The Colorado Independent

Posts Tagged unemployment benefits extension

Democratic lawmakers try to block vote on unemployment extension

By | 12.09.10 | 7:58 am

It seems that President Obama’s impromptu press conference on Tuesday to sell the compromise he worked out with Republicans on extending the Bush tax cuts and unemployment benefits has not convinced some of his fellow Democrats. Several Democrats in the…

Unemployment benefits extension no help for growing numbers of jobless

By | 07.23.10 | 8:55 am

Late Thursday afternoon, President Obama signed into law a bill granting workers out of a job for more than 26 weeks additional unemployment insurance payments, paid for by the federal government. The benefits had been in place since November 2009, but had lapsed for seven weeks — an unprecedented hiatus, given the 9.5 percent unemployment rate. The bill, held up in the Senate by Republicans concerned about the deficit, makes benefits retroactive to June 2 and forward to Nov. 30. In states with higher than 8 percent unemployment, workers will continue to receive up to 99 weeks of benefits.

Markey joins Colorado Republicans in voting against unemployment extension

By | 07.22.10 | 2:59 pm

Colorado Fourth District Democratic Rep. Betsy Markey voted with Colorado Republican Reps. Doug Lamborn and Mike Coffman against extending unemployment benefits to jobless constituents Thursday. Markey’s nay vote was expected. Markey, a moderate so-called blue dog Democrat who is engaged…

Senate likely to approve unemployment benefits extension today

By | 07.20.10 | 8:37 am

Today, Congress plans to vote to extend unemployment benefits, which have been held up in the Senate for an unprecedented two months. Lawmakers will reconsider H.R. 4213, also known as the jobs bill or the extenders package, as the vehicle for a $34 billion extension of benefits — retroactive to June 2, when they lapsed, and continuing through the end of November.

In unemployment benefits extension, a logistical headache for states

By | 07.19.10 | 8:48 am

On Tuesday, members of the U.S. Senate plan to vote on a federal extension of unemployment benefits, which has been blocked by Republicans for an unprecedented two months. The swearing-in of Carte Goodwin, the temporary replacement for the late Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), will give Democrats the crucial 60th vote to overcome a GOP filibuster and restore unemployment insurance to 2.5 million Americans.

GOP deficit hypocrisy sinks unemployment extension

By | 07.01.10 | 9:07 am

Both houses of Congress adjourned last night without passing an unemployment benefits extension of any kind, leaving for a weeklong holiday with more than a million Americans having exhausted their unemployment insurance benefits. GOP intransigence on this issue is difficult…

Reid searching for one more vote to advance unemployment extension bill

By | 06.30.10 | 12:28 pm

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is telling reporters today that he has won the votes of two Republicans for his extension of federal unemployment insurance benefits. He says he is one vote away from having 60 senators to vote…

Lawmakers playing political chicken with unemployment extension

By | 06.29.10 | 10:20 am

The battle continues behind the scenes on Capitol Hill as Democratic leadership tries to pass another extension of unemployment benefits, with or without various other provisions as part of a larger package that includes tax reforms and funding boosts for…