UNEMPLOYMENT EXTENSION VOTE ON TUESDAY, SENATE SAYS THEY WILL VOTE TO MOVE FORWARD...

About 2.1 million people were prematurely cut off from their unemployment benefits about 7 weeks ago, devastating households across the nation. Workers unemployed  for more than 6 months, to whom Congress had allowed extended benefits,  had their benefits abruptly and unreasonably halted. Yeah, Congress (Republicans and 1 democrat; Nebraska's Ben Nelson) voted to pull the plug on the bill. With 1 Democrat vote having gone the other way and Senator Robert Byrd's (D-WA.Va) death, the Dems were short just 1 vote to pass the extensions. The GOP filibuster is said be designed to bring the economy to its knees so that in November, they get the votes. Ughhh.


The bill will reportedly cost an estimated $33 billion, and this is money that the GOP and this 1 Democrat doesn't want to spend on people they believe are made lazy by unemployment benefits. How unfair of them. Who's fault is this mess anyway? Tuesday morning's vote will happen after the swearing in of (D) Senator Byrd's replacement. Senate Majority leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Wed. that the Senate would vote move forward on the extension bill.

The good news is, when the extensions are passed, benefits will be paid retroactively. Hopefully, Congress won't let these shenanigans go on for too long. That little bit of unemployment money,which these workers paid into all while they were employed, goes right back into the economy. Without contributions from these 2.1 million who abruptly lost their income, how will then will the economy ever be able to recover? The Dems need 60 votes to pass this sucker. Hopefully, this replacement will help pull it off. Let us Pray. [Huffington Post]