shut up.
does anyone know when they will address this in the house? Nothing on C-Span, was supposed to b this morning
This bill should have passed months ago. Both parties are to blame. It should have been allowed to go through without all the pork amendments. Secondly, this insane Health Care Bill and the up and coming Cap and Trade Bill should be put on the back burner until the unemployment problem is solved and people are back to work. Throwing money at Union jobs just to pay back a campaign debt will not cut it. The money should be spread amoung small businesses.
The "insane" health care bill, will immediately provide govt. subsidies for Hospitalization/major medical coverage. Yes, that's really just insane. As far as "throwing money at union jobs", do you know what Davis-beacon is? Maybe you should look it up before you start running your mouth. Or maybe you'd like it if the government contractors started using illegal $5 an hour labor from across the boarder to build are roads. And if you want small business to save money maybe you should consider the fact that a STRONG public option would ultimately lead to lifting the burden of work mans comp insurance off small business. Get a clue. Don't think you're gonna come around here and regurgitate republican talking points!
At what cost will it provide these subsidies. It will do this country little good if we have a health care bill if we’re bankrupt and can’t pay for it. I am fully aware of the Davis-Beacon Act (yes they both get capitalized), are you? It is hardly a Union law and has to do with protecting prevailing wage structure for ALL workers. It has nothing to do with irresponsibly and selectively putting money out to specific entities to pay back campaign debts. Regarding small business, just who do you think will pay the workmen’s comp insurance premiums if not the small businesses? There is no such thing as a money fairy. I’m not a Republican and this is not a Republican-Democrat issue. Last I knew they don’t check your political affiliation when you get laid off. Lastly, I’ll come around anywhere and at anytime I want and regurgitate whatever it is I want, this is still a free country even though you and your ilk would rather it not be so.
Was it? I don't think there was a definitive time assigned to it.
Yes, CSPAN started the House sessions at 10:00 and it was announced, among other things, the Unemployment Extension bill to be voted on "throughout the day:, so actually there is no set time for this, I pray they do it early and send it to Prez as tomorrow is already Friday. Coming MOndaya then the thing starts with AWI, let's see how everything goes. I am glued to Cspan until they votefor this thing.
I have a question that my local unemployment office is unable to answer. I have one week left on my benifits and fear that i will exhaust my benifits before the bill is made into law. So my question is Once the bill is passed into law what do we need to do to recive those benifits. My local office keeps telling me that although my benifit year is not up that i will not qualify for this extension. Does anyone know where i can find out?
Thanks
You probably should qualify. How many weeks have/will you have received when your benefits run out? What state are you in? What reason did your local unemployment office give for you not being eligible?
RoyalSoul & He gone on, it's amazing how some of us "get it" and some really don't. Yep, everyone is entitled to their own opinion-God knows I don't hesitate. Some though, have grown so callous and complain and rant while criticizing others for doing the same. I call it short sightedness and that's a self-inflicted impediment-for adults. IMO, it's much better to dig deep and help others best we can-kinder words can do it, escpecially, since we haven't the sovereign authority of all things, kindness and emphathy trumps evil bad words in almost every case-ultimately.
Any who...I'm glad that this Bill is on it's way to completion as I hope now can look forward to a Happy Thanksgiving! I know I will.
I am in NC i have exhausted all other extensions in my state like most other people have. My eligablity year is effect until July of 2010. She didnt not give a reason.
By my estimations, it sounds like you should be eligible. Sounds like the woman you talked to really didn't know and was just guessing. They need to give you a specific reason if they're going to deny you.
Telling people how desperate your situation is, is not prideful. There is a certain embarassment that goes along with being broke. This is America we don't celebrate the needy..exploit them maybe. Thats why the homeless don't have jobs (they might want a job) but nobody wants to hire you if you are perceived to be unstable. I don't wish any of these problems on anyone. But if it does, don't reveal too much, because this society is judgemental.
Embarrassment is something that is unique experience to all of us. If you are "embarrassed", about something, it is because of your own emotional baggage. Three cheers to those of you who aren't ashamed to share your experiences. It's nice to know one is not alone..................................................................Hedonistic; you don't speak for all of society. It seems to me that most of the people on this blog are pretty supportive of one another. You're the only one that is judging anybody by implying that some of us ought to be ashamed of ourselves.
I believe even if you have exhausted or are about to you are entitled. I live in Illinois and my benefits ran out in September and everything I have read you will be eligible, it is for those who have already exhausted or are about to. Please anyone if I am wrong correct me.
Everything i have read has led me to believe that i will qualify seeing it is suppose to be retroactive in the sense that it applies to the people who where signed up in the past. All I needed her to tell me was if there was something i needed to do if my benifits ran out, like reapply or does in automaticly go into effect. The only advise she had was to keep trying to file my weekly certifications and see what it does.
Does anyone know the policy on going to school while you get UI benefits? I've been on UI since march (construction is very slow), so I've been back in school since June. I will finally be completing my associates degree (which I gave up on years back when I got in the union) this December. But honestly, I've been lying about going to school when I call to certify. I realize what I am doing is illegel (maybe even wrong) but I can't just sit on my hands while I'm unemployed. I'm think about "fessing" up in January when I start at Governor's State University, but honestly, I'll keep lying if I find out that you can't do both. The rumor I'm hearing is that if you go to school over 12 credit hours you are ineligible. This makes little sense to me. I planned on taking 15 credit hours (9 of the 15 will be online but the other 6 credit hours I must attend the school for). I heard Obama give a speech a few months back saying he wanted to put an end to this, but isn't this up to the individual states? Thanks in advance for the info.
I also live in Illinois. My benefits just ran out. Unemployment told me that I would be entitled, as far as I know, all should be entitled, unless you have done something or didn't do something you were supposed to do to disqualify yourself. Also, this is federal, money paid out by the fed. As a suggestion, you may want to call back and speak with a different agent, you may get a very different answer, as is often the case, has happened to me numerous times. Hope this helps and best wishes.
He gone,
You can go to school but, it has to be after work hours or else they won't pay you for those hours that you are in class.
Okay, thanks. I will be independently verifying that before I "fess" up. The restriction seems silly though. It seems to me that about 1 in 5 (20% under employment rate)of us need to basically forget about the jobs we used to have and retrain ourselves. I'm pretty sure I built my last house. If anything,it seems that going to school, if anything, going to school should be a requirement for UI, not a restriction. Know what I mean?
The point of this blog is venting and pacifying from what I see..occasionally a piece of good information comes out of it..but not often. I observe and react. I do not offer answers to questions, share personal experiences or need help from this blog. It is strictly a diversion.
If you're just going to criticize the types of posts left in this forum, Hedonistic, please just go to another forum that satisfies your needs. In the interest of keeping the discussion on-topic, I'm going to delete any further posts of this sort.
Assuming you meet all the normal requirements for eligibility - anyone who HAS, or WILL, exhaust their unemployment benefits by the end of 2009 is eligible for this extension.
(-:
He gone,
I know what you mean! But what you can do is still go to school and just tell them its night school...that should work. It did for me!
I started going back to school for nursing back in January of 2008, when I lost my job working for an automotive supplier.... I told my unemployment office... I still look for work and would like to have a job during the daytime... I still have bills I have to pay plus books and supplies. The government loans and grants cover tuition... nothing else. I dont know how the new "retraining" thing works. I got one of those letters in the mail a couple of months ago, but I only have 5 months left of school, I am sure by the time I am done, I wil DEFINATELY be able to get a job that I wont have to worry about losing! lol. Good luck to everyone out there and I truley do hope tihngs work out for the best. :-)
Mystic in KY
Josh or Adam could you try to contact IDES and see what they say. Maybe you can get thru to them easier than I can. I just want to make sure I am eligible, and probably so do alot of others. I ran out in September I was the state extended at that time. I believe my benefit years ends in December but I do not know what that means. Also another question is do we have to go apply for them or will we get something in the mail? Answers to these questions would help ease my mind, or has anyone talked to IDES and have these answers? Thanks for the help
I talked to IDES on Mon. They said i would get a letter in the mail after it passes into law.
It seems like the 20 weeks for the states that are hit hard by unemployment won't really get the extra 20 weeks because of the time deadline.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/11/04/BUT01AF908.D...
They are talking about HR 3548 12:39 est. CSPAN
Everyone, the house is discussing the bill right now...lets cross our fingers and hope that it passes with flying colors!!
Here's our latest post:
http://progressillinois.com/2009/11/5/national-journal-obama-unemploymen...
We're going to shut this thread down, so head over there to comment. Thanks, folks!