Republicans Vote Against Unemployment Benefits Extension Again

Republicans (and one democrat, Ben Nelson) vote once again against extending unemployment benefits. Millions will have lost their unemployment benefits by the time Congress returns to work July 12. Republicans believe that unemployment benefits shouldn't be extended until cuts are made to the nation's debt. Many republicans also believe that people are too reliant on unemployment and that they abuse unemployment. Orrin Hatch wants people collecting federal benefits to pee in a cup first.

Benefits ran out for some people June 1. It confounds me that so many people are so willing to vote republicans back in office after the huge economic crisis we've had, which has left many people jobless. Unfortunately, most people don't connect the dots. They don't realize that the lack of federal oversight of Wall Street (republican ideology) led to the economic meltdown.

Somehow, republicans have made huge strides in selling the ideas: 1) the economy is Obama's fault 2) republicans are the fiscally sound party 3) cutting the deficit is the top priority.

It's all ironic to me.

The Senate adjourned Wednesday night after falling two votes short of passing an extension of unemployment benefits after a protracted battle about the nation's debt.

The vote failed 58-38 on the two-pronged measure -- 60 were needed to end a Republican filibuster -- that included a $34 billion six-month extension of unemployment benefits.
....
Reid expects the bill will get through the upper chamber once a replacement is named for Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) who died early Monday. Senators return to Washington for legislative business July 12.

The Senate did agree to a separate bill to give homebuyers an extra three-months to close on a purchase that qualifies for a federal tax credit of up to $8,000.

By the time Congress returns, more than 2 million people who have been out of work for six months or longer will have lost their extended benefits, up to 99 weeks in some states with high unemployment, according to the Labor Department. The Hill

Here's a good summation:

Frustrated with the inability of Barack Obama to magically fix in 18 months what it took years of right-wing incompetence, neglect and corruption to conjure, America has shifted its notoriously short attention span to the next shiny object -- the austerity fetish -- and collectively said "ooh, I want that." Politicians, typically followers as opposed to leaders by nature, are falling in line. The U.S. Senate last week couldn't even pass a scaled down, sheepishly modest bill to extend unemployment benefits and provide more aid to cash-strapped states. LVCL