Unemployment Extension 2009 H.R. 3548 - Take Back Your Power
91Introduction
Everybody has heard of the stalls in Senate on the unemployment extension, H.R. 3548, while our nation's unemployed suffer because of the resistance of a few heartless senators. While they stall, many people are either going to lose their unemployment or already have. In fact, many will lose their homes. Ironically, some senators don't care whether the unemployed will lose their homes, but they're concerned about extending the time on a tax credit for first-time-home buyers. Does that make sense? Create opportunites for first-time-home buyers but to heck with whether the unemployed citizens of our nation can hang onto their home.
Each day they wait, another 7,000 people lose their unemployment benefits. Frantically, they search for another job, but with six workers in line for every job opening, few are going to be lucky. Since the recession began, 7.2 million jobs have been lost. No matter what economic policies our country implements, it's going to be a long time before all of those jobs are replaced.
US Senate
Understanding Congress' Office
In light of this situation, there is only one way these attitudes will change; we need to take our power back by voting different people into offiice.To understand what effect your representatvies and senators have on your life, you need to know how long each one holds office.
There are 100 senators in the United States. For each state, there are two senators. They must be at least 30 years of age and a citizen of the United States for nine years. More importantly, a senator's term of office is 6 years. SIX YEARS. Therefore, each time you elect or re-elect a senator, their decisions will affect your life for six years. As of 2009, their senate salary is $174,000 per year. In addition to their salary, they recieve the same retirement and health benefits as federal employees do. The amount of their retirement pension is based on their years of service and and the average of their three highest years of salary. According to Wikipedia, "In 2006, the average annual pension for retired senators and representatives under CSRS was $60,972, while those who retired under FERS, or in a combination with CSRS was $35,952." This is definitely not shabby, how many of you make that much per year? An added piece of information to chew on, according to Wikipedia, as of June 2003, at least 40 senators were millionaires. Supposedly, the median net worth in the Senate is $1.7 million. Comparably, only one percent of Americans are millionaire.
In contrast, there are 435 representatives in the House. Each state gets at least one representative and how many more they recieve is determined by the state's population. For instance, California is the most populous state in the Union, and it has 53 representatives. Unlike a senator, a representative's term is only two years long. However, just like a senator, they earn $174,000 annually. After serving five years, representatives are eligible for lifetime benefits including pension and health benefits.
Considering this information, although both the House and Senate can affect your life, since a senantor's political lifespan can affect you far longer a representative's, care must be taken, especially, with who you vote into the Senate.
Conclusion
If you're tired of your leader's insenstivity to your problems, there is only one way this is going to change. YOU HAVE TO VOTE! Even though more people voted in the last presidential election than any other time in history, the percentage of eligible people who vote is still less than stellar. According to Answers.com, 61.7% of eligible people voted in the 2008 Election. Consequently, if you don't vote, there may be people elected who don't represent your beliefs and convictions. And, in the case of senators, once elected, they will be in office for six years, like it or not.
The table below lists all senator who voted nay even once on the unemployment extensions throughout 2008-2009. In addition, their re-election year is listed. If you don't like what your state's senators are doing, vote them out the next election.
Re-elections of Nay-voting Senators
Nay Senators
| Re-election
| Cloture Vote H.R. 3548
| H.R. 6867
| H.R. 2642
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY)
| November 2012
| Nay
| Nay
| Nay
|
Sen. Christopher Bond (R-MO)
| November 2012
| Nay
| ||
Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY)
| November 2014
| Nay
| ||
Sen. Thomas Coburn (R-OK)
| November 2014
| Nay
| ||
Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX)
| November 2012
| Nay
| ||
Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC)
| November 2014
| Nay
| Nay
| Nay
|
Sen. Micheal Enzi (R-WY)
| November 2012
| Nay
| Nay
| Aye
|
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
| November 2014
| Nay
| ||
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
| November 2010
| Nay
| Nay
| Aye
|
Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK)
| November 2014
| Nay
| Nay
| Aye
|
Sen. Micheal Johanns (R-NE)
| November 2012
| Nay
| ||
Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL)
| November 2014
| Nay
| ||
Sen. Rober Wicker (R-MS)
| November 2012
| Nay
| ||
Wayne Allard
| out of office
| Aye
| Nay
| |
Larry Craig
| out of office
| Aye
| Nay
|
BREAKING UNEMPLOYMENT NEWS! H.R. 3548 - November 4, 2009
- Senate Passed Ammended Version of the Unemployment Extension Act - H.R. 3548
After listening to a great speech by Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND), as I type at 4:30 pm, the Senate is taking their final vote on the Unemployment Extension Act of 2009, H.R. 3548. Since September 23, people...
Want to Work from Home?
Do you like writing too? Do you want to share your thoughts and ideas and make money at the same time? If so, you have come to the right place! Hubpages is a great place to write! You can make money in four ways - Adsense, Amazon, Kontrera, and Ebay. Furthermore, Hubpage members are friendly and willing to help you learn the ropes. Sign up with Hubpages today for free!
PrintShare it! — Rate it: up down flag this hub
Comments
These politicians need to do what is right for the country and stop worry about what party their in and what money they get to be for a special interest group. Enough is enough. If they can not give you a good reason why they voted NAY get rid of them next election. Period END OF Story. Wise up America.
I may be all wet on this but I understand those who voted nay wanted to use the remainder of the stimulus package to fund the unemployment insurance extension and the majority wants to continue the extension with an existing tax on companies to fund the insurance who will pass the cost into the product or service; in the end we will be the ones footing the tab. Pass the da#n bill already.
PLEASE! Pass the bill already! I'm 59 years young so not exactly in the most desired catagory for employers and I've already lost my house! To top that off, my unemployment benefits just ran out!
I have been off work for 2 years. Looked for a job everywhere but im 52 and not their first pick. My husband works everyday trying his best to keep us with a home.I just need help right now till something comes my way.
If you believe that the nay votes was because the remainder of the stimulus package was not used to extend unemployment you are barking up the wrong tree and oviously not paying attention. This was not even brought up until we heard of the NAY votes. Come on get real pay attention to what is going on.
This is essential to at a minimum keeping people from rioting. When you have educated and intelligent people without a job, home, and food, things are bound to get UGLY. I lost my job 2 years ago. Because I a found a job in a carreer unrelated to my degree, I no longer can really use my degree. The job I had was very specific. I've been told for every interview I've had, which is not many, that I've been out of my degreed field for too long, or for the low-paying mindless jobs that I'm over qualified. The more time goes by, the harder it is to explain the gap in work history. Volunteering is experience, but it doesn't pay the bills. Wall Street got not 800 billion, but untold trillions, with out any designations or demands on where that money needs to go.
We the taxpayers borrowed money (at an interest rate) to give to these thieving, greedy, lying dirtbags because they gambled their companies and lost. All so they could lend the money back to us at, yes, interest! WAKE UP AMERICA! TAKE BACK YOUR COUNTRY!!!
Call you senators and representatives and let your voice be heard!
Hey folks - H.R. 3548 was passed in the Senate this afternoon with no nay votes!
Good posting, lots of datas and infos there
We don't have any money to hand out to unemployed people. The country is broke. We need to solve our own problems.
I'm 43 and unemployed 2 years now. I've worked since I was 11 years old. I don't like not working. Watching the senators stall, I could not help but think of why. I would love to know how much the banks profited during this time. Folks bounce a check in order to feed their children. Credit card companies ( and I'm sure others) profited greatly off late fees. Then the late fees put them over the limit, thus, overlimit fees. Of course this gives cause to raise interest rates. I know this happens. My last job was at Bank of America. I worked in checking and credit card. I have no doubt the REPUBLICANS Big Buddies profited nicely from the stall tactics that took place. It made me sick. I haven't been able to afford my medicaations since my benefits ran out at the end of Sept. My 1st check will not even cover late fees and money owed from begging relatives to borrow "a few bucks". The snowball effect this has caused will affect many. My story is nothing compared to the hardships many others face and, all in the name of what??
Had the true traitors to this great country not stalled this bill for so long, without any thought to the many thousands of Americans who are suffering, I would not be waiting for the "seizure" to come. I cannot afford medication, nor can I see my doctor. I have no money for my child to receive medical care, and I have resorted to shoplifting to feed her. I owe everyone I know, and relatives now run when they see me and my daughter coming. I have never been on more medication that I cannot afford in my life, therefore as the money ran out with no jobs in sight I had no other choice than to stop taking my meds although stopping without the advice of a DR. can be more detrimental to my health. But who cares? Surely not the true patriotic American down in Washington who did all they could to hold up this bill while children suffered and homes were lost. Yes, that is the true compassion, of the so called true American who did not care if a fellow American lived or died. THE GAME OF POLITICS WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN OUR LIVES!!!! Shame on Washington and Obama for making that promise, and shame on every Republican who stood up to oppose that promise in the face of so much suffering. When I think about their regard to American life I do not see much differrence between them and a 9/11 suicide bomber. They forget that they are human beings in order to please a party. The Obama Dems are weak, and the Republicans have become the most divisive faction since the apple, the snake, and the Garden of Eden. And they all should be held responsible for the breakdowns, starvation, and homelessness that is occurring daily because theyh want to play WhiteHouse Games. Damn them All!!!!
aS FOR THE OH SO UNCOMMON SENSE OF "COMMON SENSE" UNLESS YOU ARE AN ISLAND, THE UNEMPLOYED DID NOT BREAK THE COUNTRY. THEY WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED UNEMPLOYED HAD THEY NOT HELD JOBS THAT THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN THEY LOST. AND THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN ARE THERE ANY JOBS, OR ANY OF THOSE CORPORATE RAPISTS BREAKING DOWN THEIR DOOR TO GIVE THEM ONE! DID YOU EVER THINK WHY THE COUNTRY IS BROKE? DO YOU HAVE A JOB TO GIVE AN UNEMPLOYED PERSON? ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 2ND GRADER? PEOPLE WERE SOLVING THEIR OWN PROBLEMS WAS IT THEIR FAULT THAT THEY BOUGHT A BOGUS BAG OF GOODS? I BET YOU BLAME THE MURDERED VICTIM BEFORE YOU BLAME THE MURDERER. WHEN YOU SAY WE NEED TO SOLVE OUR OWN PROBLEMS, WHAT IF EVERYONE'S SOLUTION WAS TO TAKE WHAT THEY NEEDED BY FORCE FROM PEOPLE LIKE YOU OR ME. REMEMBER WHEN TIMES ARE HARD CRIME RISES. GO BACK INTO YOUR HOUSE AND LOCK YOUR DOORS. AND CACKLE BEFORE YOU LAY YOUR NEXT EGG.
Rick in Niagara Falls, NY says:
4 weeks ago
This is a true emergency, there are no other options at the moment. Tons of applicants for very few jobs, and you may have the perfect qualifications and still don't even get the interviews. We are trying so hard, having to look for a job is a full-time job and then some, now a days. Please please please the only way I can continue to have a roof over my head and my family is with the Unemployment Insurance extension,...... This is critical, it is a matter of having shelter and money for food ..... BASIC NEEDS PLEASE !!!!!