Unemployed in danger of being pushed over fiscal cliff
House Speaker John Boehner is starting to sound like a broken record when he says there has been “no progress” on the fiscal cliff negotiations. But tell that to the 2.1 million Americans who could be launched over the cliff come January without the brace from the social safety net.
Unemployment insurance is on the chopping block in the looming fiscal crisis, and for those long-term jobless Americans, the dropoff from the cliff is steep. Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) provides an additional federal safety net for workers who have already maxed-out their regular state benefits before landing a job. Last year, unemployment insurance lifted over 2.3 million people out of poverty, according to a study by the National Employment Law Project. More than 600,000 were children.
The November jobs report marked a four-year low in unemployment at 7.7% with the economy adding 146,000 jobs, but the “better than expected” report didn’t provide relief for the roughly $4.8 million Americans who are trapped in long-term unemployment.
And if Congress fails to reach a deal before the program is set to expire at the end of December, the number of people living in poverty is bound to increase for 2013 says Greg Kaufmann, a contributor at The Nation magazine. Kaufmann shared his reporting with host Melissa Harris-Perry on Saturday, in the telling the stories of the real Americans who will be directly and immediately affected by the so-called fiscal cliff–many he says are disproportionately elderly, of minority races, or women.
“These benefits are a real lifeline for them,” Kaufmann said.
Chad Stone, chief economist at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, outlined a doomsday scenario for workers if Congress continues in its stalemate for 2013:
Workers who lose their jobs in 2013 would receive only regular state unemployment insurance–a maximum of 26 weeks of benefits or less in nearly every state–in an economy where jobs remain hard to find. The latest jobs report, for October, shows that 5 million jobless workers–40.6% of the 12.3 million people who are unemployed–have been looking for work for 27 weeks or longer.According to analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, fully renewing the temporary benefits would cost the government an estimated $30 billion. Doing so the CBO says would “lead to more consumer spending and increased demand for goods and services which…would boost overall output and employment in the short term.”
The return on the government’s investment is felt instantly says Carmen Wong Ulrich of Alta Wealth Management. ”That $30 billion actually turns into $48 billion in terms of spending, keeping jobs…and not just their jobs, but the jobs of other workers,” Ulrich said to Harris-Perry on Saturday. “These folks are not sitting around. The jobs don’t exist.”
See below the second half of the MHP conversation.
Ralph-124C41+ commented 19 hours ago
#1
"In danger?" President Obama tossed the unemployed over the cliff several years ago and now wants to raise taxes on them and their potential employers to keep them from crawling back up.
frankenx replied 19 hours ago
#1.1
In reply to: Ralph-124C41+ #1 if you can't find a job in 4 years you never going to find one now any ways... just another way to doll out money to lazy bummer
kailani1971 replied 19 hours ago
#1.2
If we go over the cliff, 25% of the deadbeats on unemployment will find a job as soon as their easy money checks are no longer!
Get a job. Any job!
Emilio Zapata replied 18 hours ago
#1.3
Are you guys (Repueblicans) still mad you lost the election, get over it. Better luck in 2016. I know it's all Obamas fault. Let me repaeat that for you: It's all Obamas fault, It's all Obamas fault, It's all Obamas fault, It's all Obamas fault, It's all Obamas fault, It's all Obamas fault, It's all Obamas fault, It's all Obamas fault, It's all Obamas fault, It's all Obamas fault, It's all Obamas fault, It's all Obamas fault, It's all Obamas fault, It's all Obamas fault, It's all Obamas fault, It's all Obamas fault, It's all Obamas fault, It's all Obamas fault, It's all Obamas fault, It's all Obamas fault, It's all Obamas fault, It's all Obamas fault, It's all Obamas fault, It's all Obamas fault, It's all Obamas fault, It's all Obamas fault, It's all Obamas fault, It's all Obamas fault, It's all Obamas fault, It's all Obamas fault, It's all Obamas fault, It's all Obamas fault does that make you retards feel better.
Janet Abraham Kloville replied 17 hours ago
#1.4
Republicans claim the jobs numbers reports are wrong, and that unemployment is actually much higher than stated, yet claim all the unemployed people are lazy. You can only pick one, not both.
Marco21 replied 2 hours ago
#1.5
No Emilio, its your fault for supporting Progressive Democrats who are incompetent fools and dont know how to grow an economy. Obama's supporters are responsible for the bad economy.
frankenx commented 19 hours ago
#2
The people who ae sucking the unemployment benefits for the last 4 years need to get out and find any job. Why would anyne look fo a job when they know that Obummber will give them benefits for sitting on their butt for unlimited time period. And of cource who are those people, poor and people of race... No Surprise.
iyamtoo replied 15 hours agokailani1971 commented 19 hours ago
#2.1
It's not unlimited. Are you stupid?
#3
I'll bet if we go over the cliff, 25% of all those on unemployment will find a job!
frankenx commented 19 hours ago
#4
MSNBC needs to shut down...they are the worst new broadcast in the whole world..All they shows give me headache... wonder who watches them...you have to be a troll to watch and listen to their news..
kailani1971 replied 19 hours agolawbaker commented 18 hours ago
#4.1
Democrats and the unemployed watch MSNBC! I have 2 neighbors who brag about how much money they make under the table. An electrician (on disability and bowls in a scratch league) and brags he made $6,000. this past month installing services on a new apartment complex, as well as a contractor who has illegals for help. Wants to charge me $15.00 an hour for help with my landscaping, and pay the illegal $10.00 an hour. Naturally, no income reported by him or his help! Then he brags to me how glad he is Obama got reelected. Show me a crook or a deadbeat, I'll show you a Democrat!
Jonotorious replied 16 hours ago
#4.2
Unpublished
Ernesto Coto replied 14 hours ago
#4.3
What in hell is your problem!!!???? Is not like you know the details of every single case of the unemployed!! Or you are going to blanket everyone under your little story of the electrician and landscaper!! THAT WILL BE STUPID TO DO UNDER ANY STANDARD!!!! DOESN'T IT SMART HATER ASS!!!!
nychula8i3@AOL.COM replied 13 hours ago
#4.4
Unpublished
#5
Havent we heard all this before? Campain is over . We know obama isnt going to sighn unless repubs give him the kitchen sink . Msnbc is hyping this to their base . Obama and dems will tell public it was repubs fault for the economy . While prez obama keeps spending like the dollar is going out of style which it very well could be ,and obama ride off in sunset planning his library somwhere . Onelast though msnbc will cover for him even when they know it it a lie . just ask my zimmmmerman about the truth .
Remmus52 commented 18 hours ago
#6
I lost my job along with over 5000 others a year ago, because the stinking teabaggers in congress decided to cut the existing budget to clean up a site where the government made nasty bombs to drop on Japan back in the 1940s. Now that nasty waste is seeping into the ground water that dumps into the Columbia River. So lets take a good look at the A-holes that made us unemployed. No one is sitting on their backside waiting for an unemployment check. We want to work, but there are not enough jobs! If you don't know what you are talking about then SHUT UP!
Existing
Marco21 replied 2 hours agoAmericulchie commented 17 hours ago
#6.1
In reply to: Remmus52 #6 You're such a moron its amazing.
#7
It seems that there is a lot of right wing trollery on this thread in lieu of real conversation of issues.Unemployment benefits need to be extended period,there are no jobs unless we are talking about low wage or part time work.For any one to insult people who really do want to work but can't even get one of the deadend partime jobs is pathetic and majorly unkind.
Stormguy53 replied 5 hours agoejcarrig commented 16 hours ago
#7.1
There is enough work to be done in this country in one way or another. The people drawing unemployment after some amount of time should be required to work a minimum number of hours doing something (feeding the homeless, cleaning the highway, etc etc etc) in order to continue receiving their benefits. Unemployment insurance was a policy that everyone paid into with a benefit that was supposed to last 26 weeks, not 99 or infinity. It is time for people who have been on unemployment for an extended time to do something to earn their checks.
jsut saying..
#8
Those who run programs related to education, healthcare, retirement, public safety and more (in both the public and private sectors) are shifting costs to us, so Americans are paying more from our pockets or through taxes (or are simply not getting these programs and services). We need better options, an easier way to participate and decide which solutions we prefer, and a way hold politicians accountable for implementing solutions that benefit all of us.
Jonotorious commented 16 hours ago
#9
Unpublished
Niseyde commented 4 hours ago
#10
I am unemployed, and Kailani, I wish I could find a job, in my field that is. I can't just get any job. I am a single mom and getting any job would end up costing me money in daycare for my 2 daughters. So on top of the bills that we all have I would be broke if I just got any old job. I continue to submit resume's to every job opening there is but call backs are few and far between. So if I did not have unemployement I would in rough shape. Be happy that you all have jobs, and can take care of your family and do not point the finger at those who took a hit because of the economy.
Niseyde replied 4 hours ago
#10.1
In reply to: Niseyde #10 I would like to add. My field I could make $25 bucks an hour, any old job making 7.50 big difference. times any old job wage x's 40, Now take that amout minus rent, food, utlities, childcare + me trying to find money to pay people. Right now my childcare is not a factor because I am home to take care of my kids. It allows me to find a job that I have a degree in.
newsynose62 commented 2 days ago
If you have the guts to come back here and suggest an idea that we can send to congress and the President, then meet here and lets actually discuss some real solutions, because we have real problems
Rusty-2589429 replied 2 days ago
#11.1
In reply to: newsynose62 #11
My attempts before at substantial conversation have only yielded people calling me names- but, I'll try again.
We do need to get balance back into the government spending. After the first of the year, we will hear about the Obama miracle with lots of new, unexpected revenue coming in. It will be an illusion. Lots of early and special dividends, lots of capital gains taking before the unknown hits- all taxable events that will skew the numbers. Politicians will use these numbers to claim a fix is on the way.
Now, I recently listened to Chris Hayse, and while I don't find myself aligned to his views at all, he is right on taxes. They must be raised, top to bottom. There simply aren't enough rich to make a difference. If balance is to be had through taxes, the let all the Bush cuts expire, go back to the Clinton rates across the board. Also, get rid of the social security tax break of 2 percentage points. It will destroy social security quicker than any other policy. Why AARP hasn't raised cane, I don't know.
Then, pull another trigger from Clinton's book. Develop a one-year only special tax rate for corporations to bring foreign income into the USA at a rate of about 8%. Tons of revenue will appear.
The original problem, housing, still exists. Plus, with Obamacare coming on, and adding no new Physicians, a new imbalance will be created. Additionally, new entrepreneurs are needed. Think of solutions on these issues as centered around high end immigration. The problem isn't too many rich, educated people. We need more, not less, and the quicker fix is to allow MD, PhD, etc to immigrate, buy high end houses, pay high end real estate taxes, buy high end goods and services, autos, etc. Also, greatly expand the guest worker roles. There isn't any problem with people here legally, paying taxes, etc.
Public pensions must be accounted for using the same rules as private pensions. Sometime in the early 90's, as I recall, the accounting rules changed and corporations took huge losses as they had to account for these costs as they were earned, not as they were paid, years later. In a real sense, that single rule did cause a lot of changes and the elimination of pensions, switching to defined contribution plans. Not as good, but very sustainable.
Just a start. Feel free to disagree, engage, etc. these are ideas I think are worthy of discussing. Funny, but there are a lot that have called me a tea party guy when I've brought these up before. People on this site are much more willing to grunt "bush bad" and the like than to think about solutions that will work.
Dennym68111 replied yesterday
#11.2
Those are suggestions to at least look at and also this. We wouldn't need to raise taxes if the companies that are making billions in profits after expenses would just say take 5% of their profits and invest in their people, give them raises. That would put more money into the economy take people off food stamps and day care assistance (entitlements as they say) government would reduce spending. Some are fortunate, (if you can say that when you have to work 2 jobs) if they could make enough on one job that frees up a job for someone else. As I said earlier no one wants to sit and wait for a check they may or not get, people, most of them want to pay their own way. It is depressing and a slap on one's pride who is used to working and taking care of themselves to have to need and depend one a unemployment check. Those that think otherwise just haven't been there.
Rusty-2589429 replied yesterday
#11.3
In reply to: Dennym68111 #11.2
Ok- we could ask them to do that. They would laugh at the suggestion. We have went through a painful, 20 year adjustment to where we are now competitive on a pay / productivity basis. It is now feasible to build factories in the USA, and many are being built.
Conservati commented yesterday
#12
Unpublished
Vera Raica commented 23 hours ago
newsynose62 commented 23 hours ago
#14
I will let you know that i am new to all this, and am trying to learn, so that I can ask the questiions, follow the answers. I will be listing several articles I am reading, about the Clinton Era tax increases, and I will be adding them to my blog.
I read and read to understand, and learn. You mention a one-year only special tax rate for corporations to bring foreign income into the USA at a rate of about 8%. Is this when a foreign company does business with a company in the U.S. or when the company in the United States has a branch in another country and they want to send the parent company their portion of the profits. Am I at least in the ball park.
dennym68111 I am intrigued by your suggestion, because it would offer working employees a stable income, and hopefully off some entitlements, and yes if there were two jobs being able to quit one, would open up that position for someone who could really use it. The idea that people would want to stay on assistance is nuts. I have in my work time have had to have assistance, and it causes nerves, it is like you can't provide for you family. There are hard working, minimum wage jobbers out there who need assistance, because what they did make is not what they make now.
I am going to have to finish this post tomorrow. After I do some research on the topics in your post
Rusty-2589429 replied 9 hours ago
#14.1
In reply to: newsynose62 #14
thanks for the response. on the capital gains issue- for year 2012- the capital gains rate is 15% We don't know what it will be in 2013, but everyone has pretty well accepted the fact it will increase. Possibly, with the Buffett rule where millionaires all pay a minimum percent, maybe 30%, the capital gains rate would be effectively 30% for those people. As such, you're seeing a lot of volume in the stock market and in other places where people can sell, lock in the capital gains and pay 15% of whateve the gain was. When Clinton did this, he unexpectedly got a huge amount of tax revenue as people wanted to get their gains taken at the lowest rate possible. If someone has a $100,000 capital gains on a stock they have held for many years, they can sell it this year, and come April 15, will pay an additional $15,000 in taxes versus waiting for the new rate and paying a higher amount. If they like the stock they are in, they can buy back into it with the higher basis and zero capital gains accrued.
Likewise with the corporations and money earned and held overseas. Example- John Deere builds a tractor in Russia, and sells it there. Deere pays taxes on that profit to Russia. So long as they hold the money in a Russian account, they aren't taxed on it here in the USA. If they should want to bring that money into this country, say to use it to financed a new factory in Nebraska, they would pay USA taxes on it. The rate is 35%, but there are tons of offsets, etc, so they would possibly pay 20-25% in taxes. So, Deere keeps the monies separate and uses that money to fund expansions in Russia, untaxed in America. Clinton and the Republicans negotiated a very low rate- I think around 8%, on these "repatriated" funds. So, Corporations brought massive amounts of money back in to the country, the IRS got 8% of a very large number instead of 25% of a zero number. That's part of the "Clinton Miracle"- and it wasn't even forecasted, just a side benefit after the fact.
Current estimates of the amount of money sitting ouotside the USA that would be brought back in are staggering. All it takes is checkiing the ego at the door, stop talking about corporate profits and taxes in a negative way, and negotiate a low rate. Remember, in this example, Deere built, sold and serviced this tractor in Russia- and they have already paid Russian taxes on it.
A major case should be made for "build it where you sell it". In fact- Obama was in a German owned factory in Detroit yesterday campaigning for his tax plan, where the German's are making additional investments. They will sell these parts in trucks here in the USA.
newsynose62 commented 24 minutes ago
#15
Thank you Rusty, your explanation
impressive, cause I understood it. I am still reading up on the rest of
your comment. Because I do want to make a response. When I respond if I
do not get it, I will always ask for an explanation. And I like both
of these ideas, hell ya bring that money back home. What did you think
of Gov Snyder and the bill he signed today.
