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HungerNetOhio #7.6: Can Employment Benefits Still be Preserved?
Email
conversations about "ending
hunger in Ohio through changing conditions
which
cause poverty"
| TO |
Advocates for reducing
hunger |
| FROM |
Hunger Network in
Ohio |
| ABOUT |
Willing workers w/o jobs, income, and losing hope |
It's down to the wire-at least the last few days before the congressional 4th of July recess-for Senate action to help fill the income gap for those who have lost jobs in these economically anemic times. Deferring more complex details to links and references, the bottom-line for Ohioans, if Congress doesn't act, 98,000 of our family, friends, and neighbors will have run out of unemployment benefits by the end of this week.
Federal unemployment benefits began to expire nearly a month ago. Since then, 1.2 million jobless workers have been cut off. The House passed a six-month extension as part of a broader spending bill in May, but the Senate, despite three attempts, has not been able to pass a similar bill. Rejected along party lines with one Democrat, Ben Nelson, defecting and the death of Robert Byrd, the vote has fallen just short of the 60 needed for passage.
This comes at a time that states face a collective budget hole of some $112 billion but neither the House nor the Senate has a plan to help. As a group of Ohio legislators just yesterday started conversations on filling upward projections of $8 billion of that total (more about this in upcoming weeks), this more imminent crisis demands attention.
This obvious debate is between reducing the pain of struggling families versus filling the budget deficit. As our country negotiates the shoals threatened economic recovery, these short and long-term obstacles are not necessarily mutually exclusive. We must do whatever is necessary to keep these willing but struggling workers afloat now while stabilizing the overall ship of state.
SHORT
CUT:
For
those who insist, "JUST TELL ME
WHAT TO
DO!"
Take a moment to call Senator Voinovich (202-224-3353) * and urge him to support legislation to extend unemployment for the thousands of Ohio families and retailers who are suffering. Then ask family and friends from other states to make similar calls to their reticent senators.
Late yesterday, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) introduced legislation reinstate federal unemployment insurance benefits and extend the purchase closing date for new homebuyers to qualify for tax credits. The legislation will retroactively reinstate federal unemployment insurance, so that Americans who lost their benefits when the program expired at the end of May can receive the support they need while they look for work. And the bill will extend federal unemployment insurance benefits, so Americans who lose their jobs through no fault of their own can continue to receive the benefits they depend on through November 2010. (Summary in reference below)
Senator George Voinovich. Although calls are much better, here is his email address: http://voinovich.senate.gov/public/index.cfm)
Summary of Reid-Baucus Substitute Amendment
Jobless Aid Back on Senate Agenda
Who Will Fight for the Unemployed?
State budget talks finally begin
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