About 2 Million to Use Up Jobless Benefits

[redqueen]

link

WASHINGTON - Nearly 2 million people are expected to exhaust their state unemployment benefits in the first half of the year without access to more government aid or a regular paycheck, according to a study released Thursday.

The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities based its study on Labor Department data of jobless workers who began receiving regular unemployment benefits in the last half of 2003. It assumes the economy will improve slightly in the coming months, making it modestly easier to find a job.

"In no other January-June period on record have so many unemployed workers exhausted their regular benefits without qualifying for additional weeks of unemployment assistance," said the study by the Washington-based advocacy group for poor and moderate-income people.

Congress has refused to approve another extension of federal unemployment benefits for people who exhaust their state aid.
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Things are about to get really ugly, I think.

[Must_B_Free]

1. Darn that Clinton

here we thought he was so great and look what he left us with. ;)

[liberalhistorian]

2. Well, I say it's high

time we refuse to approve the "extension" of the employment of ANY Congressman who refuses to approve any extensions, especially since their salaries and generous benefits come directly from the very people they're so happily screwing over.

And the hell with that wealthy elite repuke George Will, too, who said it was wrong to extend unemployment benefits because they were a "disincentive" to look for work! WHAT THE FUCK PLANET DOES HE LIVE ON???????????

[xray s]

3. How does the government determine someone "stopped looking"?

Is it when you run out of benefits and still don't have a job?

If that is the case, Bush will crow about the unemployment rolls dropping by 2 million after these people run out of benefits.

[0007]

11. For sure you'll hear junior crowing!

I like his WMD crow the best, I die laughing every time I hear it, and that's fairly often these days.

[lovedems]

4. They should have reminded the voters that it was the republican congress

who refused to extend benefits. The democrats tried.

[dawgman]

5. Well on sunday I will file my forty-fifth and final weekly claim.

Things will get really interesting then. Wish me luck.

[shanti]

12. my ex-husband is in the same position

and he's now living in his car.

i wish you luck!

[bahrbearian]

14. Today I'm filing for my 1st week.

I'm not far behind you.

[midnight armadillo]

17. My wife got her last check this week

Now since my new job as a newly minted PhD researcher won't pay enough to make rent I'll be waiting tables! What a world...

[Jackpine Radical]

6. Well, that's nice.

Official unemployment numbers to drop by another 2 million.

[Webster Green]

7. That's wierd....

I heard Judy Woodruff a couple days ago on CNN say that the economy was "rosy". Didn't these unemployed slackers get the message?

[underpants]

9. 342 THOUSAND people filed first time claims last WEEK

The number of Americans lining up to claim first-time unemployment aid edged lower last week, largely in line with expectations, a government report showed on January 29, 2004. A separate report showed employment costs in the final quarter of 2003 rose by the smallest amount in a year and by slightly less than expected. (Reuters Graphic)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=568&ncid=749&e=1&u=/nm/20040129/bs_nm/economy_dc

Claims for state unemployment insurance benefits fell 1,000 to 342,000 in the week ended Jan. 24, down from a revised 343,000 the previous week, the Labor Department (news - web sites) said. Analysts were expecting claims of 340,000 after the originally reported 341,000 in the Jan. 17 week.

[kcwayne]

8. Yeah, but they can buy crap cheap at Walmart!

High five all around, baby!

[bif]

10. And they'll still vote for Bush

Because he's a decent, christian man.

[prolesunited]

13. It's part of their strategy.

One is the "poverty draft." With limited opportunities, young people are fueling their never-ending wars.

The other is enlarging the divide between classes and eliminating the middle class. Their vision is to return us to the plutocratic utopia that was the late 1800s and early 1900s where robber barons ruled the economy. You're either going to be rich or poor.

[bahrbearian]

15. Just like the Democrate's

alway's bringing up class warfare. ( I joke )

[prolesunited]

16. I know

The Repugs just seem so surprised that we won't just roll over and play dead. (Well, actually die the way they've been pushing it.)

[Lars39]

18. And deadly.

Just recently heard that a cousin had died. Heart attack, 53 yo. He had run out of benefits. He had been employed at a foundry that folded mid-shift(ie. the managers literally cut plugs and disabled things). He lived in a small town in west TN. There are no jobs to be had there, and the nearest really big city is Jackson, which is an hour and a half from where he lived. RIP Gary.

[Zhade]

20. My condolences for your cousin. That just sucks.

NT!

[Zhade]

19. I hope they do get ugly. Only way change will happen.

Welcome to the United States of Corporate America, where the bottom line matters more than citizens' lives.