Unemployment Extension Clears Senate

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I was laid off in March 07 return to work in Jan 08 Laid off again in July 08. Because I work and was laid off and reworked I am not eligible for full benefits in Indiana. And as they pass these extensions I am recieving 8 weeks or less of them. If the government passes them for 14 weeks or 20 why doesn't everyone get it for that long? I am no different then people who got laid off later then me. I too can not find a job but not eligible for full benefits. Can someone explain why me being laid off twice in 2 years makes me less in need of full benefits. By the way I reside in Michigan but have to claim Indiana unemployment cause that is the state I got laid off from.

Shirley in Michigan of IN 1:07AM November 13, 2009

This has been the worst for me with this economical disaster. therefore, I have been set back. when will we see a check in the mail, or some direct deposit on our card?

Fredia Briggs of MI 9:09PM November 11, 2009

CT has a 7 week extension called HEB. I start filing for it this sunday but what about the 14 week extension? When I asked CT DOL today they said they know nothing about the 14 week extension that was just passed last week. If I file for the 7 next week will I lose the 14 weeks? Help!!!!!

Sarah of MA 10:48AM November 09, 2009

Companies move overseas, relocating their plants, thereby abolishing U.S. jobs? they hire workers at low wages, companies don't pay employee benefits, they don't comply with safety and environmental regulations, they don't pay foreign taxes when they export their products back to the U.S.
The U.S. cannot require foreign governments to impose a minimum wage or safety regulations, or pay employee benefits. But the U.S. can and should do something about, the huge tax-rebate racket that lures U.S. companies to lay off American workers and set up shop in foreign countries. Corporations located in the United States pay big U.S. corporate income and property taxes.
Foreign governments do tax corporations, but if the company exports its products to the US (or other countries), the foreign government rebates (forgives) the tax. That creates an irresistible magnet to attract U.S. companies to transfer their plants to a land where they can avoid most of both countries' taxes. This should be prohibited because it is a huge subsidy, but world trade agreements have defined subsidy to exclude tax rebates to exporters by calling it a rebate of the Value Added Tax (VAT).
One of the many ways the United States is different from nearly all other countries is the system of taxation. The US imposes taxes on our income (we pay taxes on what we earn), whereas 157 other countries impose taxes on consumption (they pay taxes on what they buy) and call that tax a VAT.
The VAT system not only operates as a bribe to induce US plants to move overseas, but also a scheme to prevent US products from being competitively sold in foreign countries.
When a US product, such as an automobile, arrives at another country’s port, the foreign government slaps on a VAT import tax that is a percentage of the price of the US product, the transportation cost to get it to the foreign country, and the tariff that the foreign country charges.
Foreign countries simply substituted high VAT rates for high tariff rates, thereby maintaining their border barriers against competition from U.S. goods. The result is that most foreign countries still have de facto tariffs against us that are as high or higher than their tariffs of 40 years ago.
Foreign governments' use of the VAT has inflicted US industry with monumental costs, increasing every year, and reaching $327 billion in 2006. That's the sum of the VAT rebates paid to companies that ship foreign-made products to the US, plus the VAT taxes paid by US companies for the privilege of selling their products in foreign countries.
This system is not the result of free market or free trade, but the failure of our government to expose and counter the dishonest practices of our trading competitors. After 40 years of tolerating this ripoff, we want to hear from national leaders who will demand a new strategy and a level playing field.
BRING BACK THE COMPANIES, BRING BACK OUR JOBS. WHEN WILL IT BE ABOUT THE AMERICAN WORKERS?

Becky of MI 9:29AM November 09, 2009

If the economy is bad now it's because of the burning Bush. Obama is just the fireman who puts out the fire. He didn't start the fire it was the burning Bush. Check your facts if your children's future are downhill it's because of the Burning Bush and the lost weapons of mass destruction. We never found! check your facts on that. The media follows Obama around to pick out what is doing or did wrong but they couldn't find Bin Laden duh! Check your facts!

Kennedy of OK 9:00PM November 08, 2009

THANKS FOR SENDING ALL OUR WORKING MAN JOBS OVER SEAS.....I DO KNOW MY PRESIDENT DIDNT SIGN THAT BILL. CHECK AND SEE WHAT YOUR BUYING AND WHERE IT IS MADE. JUST THING ABOUT ALL THE JOBS THAT WOULD BRING TO AMERICA.

LINN of NC 11:40AM November 08, 2009

I am grateful but I don't understand. If Florida got 2,000,000 to update it's system (they have an old mainframe system was the reason why EB payments did not go out for several weeks the last time) and since they were also given another 1,000,000 this year why on earth does it take another 4-6 weeks to set this up and delay payments until sometime mid-late December? What the heck are they doing with the money? Why is it going to take just as long as the last time? What the heck did they spend the money on? It should not take 4-6 weeks each time to get the money to the people, not in this day and age.

L of FL 4:49PM November 07, 2009

At least have more to back it up than just "things seemed to go downhill since he took office" The president has little control over the economy. And if you're gonna give Clinton all the credit for the success of the 90's then you're ignorant to not think the "internet boom" had a little bit more to do with it than him...

Ryan of FL 4:00PM November 07, 2009

First off I am trying to figure out how the county I live in from Missouri has the highest unemployment rate in the state, but every time I go to the store to decide if I need toliot paper, bread, or milk with the 5 bucks I have to my name, how is every "Resturant" packed with customers? The streets are full of vehichles, gas stations are lined up and the movie theater is hoppin every weekend. I go to Wal Mart and bam everyone in the city is there shopping. My husband and I worked at the same factory and the doors closed November 2007. Febuary 2008 we both were hired at another factory making good money $9.75 a hour each working 40-50 hours a week. That $800 a week made for a very non stressful living. Then my husband was laid off in April of 2008 and I was laid off May of 2008. My husband finually got a job a couple of weeks ago, but he injured one of his fingers and just about lost it, had to have emergency surgery and couldn't work for about a week, and of course no insurance, I almost flipped out, but I held my head high and said we will make this work, we are strong and I know how to survive. So far our heads are still above water. I am still searching for work and my unemployment ended this week. My neighbors both work and have 4 kids and they have opened their home to us whenever we need help and I do the same for them. I watch their kids anytime day or night. We both take turns cooking dinners and we have eachothers backs. I hope and pray for things to straighten out in everyones hard times right now. Living life is suppose to be "You have to work hard to have anything" but everyday working hard is slowly slipping away on what I have worked so hard on to get what I have. We as Americans shouldn't have to lose anything. We are the ones who made all the big companys rich and banks gamble with our money on Wall Street. I say give the little people $700 Billion and watch what we can do with the economy. Money is the root of all evil, but we can't live without it. God put enough gold on this earth to take care of all his people, not suck hard working people dry. Sometimes I feel like a half cut orange that someone is sqeezing me with the juice strainer and very little is coming out. I set and think and talk about the good ole days and that helps get me through this aweful time. Good luck to everyone, may GOD be with you!

Lisa of MO 10:59PM November 06, 2009

wake up!it is bush's fault, the condition of this country has consistantly gotten worse since bush stole the election, it was ALL down hill from there...Bush is a liar, a dry drunk, a theif,and the most selfish person i know. He has caused a lot of unnecessary deaths both in and out of the united states. He was, and probably is stillis, disgraceful. I was emabarrassed to be an american when he was in office, i mean really emabarrased. And yes, barrack has only been in office a short time, but barrack has morals, values, and he thinks about the american people more in one day , then bush did the whole 8 years he was sitting in a stolen office......and if you dont see that then you must be from saudi arabia or something!

taylor of PA 10:12PM November 06, 2009