Partisan Argument Slows Unemployment Benefits Extension

this is completely ridiculous and childish that the republicans are holding this up for their own ammendments that have absolutely nothing to do with extending unemployment. they are doing it out of spite because there are more democrats now in washington than republicans.
i think this is so uncalled for. by the time they final extend unemployment there are gonna be so many more unemployed. plus the people waiting for this extension will have already defaulted on their credit cards (because we are getting raped by them but we bailed them out so it's ok for them to do that to us, right?), they will have defaulted on their mortgages, car loans, etc. and will have lost pretty much everything that they have worked for. as if it isn't enough to fell worthless as it is because u can't find a job and then to have the people that do have jobs kick u when ur down. our government are nothing but liars and hypocrites, they are there to help us and all they do is hurt us even more and reward the people that hurt us. instead of sending millions/billions of dollars each month overseas to help other countries, let's help the people that are in this country first.

Why don't we just ask everyone how much money they need, and have the government write them a all a check? After all if a few hundred is good, thousands must be better, no?

Why don't we just vote all the senators out of office and see how they can manage on nothing or social security - see how they would like it.

I'd like to slap some partisan out of some men up there. I am so tired of reading about their games. Neither party is any better than the other one. What these doofs fail to consider is that people are hurting.

To Jim,
You must have a job. I hope you keep it, must be nice. NO ONE is getting rich off of unemployment you idiot. All we want to do is pay our bills and feed our kids. It's not like we are going to the Caribbean on Unemployment. Once again I say, as long as the Politicians have big fat jobs w/ great benefits why should they care about the people starving out here. It kills me that the Trillions they have given the banks and corporations in stimulus money who are not returning any of it in loans or jobs, and they are quibbling over which pot to pull from or which amendment is more important to tag onto this. Are you kidding me? Meanwhile people are homeless and starving. I hope people remember this when election day comes up. Get rid of every incumbent, I don't care what party he or she belongs to.

democrats never know how to govern and that is why they never hold on to leadership. i cant wait until nov 2010.

catman | Nov 2, 2009 6:54:15 PM.....And what do you think of that Halloween costume of a Republican in the 23rd dostrict of NY? We need a party that REALLY cares about its constituents.

Lets call for the republicans jobs lets remember thier name and vote them out. They are for their own agenda not he people. Hash out the other issues later.

I'm really not shocked with whats going on with congress our Government.. it's just business as usual for them and it has been going on for decades. What if All Americans demanded FREE Healthcare and marched on Washington to bring them down to their knees by not allowing them to profit on our lives anymore...Oh what a Revolt !!

What Senators voted against this today??

TFarmer its not Democrats that are the problem, it is the good old boy system in the republican party. Noone has thier own voice, I dont agree solely with democrats and I dont agree with republicans. when I voted I voted for the better canidate. Thats what we have to do because both parties sometime neither one represents me but in order to vote I had to become either rep/dem It is time for people to dtermine where they stand as a voter rep/dem vote your issues and then vote the better canidate. As it stands now the rep/ party are wanting to vote on issues that havew nothing to do with this bill. There is a time and place for everything. While they are holding to a so call standard, they dont want to hurt the employers, so some rep/ did not want to vote yes on the unemp issue anyway. Not concerned about the employees who pay taxes and work mind you can not collect unless you have worked and you were released as to no fault of their own. Our money and the employess money is tied up in this. As a country some people droped the bomb as far as wallstreet is concerned they still have jobs. It come down to the have and the have nots. The have nots are making the decisions. We need to prepare for the next time educate ourselves our children put our self in position, because the us governmrnt will not always have our back. Their agenda is greater than the need of the people. It is time that the Government as whole npt everyone in the white house is agenda driven, those that have power,shall i say old powerit begs to be questioned.

I have worked since I was 13 on summer jobs. After i got out of school i went on public work i have 29 yrs of work since i turned 18.I have 3 boys 2 are still home 15, and 16 still in school. I was layed off from a cabinet factory i get $572.00 every 2 weeksthats 1142.00 a month i pay 475.00 rent , 50.00 water, 92.00 cooking gas, 160.00 electric, 112.00 phone, 120 insurance that leaves me with133.00 for food and other thing and in 2 weeks i won't have that. cause they haven't passed it . where i live the have shut down 2 factories down in our town. i have no idea what i'll do when it runs out.

I AGREE THAT THOSE DUMMIES DON'T GIVE A CRAP BECAUSE THEY HAVE THEIR GOOD PAYING JOBS AND ARE TAKING THEIR TIME AT THE EXPENSE OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE JOBLESS AND NEED THE EXTENSION. THOSE OF YOU LIKE ME WRITING COMMENTS HERE SHOULD WRITE AND CALL THE NEWS STATIONS. I SENT AN EMAIL TO THE TODAY SHOW EARLIER AND YOU ALL SHOULD DO THE SAME. THIS NEEDS TO BE MENTIONED ON AIR SO IT MAYBE PLACES PRESSURE ON THE SENATE TO HURRY UP OTHERWISE THERE WILL BE MORE HOMELESSNESS!!!

Why you all play head games with each others parties. We the unemployed are suffering. Why in heavens name can each of you in Washiington feel you have the power to force American to live the way we are currently living. Most of us can't wait till 9-10pm so our phone will stop ringing from bill collectors and then we lay in bed worring about the next day. How am I going to buy food tomorrow and not put my kids to bed saying their still hungry. I know these are words no one in Washington will ever hear and experience and you will not ever read this. I have to go and visit friends each evening so we can eat and my kids can watch tv, since I have no cable and and internet. My phone is to cut off Thursday for nonpayment. I guess since no one has called in four months for a job interview or anything this is a blessing from the bill collectors.

But come on Washington, please help me and others who's extensions have ran out.

WOW, AM SOrry!

Election day for whom, What state? What is the issue.

The longer it takes, the more suffering for AMERICANS who are just trying to survive. I am still looking for a job, after being laid off a year and just finishing school, my husband's whole plant is shutting down in one month, and we will only be able to survive another couple of months unless they pass an extension. Christmas, who cares about that when you're worried about the mortgage! Thank God we don't have kids yet! If we as individuals put some pressure on the press, and the press in turn would put some pressure on Congress, maybe we could move this along faster. I am scared and wondering
just how to manage all our finances in the months ahead, before things start to turn around for the economy.

Well I'd like to see the senators who are holding up this bill, also hold up their pay checks and not get paid until this bill is passed. Let them know how it feels, not to have anything. I bet that bill would be passed in just a few minutes. My goodness, no money for the poor senators who just can't seem to make up their minds. Our government is so corrupt. I'm ashamed to be called an American anymore. We didn't get ourselves into this mess, our Government did this to us. PASS THAT BILL NOW, WHY DON'T YOU TAKE A PAY CUT AND PAY FOR YOUR OWN MEDCIAL INSURANCE FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILIES. MOST OF US DON'T HAVE ANY OF THAT, SO WHY SHOULD YOU GET IT ALL FOR FREE?

TFarmer - Have to basicly agree with you but check the financial statements of 90% of the Congressmen and you'll find that they don't need the money they get in office, they are worth much more. The bigger question which should be asked is why someone will spend millions on a job which pays less than $200k per year and they have to spend millions again in either two or six years when there term is up and they need to get reelected. Something is seriously wrong with this picture.

Cathy - hate to rain on your parade but you are wrong. Contrary to what many believe Congressmen do not have FREE health insurance. Their employer is the federal government and like many employers, through FEHB it provides him and all federal employees with access to an insurance plan from a private insurance company (AETNA, Blue Cross, Health Net, Kaiser, etc). Congressmen have been required to get their health insurance in this manner since passage of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1983. The Congressman is responsible for any co-pays or deductable payments when service is provided by a healthcare provider. The Congressman is also susceptible to the limits within the plan he chooses, none of the plans cover 100% of the costs the insured eventually reaches a point where he has to dig into his own pockets. The governments only other involvement with the FEHB is to negotiate rates and benefits for each plan once a year. If you want to view the plans and their limits, deductibles, and co-pays just Google “FEHB” and go to the site and see what the different plans are.

The FEHB health plans are either nationwide (plan available anywhere within the country) or regional (plan available only in one state or a portion of a state) FEHB allows the Congressman to change between plans once a year during what is referred to as an open season and he can switch with no lapse in coverage due to pre-existing conditions and if he changes jobs within the Federal Government he can take his current plan with him if the plan is available (he moved from one region to another) at his new position, if not he can switch with no problems. If the government were to allow a pool of similar plans to the public the monthly premiums (based on the FEHB rate) for a family plan would roughly be between $425.00 and $1300.00, for an individual the monthly premium would roughly be between $177.00 and $550.00 and then everyone could have the same health care as our Congressmen. One of the differences in the plan costs is the level of benefits provided and the amount the patient pays (co-pays or deductable) when receiving healthcare. This would give everyone access to the same health insurance available to Congressmen.