Our Views: Senators fail again
to provide relief for jobless
Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins still have work to do before the next recess.
For the second week in a row, the U.S. Senate has failed to take action on a tax extenders bill, with both of Maine's senators voting to maintain a Republican-led filibuster that prevented a vote from taking place.
The immediate losers will be the 1.2 million people, including 30,000 Mainers, who will start seeing their unemployment benefits expire. The next will be state governments, including Maine's, which were counting on the federal government to come through on pledges to send support for state Medicaid programs, which will mean state governments will have to rewrite their budgets in midstream.
In Maine, that will mean coming up with $86 million in cuts to already-strapped state programs to make up for the shortfall.
Both major parties in Washington are blaming each other for the failure to achieve a workable compromise on this bill, and there is indeed enough blame to go around.
Republicans are taking advantage of the public's growing concern over the national debt -- something that didn't concern GOP lawmakers when they were passing budgets that simultaneously cut taxes and increased spending when they controlled the government. Democrats have used the "jobs" bill as a vehicle for spending programs that would not stimulate job growth. And, as Sen. Olympia Snowe has pointed out, they have tried to reduce the cost of the package with an overly broad tax exemption that would hurt small business at just the wrong time.
Democratic leaders appear satisfied with a loss that creates an election issue they can use against Republicans in November.
The time has come to break up the package and hold votes on the elements that have real impact on people's lives.
At a time when the economy is not producing jobs, cutting off unemployment benefits is wrong, even if it would add to the deficit in the short term. Senators should be forced to vote up or down on this vital lifeline.
The same is also true for aid to the states. Cutting federal support now would likely mean public sector layoffs, adding to joblessness and eroding vital public services.
It's time to stop playing politics on these issues that deeply affect people's lives. Senators should not go home for the Fourth of July recess without taking meaningful action.
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36 COMMENTS
JWR said...
Thankfully the unemployment problem only affects the burger flippers and not the scientist, engineers, firemen, accountants, teachers, computer software specialist, congress men/women.--If I left any out feel free to add to the list.
June 26, 2010 at 7:09 AM Report abuse
MainelyJack said...
Unemployment benefits have limits and without them no one would continue to seek employment. You canhave a welfare state like Eurpoe if you want but there has to be an end to these benefits after a reaonable period of time. Snowe and Collins are right on this one.
June 26, 2010 at 7:43 AM Report abuse
JJ said...
Unending unemployment benefits were never designed to replace a real job, so stop blaming our “Senators” as being the problem. (i.e. it is the “President” who has intentionally destroyed the business climate of this country.)
June 26, 2010 at 7:43 AM Report abuse
MTB said...
Welcome to reality. The Federal government is broke. No doubt the previous administration overspent. But it pales in comparison to the current administration and that happened in 1/8 the time. It will get far worse before (if) it gets better. Bad change little hope.
June 26, 2010 at 7:56 AM Report abuse
tim said...
"Cutting vital public services?" The number of students in Maine has declined, but the number of teachers AND andministrators increased. Libby and the DEMS hand out lavish pensions that are underfunded. The public sector earns MORE than the private sector because of our taxes. At my company, we advertised a job and only received three applicants! Walk by the subsidized housing projects and see what cars the tenants are driving. The DEMS want to send money to the states for union votes NOT vital services.
June 26, 2010 at 8:38 AM Report abuse
trisailer said...
The repugs created the economy that produced the unemployment and now they are further punishing the victims of their failed policies. I just hope that these folks remember who their friends are next election. The timing couldn't be better for eliminating a few more of the repugs.
June 26, 2010 at 8:51 AM Report abuse
trisailer said...
The federal government is not broke. When I start to hear a conversation about ending the tax cuts for the rich and the two wars that we can't afford (all things that the repugs love) than I will begin to believe that the federal government is broke. Sales of Land Rovers are up which proves that trickledown does work.
June 26, 2010 at 8:55 AM Report abuse
UGF0cmlvdGlubWU%3D said...
My heart goes out to the unemployed, thankfully I'm not one of them. I do have two kids which each will have an enormous federal debt given to them to pay off. Have you divided thirteen trillion dollars recently to see what each one of us owes, thanks to our generous polls. Note to Susan and Olympia, please vote no more often. Note to Chellie pack your bags, your going back to North Haven.
June 26, 2010 at 9:02 AM Report abuse
Chew said...
Without benefit limits, there would be no motivation to become gainfully employed. As I understand it, unemployment was intended as assistance to bridge the gap between periods of employment, and unemployment is a benefit and not a right... Wanting to help and being economically able to help are very different things. Extended and long term unemployment is not what the current system was intended to provide. Our two senators, regardless of whether I personally agree with them or not, are correct on this vote. The only "failure" I see here is the perspective of the editorial. Our senators should be commended for standing by the right thing to do regardless of which side of the aisle they are on.
June 26, 2010 at 9:03 AM Report abuse
tim said...
Stimulus funds cannot create jobs. FDR's programs worsened the Depression as the US had twice the unemployment rate of Europe at the beginning of WWII. After the war, Truman tried to enact FDR's plan for a return to a New Deal. Instead the Democratic controlled majority in both houses voted down all New Deal proposals and CUT taxes across the board. By '46, unemployment was down to 3.9% as PRIVATE MARKETS absorbed 20 million people who had worked on the war effort. FREEDOM is what this country was founded on, NOT BIG GOVERNMENT. Eliminate employer and employee social security taxes for one year, cut government bureacrats including the SBA; don't distort the FREE MARKETS and FREE PEOPLE by discriminating and handing out money to the chosen and favored for wind power and other boondoggles, unsuited for most of Maine and ABANDONED by Spain. Believe in ourselves as FREE PEOPLE; the government can and should only perform narrow, focused tasks. Bureaucrats CANNOT save us!
June 26, 2010 at 9:15 AM Report abuse
AXeL said...
WELCOME BACK CARTER!!!!!!!!!
June 26, 2010 at 9:18 AM Report abuse
JWR said...
We keep hearing the same thing over and over, "let the private sector create or jump start the economy", and yet the fact remains, the 'private sector' failed miserably. They are currently sitting on over 1.2 trillion dollars that they have not reinvested in new hires or the GDP. Yeah they are nervous, but they drove this economy with the help of the tax breaks for the upper crust into the ground. The President has countless time reiterated that he never wanted to do what he 'had' to do, but would could be done, wait around and hope the private sector letslose with their private slush funds or sink into a depression ?
June 26, 2010 at 9:28 AM Report abuse
JWR said...
June 26, 2010 at 9:44 AM Report abuse
JJ said...
This regime is fond of seizing things like the car industry, the banking industry, the insurance industry, and more to punish the corporate ‘fat cats’; but these Obama-bots are too stupid to realize that by seizing and strangling the capitalist golden goose, the wheels then come off their socialist gravy train. (Socialism works until you run out of other people’s money- Margaret Thatcher)
June 26, 2010 at 9:55 AM Report abuse
tim said...
JWR: Command, BIG GOVERNMENT economies fail time and time again, the Soviet Union, North Korea, Cuba, the list in endless. China's history shows it prospering when? When it reduces government and allows the free markets to work. Business is facing MORE regulation and new taxes than ever imposed as the DEMS seek to turn us into socialists. Dodd says we won't know how the financial reform bill works until we pass it, but YOU want business that act as a fiduciary and is responsible to widows and orphans that depend on the stock market for income for life to risk its cash? Don't forget Obama srewed the bond holders (many small individuals depending on bond income) at GM so as to assign 40% of the stock in GM to the union, though it had NO legal claim. Do you think Barack Obama and Barney Frank know how to save the economy. Geithner the tax cheat? Tell them to get out of the way. Believe in FREEDOM; it works. End business subsidies too: SBA & State grant giveawasys. No one deser spec treat
June 26, 2010 at 9:59 AM Report abuse
MTB said...
Trisailor, News outlets finally reporting reality interns of those tax cuts, though they still bury them back pages. Bottom line, if you are lower middle-class to middle-class when tax cuts expire you will get hit the hardest. Per IRS data, tax cuts did initially raise revenues as they always have. We just spent to much on everything from War to social welfare programs. That, not the tax cuts helped get us in this mess. Bush was not a fiscal conservative by any stretch of the imagination. Obama's policy has made a bad situation worse.
June 26, 2010 at 10:20 AM Report abuse
JWR said...
So, the question remains when does the 'private sector' let lose with their private slush fund of over 1.2 Trillion dollars, before or after the Depression ?
June 26, 2010 at 10:29 AM Report abuse
AFVET said...
Tim -- the period right after WWII is not a good example. Then you had incredible productive capacity (often brand new), tremendous demand for cars, homes, appliances built up from '42 to '46, and plenty of cash that had had no where to go for four years. Those conditions did not apply when Obama became President. The crash happened under Bush as did the ruinous invasion of Iraq. Those factors have continued to pull the economy down. And, Chew -- do some polling. How many of those people would work if they could? The ending of unemployment is simply the cruel punishment inflicted on the under class by those who tanked the economy. Snowe and Collins will dine daintily and well today.
June 26, 2010 at 10:33 AM Report abuse
Chew said...
AFVET, I realize many people on unemployment want to work, but the unemployment benefits currently in place were never intended for long term sustainability. Wanting to help is fine as long as it is done within our means, but assistance using funds we do not have is not the proper option. I'm one of those folks who if I had to choose, would take a minimum wage job over unemployment even if unemployment was more money because that is how I was raised. I realize not all people share my values. I just think each citizen has the opportunity to make choices, even if the choices are poor, and that we all share a responsibility to do the very best we can without assistance before receiving support.
June 26, 2010 at 11:04 AM Report abuse
AFVET said...
Chew -- thanks for your response. I would add that if consumers are the key to bringing us out of the recession, the stopping of unemployment compensation is not a good idea. But, were times normal and jobs plentiful, I would agree with your position. Tim - if you can't see what unregulated capitalism has done recently, you need a new set of glasses. "Free markets" benefit only the already super-wealthy who can manipulate them to their own benefit -- not to yours, or mine. The result is the oligarchy that controls the government right now and for the foreseeable future. And that ain't socialism.
June 26, 2010 at 11:31 AM Report abuse
JWR said...
Chew,--Your values are admirable, I share them. However, we have never, ever witness this type of unemployment since the Great Depression, and when you compare the population growth since then it is far more. We are talking about people across the board from the medial to the professional. And everything in between. (if there is such a thing) Point being, where are the jobs to support all this. Most would have to move, and you only get there by air or water.
June 26, 2010 at 11:33 AM Report abuse
JWR said...
AFVET said... "The result is the oligarchy that controls the government right now and for the foreseeable future. And that ain't socialism." ////// Man ! Did you nail it ever. Excellent insight..
June 26, 2010 at 11:40 AM Report abuse
JWR said...
AFVET said... "The result is the oligarchy that controls the government right now and for the foreseeable future. And that ain't socialism." ////// Man ! Did you nail it ever. Excellent insight..
June 26, 2010 at 11:40 AM Report abuse
henryelm said...
Mainers and ALL of the unemployed have ALREADY LOST their unemployment. It started at the end of May when the SENATE decided to Go on Memorial vacation instead of fulfill their WORK responsibility tio the American People. Since returning from vacation the Repubnlicans IN the senate including out own snowe and collins have decided to CONTINUE to put the needs of Wall street ahead of then needs of Main Street( and the unemployed)!!! YUP they want wall street which CAUSED Mainers and all the unemployed to BE unemployed to RETAIN tax cuts. IT is clear the Republicans are totally out of touch wuth the impact of this on those are tare SUPPOSED to represent" the people" NEVER EVER VOTE R again!!!
June 26, 2010 at 12:13 PM Report abuse
henryelm said...
Back in FEBRUARY It was the REPUBLICAN's again, who obstructed extending unemployment and for the same reason, the cost to the deficit. It's too bad they weren't so concerned for the deficit when these same R"s voted for wall Street $750 BILLION bailout!!! R priorities sure seem pretty messed UP!!! SOON the employed and the small business owner will see the IMPACT of eliminating unemployment, as the impact of $milliion HIT, trickles down to the rest of the economy!!!
June 26, 2010 at 12:21 PM Report abuse
henryelm said...
JWR it isn't the hamburger flippers BUT the professionals that have been hit by THIS recession. Believe me The ONLY thing that has kept them away from their pitch forks is unemployment benefits!!!They have been patient as their needs keep being put on the back burner first for health care then for financial reform and then for BP. The unemployed are former middle class voters who don't like their lives being toyed with as a political game. This will bring their slow burn to a BOIL Bad political MOVE!!.NEVER EVER VOTE R AGAIN!!!
June 26, 2010 at 12:28 PM Report abuse
henryelm said...
It's long past time for the "forgotten" and pushed aside unemployed to GET organized and to start to exert THEMSELVES!!! 16 million strong is not a constituency ANY elected official who want to get re-elected, wants to "mess" with!!!
June 26, 2010 at 12:34 PM Report abuse
henryelm said...
Bozo's let me tell you in clear terms what NOT extending unemployment means: the DEPRESSION JUST BEGAN. 1 million a month with NO income. Guess how that affects YOUR business( or YOUR job)?? You think the beginning of the recovery has begun?? Think again!!!Hold onto your hat. It ain't over for you, as well as the unemployed.It just got worse, again!!!Unemployment contributes $90 MILLION to the Maine economy every week. $/4 BILLION a month!!! Ending it is gonna hurt YOU!!!
June 26, 2010 at 12:45 PM Report abuse
henryelm said...
So the R's said NO to government created JOBs,"let the free market and the private sector create the jobs." OK so WHERE are the JOBS?? Obama was new and took the bait.The private sector failed at creating ANY jobs. Time for Government created jobs.
June 26, 2010 at 12:51 PM Report abuse
tim said...
AfVET: If you don't want to use the period after WWII then try the period before; FDR's policies failed miserably. We were climbing out a little and then FDR raised TAXES, which is what OBAMA is doing as tax cuts to the middle class expire. Yes Henry Elm, no one should get breaks including Wall Street. You can't/won't build an economy on endless unemployment benefits and no one is entitled to continued income, including professionals. My company advertised for a position with health benefits and received only three applications. Also, free markets did not create this mortgage mess, Barney Frank and FDR's Government created Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac did. Having the bureacrats recycle money through the Washington washer machine is more ineffiecient than the mob; it kills prosperity. Eliminate all these government interventions, cut employer and employee social security for a year incenting workers and watch us go/GROW! Let people spend their own,not DCBelieve in freedom; it works!
June 26, 2010 at 12:59 PM Report abuse
JWR said...
henryelm said... "JWR it isn't the hamburger flippers BUT the professionals that have been hit by THIS recession. Believe me The ONLY thing that has kept them away from their pitch forks is unemployment benefits!!" //// Always a pleasure to read you. Very well said.
June 26, 2010 at 1:17 PM Report abuse
Chainyanker said...
Snowe's worth between 13 and 46 million. Collins has a super pension all lined up. Must be nice. Vote these two clowns out the next time they come up for re-election. It's the worst economy in 80 feaking years and they are using the "tough love" approach? Screw them and the Republican boss's they line up with.
June 26, 2010 at 3:36 PM Report abuse
Chew said...
Just because I may qualify to finance "things" like a nice house or a new car does not necessarily mean that I should finance those things. Basing a lifestyle on a job that may not be there in a year, in my opinion, is not always a smart move. Of course we all like to think we are secure in our jobs if we work hard and perform well, but very little in life is secure (in my experience). As much as I "want" certain things I choose to wait until I can afford them with minimal risk. I am fortunate to have a home I can afford which may not be a showpiece but is just fine for my wife and myself. My cars may not be new but they are maintained and I can afford to replace them if necessary. It is, in my opinion, my responsibility to be prepared for an economic downturn so I prefer savings and investments rather than debt that might be difficult to afford.
June 26, 2010 at 5:56 PM Report abuse
trisailer said...
Tim you should have your own show on the radio, oh...nevermind, everything you quote is a tired old subjective view supported by a very small number of economists. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that if you give people money they will spend it and that very fact will keep things moving. Put another way, watch what happens in a couple of months without it. We have plenty of money just ask the white collar welfare recipients who are buying up Land Rovers while working class people struggle.
June 27, 2010 at 8:46 AM Report abuse
Jawest said...
Good points JJ The rest are DEMORAT Socialists who are driven up the Debt to well over 13 TRILLION without Health care. It is Socialism when the government owns over 60% of our economy Corporations create jobs Govt jobs are now more abundant and higher paying than the private sector.GM could have filed bankruptcy but OBAMA wanted taxpayers to be stuck with the union pensions
June 27, 2010 at 4:26 PM Report abuse
JWR said...
That's all part of the game when you reach that hill of thorns. Obama/Union or McCain/War and greed or Ron Paul/goes the way of JFK. So what's it going to be boys ? Over 220 years America operates a certain way, and it ain't changing anytime soon. Call it what you want, demonize it, the fact remains, have you stood in a soup line of late..
June 27, 2010 at 6:13 PM Report abuse