Jobless Angry at GOP Governors for Playing Politics over Unemployment Funds
By Susie Madrak Friday Feb 27, 2009 9:00amI guess the Republican governors are counting on their residents becoming so poor, they won't have TVs and so they won't find out what they're missing in other states? I really don't see the point of playing such heartless games with peoples' lives:
For people like Henry Kight, 59, of Austin, Tex., the possibility that the money might be turned down is a deeply personal issue.
Mr. Kight, who worked for more than three decades as an engineering technician, discovered in September that because of complex state rules, he was not eligible for unemployment insurance after losing a job at a major electronics manufacturer he had landed at the beginning of the year.
Unable to draw jobless benefits, he and his wife have taken on thousands of dollars in credit-card debt to help make ends meet.
It is precisely these kind of regulations, involving such matters as the length of a person’s work history or reason for leaving a job, that the federal government is trying to get the states to change. Such a move could extend benefits to an estimated half-million more people, according to the National Employment Law Project, a liberal group in New York that supports the changes.
Mr. Kight and other unemployed workers said they were incensed to learn they were living in one of a handful of states — many of them among the poorest in the nation — that might not provide the expanded benefits.
“It just seems unreasonable,” Mr. Kight said, “that when people probably need the help the most, that because of partisan activity, or partisan feelings, against the current new administration, that Perry is willing to sacrifice the lives of so many Texans that have been out of work in the last year.”
He was referring to Gov. Rick Perry of Texas, who has said he may decline the extra money rather than change state policy.
[...] The anger at the governors’ positions goes beyond just the unemployed workers who could directly benefit from the changes. Because eligibility rules for unemployment insurance are complicated and vary by state, many unemployed people do not even know whether they would be affected.
[...] As a result, many laid-off workers across the South have been fretting over precisely what they might lose out on, even as they express astonishment that they might not receive the help that jobless people in other states will get.
“I don’t understand the whole thing,” said Kelley Joyce, 43, of Myrtle Beach, S.C., about indications from Gov. Mark Sanford that he may reject some of the stimulus financing in that state. “Apparently because he has money and he doesn’t have to worry about everybody else who doesn’t have money.”
Well, Kelley, it's not about logic! It's about political ambition and power, and you should be grateful that your life will serve as a stepping stone for your GOP betters!
All better now?
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I think the GOP governors should rethink their strategy of pissing off a redneck constituency that has waaaaay too much time on its hands.
SECOND AMENDMENT!!!!!
Good point.
...method for telling your governors what you think of them. It's called impeachment. If your state reps don't want to pursue that route, start recalling the reps.
Bottom line here: YOU need to take action to get this bullshit corrected. It ain't gonna happen by itself!
..is not an impeachable offense.
The best thing is to vote the dopes out of office as soon as possible. As for the money, the representatives should be able to override the Governor's refusal. If not, there's that vote thing and make sure the reps know it!
Impeachment would not work, but I know that Arizona once tried to recall their governor (don't remember if it was successful) but there are ways to oust these guys before the next election if enough people think it should be done and are willing to help do it.
let me see, the governor of Calf,a Dem was kicked out of office. a repug started it because of how much money in the hole. then Arnie gets elected? Hey arnie how that BUDGET going. when its a Dem with a bad budget you repugs recall him. But when a repug goes in the hole, thats OK. what a bunch of chickenshit assholes.
I live in Texas and wrote to Perry as soon as I heard he was considering turning down stimulus money. Wonderful man that he is, the Governor of my state, representing me, never replied.
I'm not umemployed, but I do own a small business which would benefit greatly from stimulus money as I work on new schools, school renovations, hospitals and universities.
But my elected governor choose not to take the time to address my concerns. What a dick.
...such a great place if you didn't have all the ditto heads that you do. Good luck with your business.
most Texans I knew hated Bush as governer, and were not all the right wing yokels northerners seem to think they are...
Way funny.
...in Austin at the time? No doubt there are a few liberal bastions in Texas, but by and large they buy the neocon's lies hook line and sinker. How else could a jackass like John Cornyn get reelected?
He said he was in Dallas. Bush was still quite popular here in Texas in 2008. That's why I found Tom's comments way funny.
You think your governor has time for you?!?!
He has real important issues to deal with...like deciding which public land to turn over to his oil company donors. And once he gets done with that, then he has to go and rail against the EPA...so he can get regulations reduced for his oil company donors, and once he's done with that, he has to go on tv and rail against big government, so he can get tax cuts for his oil company donors...and after that long day...he has to look forward to a long nite of being ridden like a rented mule by his oil company donors.
They just haven't figured that out yet. Although some are apparently beginning to approach a point where grizzly bear like rage is possible.
I hear he's a Muslim too. Come on! His parents are from a Middle Eastern country. If we vote for Jindal he's going to force everyone to face Mecca. Any of this sound familiar?
Hindi by his parents but converted to Christianity (I assume) to further his political aspirations.
We need to get this rumor moving just like they did to Obama. We're talking right wing nuts who take orders from Rush Limbaugh. It wont be hard at all.
We're better than them.
Bobby swam across Lake Ponchatrain in the dead of night in hurricane winds on the back of a Tiger and rescued people from drowning bureaucrats.
It might be a good idea for the Govs to hire bodyguards against the gun-totin crowd of hood-wearin', tobaccy spittin, bible bangers without jobs, heh, heh, if ya know what I mean.
That's a good un cuz!
Y'll come back. Ya heeah?
Or maybe they shouldn't. If a few get "taken care of" the others
mightwill crap their pants.I wonder when the GOP leaders in the red states that have "carry" laws are gonna start reconsidering their position on that issue.
how bout everyone else here? Ya got ur' money parked in a safe place?
Or young, poor, and nothing to lose?
it's parked in my mattress.
And we weren't speaking of it.
What we were speaking of, is the blatant callousness, and utter tone deafness of the GOP with regard to the suffering of regular Americans.
you'll be one of those man hid money in mattress stories.
Homeowner owns a $400,000 home secured by a $500,000 mortgage. Homeowner is very concerned that the value of the home could drop to $300,000 in the next few years, which is when he plans to sell the home, and he does not have the $200,000 in cash to make up the balance and pay off the full mortgage.
Bank has a worse problem, because Bank has a $500,000 mortgage on its balance sheet but no investor is willing to buy it for more than $100,000.
bank actually put up any real equity capital. What does this say about our situation?
..like this from Colorado back in the eighties. Same deal, the property values tanked leaving people with houses/condos worth less than the mortgage. They just walked away!
Was due to explode sooner or later.
The jobless are just lazy. Otherwise they wouldn't have got cut... No hard worker in the history of ever got laid off. Nuh-uh no no.
they just could not pack up and go overseass with their jobs.
Actually helping people in need? That's so liberal!
As a result of a fire, Governor Perry is homeless.
As a result of a hurricane, "Bobby" Jindal had to spend hours in a boat trying to save people with only the help of an unlicensed, uninsured tiger.
And Sarah Palin will be forced to say "Thanks, but No Thanks" for that bridge to no employment.
Show some damn compassion.
No..no...stop...you're killin' me!! LOL! Wait..wait...I know...you had compassion for poor Mrs. Lay, crying about having to sell two of her five houses!
No..no...wait...we need to bail out all those poor Wall Streeters that can't keep up payments on the summer place in the Hamptons!
LOLOL!
Oh..oh..shhheeesh..oh...I think I hurt myself!! LOLOLOLOL!
wondering penniless through rich American grocery stores and seeing their family name on every shelf, humbled at the knowledge of what might have been if Daddy had stayed in the potato chip business instead of getting into energy derivative swaps.
Jindal only ever did a fly-over after Katrina according to news accounts. He lied in his address.
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and that tax cuts do not heal venereal warts. Bobby swam Lake Ponchatrain on the back of a Tiger in hurricane winds and saved hundreds of people drowning from bureaucrats. Period. Repeat it three times and view on FOX. Belief will follow.
You're tellin me...that tax cuts DON'T heal venereal warts?
Be right back...I have some calls to make!
I just wouldn't give the finger to a mass of armed unemployed and angry Bubbas. It's the mistake of disbanning the Iraqi army all over again.
http://whichwayisup.wordpress.com/2009/02/22/...
There is no such thing as a compassionate conservative when it comes to those of us who have already been born. Their only compassion is for the unborn and dead since they think the living are out to get them.
had 220 Million people entering Reagans recession 310 Million now in a full blown economic meltdown.
Hows that going to work out?
"That's a poor excuse for picking a man's pocket every 25th of December. Very well. Take the day, but be in all the earlier the next morning."
"Are there no prisons...are there no workhouses."
"If the poor should die, they'd best do it...so as to reduce the excess population."
Scrooge learned to find empathy- That is a virtue Republicans lack.
but unfortunately America has to live with the visits of the three Republican ghosts...
The Ghost of Deficits Past - Ronald Reagan
The Ghost of Deficits Relatively Present - George Herbert Walker Bush
The Ghost of Deficits Future - George Walker Bush
who walk among us in various states of real and imagined death and conviction.
Ever notice how many of these ghosts are Texans?
Update: The Bush family is not really from Texas. They are from the
Protestant enclaves of Joe Liebermann's home state.
"The poor are the poor, and one's sorry for them - but there it is." Henry Wilcox in Howard's End
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&s...
said... "Religion is what keeps the poor man from murdering the rich."
That's the answer...........isn't it?
I hope more people are getting Mad as Hell and deciding to do something about it. It is really our last hope. Obama is doing great in my opinion. He needs to still be held accountable and this damn society needs to be exposed to more information and a better media. Citizen Journalism for the win. And C&L of course.
Were about half way through the mute incomprehension stage. Watching a national death-watch scene on video screens.
For a moment, I read that as bettors, as in gambling with their constituents' welfare.
Which actually makes its own kind of sense, I think.
.....worrying about this little issue???
Don't you realize that some states are considering allowing GAY people to get married???!!!
sheesh.......what a sorry f*ckin' world this is becoming.
millions forget that Terry Schiavo and Little Elian were ripped from us by those who now turn their back on the sanctity of televangelical marriage.
Unemployment insurance will lead to the destruction of work!!
Gay rights will lead to the destruction of marriage!!
"Needs based education assistance" will undermine schools and American education!
All past and present GOP talking points.
that these GOP governors are just politically posturing for the TeeVees for the exposure... they will end up taking the money because they cannot accept some funds and refuse others...
That way they can have it both ways... Saying that they strenuously object to these funds, but then the other funds are tied to them, so their hands were tied and they had to accept the unemployment extensions. That way they can still appear to have their "fiscally" conservative cake, and eat it too.
Hopefully people are paying attention and will vote them out of office...
What do you mean guess it's all brainwashing and manipulation and has been since the day TV was introduced.
Gave it up over 15 years ago - no exceptions. Have not missed it - not even for a minute.
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the so-called "liberal media"? ;)
Perhaps Mr. and Mrs Knight would be happier if they moved out of the Land of PIS (Poverty, Ignorance and Superstition).
by spending trillions. Or spend our way out of debt?
Keynesian economics, New Deal, FDR.
doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.
Try to sustain the unsustainable.
you mean supply side economics.
Been tried multiple times...with the same results.
Please...do we really want to start quoting stats as to under which party and Presidents the country has grown the most or fastest.
Puleeeease.
Tax cut our way out of debt?
..who would rather see 25% unemployment, families in the streets begging, eating dog food and what not rather than see the Government use taxpayer money to help float the sinking ship.
leave the evangelicals outta this.
find your better varieties of dog food quite nutritious, but obey the Old Testament taboos when it comes to eating what not.
...what the old testament rules are toward eating what not.
when both Paul Volcker and George Soros both declare on the same day that the economic landscape is looking darker than the Great Depression.
it's getting darker for them...cause Obama wants to spend recovery money on regular Americans, instead of dumping it into the bottomless shithole of the corrupt banks and other "too big to fail" firms.
It should have been said long ago. The bets were bigger, the bubble was bigger, the population is bigger, ergo...
You don't need a Paul Volcker or a George Soros to tell you what is common sense.
Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kight? No?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGUB9Zc2Yos
great song
We can just put everyone to work by reinstating the draft and starting another war! That way we'll all be employed by the military industrial complex...
Mostly because I'm sure there are many in Washington thinking right along those lines.
to get out of this mess? We got your IWOT (Iraq and Afghanistant theaters,) Drone Wars (Pakistan), Drug Wars (Mexico, Colombia, and American Hip-hop settings), and the must win War on Christmas. I am not sure our wounded psyches can handle this even with forced conscription.
I think it was back in 2002 or 2003, the repugs Did up the age of the draft. It was 18 to 35, now it is 18 to 43. wonder what they had in mind.
Social Security entitlements.
Sarcastic, maybe. And yeah, I know that's how some people think.
Well at least we can buy time.
considered the consequences of alienating their base?
I'm thinkin.....not so much.
Ahhnuld is taking the money. God bless him :) We (Kahleefornians) need it, as do other states.
But to your point, most of them are playing politics. I don't understand the philosophy of most GOP politicians or the conservative American psyche that says it's wrong to accept unemployment benefits. It a fucking benefit that people pay into from their paychecks! It's a fundamental American right to collect unemployment if you lose your job. What's the matter with these people?
with these chimps
Its Friedman.
check it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NAIRU
Turn actual people into figures and bada-bing. Jeez.
Perhaps it's time to "Just Go American" on these states. Protest IN THE STREETS! AT THE CAPITOLS! Protest! Protest! Protest! Create the Mass's! And Protest! PROTEST IN THE STREETS! Over-throw the anti-American tyranny. Isn't Jindal's real name: Piyush? That's unAmerican too! Into the streets, that's where this will end.
Go America!
Maybe when their right wing leaders turn down the life blood of income for laid off workers to ingratiate their corporate bosses the red necks will finally at long last wake up. They have been duped and the pain poverty and infighting (not to mention inbreeding) has brought them has caused far too many of them to turn to drugs and alcohol. Hence the inbreeding. Stay clear, stay sober, you will make better decisions.
Choose to oust your red neck leadership, get off your piss pot, get sober, rethink your needs; and finally, at long last, vote Democratic.
Remember during the 'debate' on the stimulus bill how CNN and all the other corporate channels had on wall to wall Repiglican politicans, instead of economists, to criticize and undermine the Dems and Obama's stimulus bill in order to try, as ever, to brainwash the American people because of the Corporate Agenda ? Wonder now if they will actually go out and talk to real fucking Americans now who are suffering because of these Repiglicans and let them 'debate' this pig shit Repiglican politicians ?
This is so deeply disturbing that it is painful. It instantly had the potential to explode on these governors politically. What were they thinking? Even those who are NOT hurting in their states understand that others are. This country has come together in our common pain - we all care very much about the guy down the street who lost his job and he cares that others are losing their home.
The critical factors being overlooked speak DIRECTLY to the inability of the re-Thugs to govern, in addition to the glaring fact that they JUST DON'T GET IT. People without jobs, homes, health care, crippling debt, savings wiped out, no college for their kids, retirement money wiped out. AND THESE ASSHATS ARE DENYING THEM UNEMPLOYMENT MONIES??????
Re-Thuglic Governors are saying a great big fat "FUCK YOU" to their constituents -- and their constituents knOw it.
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Arnold (at least) has said he'll take any money anyone else does NOT want. Have to laugh.
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“Apparently because he has money and he doesn’t have to worry about everybody else who doesn’t have money.”
No shit honey. You just summed up the supreme GOP idealogy.
Poor? Out of work? Hungry?
Fuck you, we got ours.
.
Governors who don't care about the poor, who don't care about the unemployed, who don't care about the homeless, aught not get re-elected.
.
I hope people are watching and continue realize that, the Repuglicans don't care about anyone but the extremely wealthy. They toss redmeat to the base, in a effort to get their support, but then fling mud right back at them. This is further evidence of it.
We've been supporting those Southern states forever. Why are they suddenly too shy about taking federal dollars? If they don't want the hand-out, it's fine with me. I just wish they'd extend it to the entire federal budget. Maybe their work force will finally get mad enough to unionize.
All these bastards need to be kicked out of office and I think come 2010, there will be a lot more in the unemployment lines right with the citizens they screwed.
I believe if this shit continues and they put enough people out of work they run the risk of them coming after their asses and taking them out.
They should all be very worried about their actions.
Call it "Shooting yourself in the foot," or "Cutting your nose off to spite your face." The unemployed would have used those benefits to pay rent, buy food, etc. That means fewer dollars being spent at the store, and more folks living in a car while apartments sit vacant. If the unemployed decide to move to a different state, just before the census, it might cost them a Congressman. Idiocy...
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