Obama Pushes Congress to Pass Unemployment Benefits Extension

I am unemployed and have been job hunting for 7 months.The extension of unemployment ran out for me and many others at the end of May, not June. Since that time, I've been unable to pay bills, have had my power shut off once, cannot spend money on food the way I used to, and am struggling to buy gas and keep my car kept running safely in order to look for work. As a nurse who made over 40K a year two years ago,and one who's over 50 years of age, please tell me how I am to live when nobody will give me a second chance? I used to be able to shop for necessities, and now I cannot even buy decent food. We who are unemployed cannot help support the economy if we do not have any money to contribute! Older workers especially are in trouble if this doesn't get voted upon in a positive and timely manner!

They really need to pass the extended benefits I been having a hard time trying to find a job my unemployment runs out in 2 weeks I could really use the extended beenfits why should people like me suffer

Dems have both the Congress and Senate, why doesn't Obama just approve the unemployment benefits? Could it be that Obama enjoying bashing the GOP ??
I think it's stupid, Obama is president .. be one. Sick of the bashing...doesn't Obama have any guts to be accountable ??

What part of BUDGET do the democrats not understand. They received the largest budget in US history to control yet EVERY piece of legislation they send forward ADDS to the deficit! Come November as many as possible need to be removed from Congress!

I totally agree with the Republicans we need to start paying our way. I suggest that we start by taking back the payraise that Congress voted themselves - retroactive of course. That should at least pay a portion of the extended benefits. It is not liked they deserved it.

I have been unemployed for nearly 2 years, partially due to a stroke, and in part because I priced myself out of the market. When the benefits are approved, I am taking the retroactive pay, loading up a small bus, and moving to Indiana, to open a cafe, and start of not for profit youth program. So much for being a lazy, drug induced, alcoholic who only wants to suck on the tax payers nipples.

Washington beware, that was NOT an earthquake you felt earlier in the week, it was the voters starting to wake up.

Bob

I lost my job of 21 years a few years ago when the business shut down. I have worked full time hours since I was 16, 47 now. I also have a severe nerve disease, but was able to do my old job, but my boss put up with things most wouldn't. Not knowing what to do I went into business for myself and did OK for a few years, but they economy went and my illness got worse. I lived off my savings for several months trying to figure out what to do, try to work, draw disability. I sought help from other Doctors trying to get help so I could work as needed. I finally ran out of money and the bills were getting behind and filed for unemployment. I wasn't allowed to draw because I didn't have a recent pay quarter.
OK, my fault for not knowing, but how stupid to punish people for living off their savings instead of drawing unemployment right away. Sadly, I couldn't use my LTD for the same reason, although I paid it monthly for over 20 years. We lost everything, including our medical insurance. Try having a nerve disease and no insurance. It came down to basic food. I'm sure I'll soon lose my home that I only owe 6 years on. Unemployment wouldn't pay it all, but it would've helped. Now I do whatever odd jobs I can just to put food on the table in severe pain trying to figure out what to do. I have ex employees drawing unemployment.

In the News today Obama is taking heat for forcing GM and Chrysler to disenfranchise some of their dealerships when the automakers received the bailouts. This caused the dealerships to close and lay off their employees. What more proof does anyone need to realize that the Obama administration is bad for business. Bad business = unemployment and he shouldn't expect the Republicans to aid and abet him in his endeavors.

Come on people, these are Americans who are suffering through the worst economic crisis in 75 years; and too many republicans are dismissing their suffrage, through no fault of their own, as something so trivial or meaningless.

I cannot help notice that Pay Go is missing from this discussion. The President signed Pay Go and now wants to Go without Paying. What is most glaring about the Obama policies is that out of one side of his mouth he claims compassion for the currently unemployed yet his Moratorium on drilling will cause many thousands to join the ranks of the unemployed. If a President is helpless to solve unemployment he should not get away with slamming others for Refusing to bail him out expecially when he could pay for the unemployment benefits extension without adding to the decficit if he wanted to.

Maybe it is time for the president and Congress to tell the businesses to bring the jobs back home. I agree with the person about stand alone bills, all bills should be a stand alone bill. The house and senate might be able to actually know what is in it instead of this surprised oh I didn't know that was in there.