Emergency Unemployment Extension Expected to Take Back Seat to Tax Extenders

On Monday, the House recess ends, and representatives will be returning to Washington.

Before the recess, the Senate passed legislation to extend the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program, supporting the retroactive extension of assistance to job-seekers who are struggling to find employment in a rough job market. In theory, representatives have spent the last two weeks in their home districts interacting with and getting feedback from their constituents, including on long-term unemployment insurance.

While the House was out, we learned a few new facts about the health of the middle class and the opportunities available to working Americans, all of which support the argument that working Americans are facing real challenges in getting ahead.

  • The American middle class is no longer the world’s richest. Increases in American middle-class income have failed to grow at the pace seen in other countries, and poorer Americans are even worse off when compared internationally. After-tax middle-class incomes are now highest in Canada, and other countries such as Norway and the Netherlands are catching up.

  • Working Americans are vulnerable. Forty-three percent of Americans say that if they were out of work for a month, they would encounter significant financial hardship.

  • The number of the long-term unemployed has remained unchanged at approximately 3.7 million. These individuals, who are defined as those who have been jobless for more than 27 weeks, account for 35.8 percent of the total number of Americans who are unemployed, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

 

Given these statistics and the ongoing hardships millions of Americans are facing every day, one would think that the House would be poised to act on the EUC extension with a sense of urgency.

So what do we know about the House’s schedule for the next week?

As politicians return to Washington on Monday, leadership in the House of Representatives has the ability to bring the extension of emergency unemployment compensation to the floor for a vote. The benefits would assist more than 2.5 million Americans who are actively looking for jobs but are unable to find them in a rough job market.

But Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) is unlikely to bring the bill to the floor. While speaking to an audience after the Senate passed a bill to extend the EUC program, Boehner insisted that a new proposal be brought forward. Essentially, he told the Senate to start over. He also echoed previous comments that the package must be paid for (it is) and insisted that it include “things that would help get our economy moving” (without the bill’s passage, 240,000 jobs could be lost). Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) are reportedly planning to meet with Boehner to discuss the bill.

So what legislation will the House be working on next week?

Tax extenders. An expensive collection of tax give-aways that overwhelmingly benefit corporations is expected to be the first matter of business for the House on Tuesday. These tax breaks include incentives for corporations to move profits and jobs overseas. Included in this package is the “GE Loophole,” which helped General Electric – a household name in the United States – to avoid paying taxes on $27.5 billion in profits between 2008 and 2012 by moving profits offshore.

The House majority seems more than willing to extend a helping hand to corporations, whose profits are at all-time highs, but for working families, House leadership continues to deliberately delay and obstruct needed assistance.

 

The following are resources to make sure politicians continue to hear your voice on emergency unemployment compensation (EUC):

  • Urge your representative to support the unemployment extension when the issue comes up in the House by entering your zip code here. You’ll be directed to a letter put together by the Half in Ten campaign.

  • Call your representative using this number, provided by the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME): 877-363-6141.

  • Share your story via our web form here, which we will share with representatives and journalists to highlight the urgency of renewing unemployment insurance.

  • Join our Google Group to share stories and resources with others who are either unemployed or passionate about the issue.

  • Stay in touch with the Center for Effective Government by signing up for our e-mail updates and action alerts here.

  • Find links to the Center for Effective Government's recent blog posts on unemployment insurance here.

 

For Further Reading:

Emergency Unemployment Benefits Bill Passes the Senate, Increasing Pressure on the HouseThe Fine Print blog, April 8, 2014

Stories of Americans Cut Off of Emergency Unemployment CompensationGovernment Matters, April 22, 2014

Emergency Unemployment Extension Expected to Take Back Seat to Tax ExtendersThe Fine Print blog, April 25, 2014

Technically Speaking: Making Sense of Discharge Petitions, Cloture and FilibustersThe Fine Print blog, May 5, 2014

Unemployed Americans Kicked Out of Capitol, Forced to Share Their Stories OutsideThe Fine Print, May 10, 2014

Six Months after Emergency Unemployment Benefits Expired, 2.8 Million Americans Left BehindThe Fine Print, May 20, 2014

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Everyone keeps hearing the long-term unemployed and EUC compared to welfare. Even though anyone with any sense knows there are vast differences, let's just say EUC is exactly the same as welfare...... I would dare any politician (Republican or Democrat) to just "turn off" welfare benefits! They don't dare touch the issue. No reforms to welfare, no reduction in benefit amounts, no deduction in time for participants to be on welfare, no cracking down on billions of dollars in abuse to the system! I wish they would treat EUC like welfare!
Tnt and 411 Thank you for the insight.
NEWS FLASH!.. NBC NIGHTLY NEWS... Woman has a Heart-Attack (Survived-Fair Condition) In Front Of a Washington DC Government Building; two Secret Service Agents gave First Aide until Paramedics arrived on scene. How Does This Related to OUR EUC Passage Cause?... NATIONAL NEWS COVERAGE IS ACCESSIBLE For One Woman's Medical Emergency In Front Of A Government Building In OUR Nation's Capital (Broadcast by NBC's Brian Williams) So IF ONE WOMAN GETS NATIONAL NEWS COVERAGE IN WASHINGTON DC; Do You SUPPOSE 300 TENACIOUS EUC Bill Passage PROTESTERS Would Be Ignored?. An Aggressive /Organized EUC ACTIVIST PROTEST IS PARAMOUNT In The ADVANCEMENT Of This Retroactive EUC Bill. Washington DC Is Without Question the EPICENTER For Gaining NATIONAL NEWS COVERAGE. Regardless of the Outcome (April Congressional House Calendar) On this EUC Bill; Ultimately This Organized Protest Is Inevitable. Wealthy Politicians have established a "Pattern" Of "Self-Serving Agendas". IT Doesn't seem to be any way around It. Incredible, the Power Of One.
That's DYNAMITE* TNT (8:46pm) BULLS-EYE!... That's POWERFUL!... Like that 6.7 in Washington State (Felt in Parts Of Oregon) WE Would Surely Like to Have You in the Congressional House. Someone Like US who is Able to Cut-Through-the Red-Tape and Political Agendas'. Elect: Lady TNT for State Senate!. BIG Smile...
Again: WE CALL ON ANY WASHINGTON DC AREA CITIZENS THAT HAVE BEEN DEVASTED BY THIS 4MONTH LONG BIPARTISAN STALEMATE ON THE PASSAGE OF THE CURRENT RETROACTIVE EUC BILL BY OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES; TO PLEASE REACH OUT TO US HERE ON THIS CENTER FOR EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT SITE THAT WE MAY NETWORK, STRATEGIZE & ORGANIZE AN LAWFUL-EFFECTIVE NATION-WIDE PROTEST; TO BRING THIS DEBILITATING "BIPARTISAN STAND-OFF" TO A SWIFT END. There Is Great Strength IN OUR Numbers!. UNITED WE STAND... IT"S [PAST] TIME TO PUT AMERICANS (Working-Class) FIRST!... LET's GET THIS THING DONE; FOR-REAL.. Thank you In Advance For United With US, WE The PEOPLE; DEMANDING A MORE PERFECT UNION...
Betrayed: If only we lived closer to D.C! Those politicians would see our mugs on a daily basis! Why are people in and around the area not protesting!? They say Boehner likes to hang out at local establishments with the "pions." Why do people not confront him there? He also goes to athletic events etc....people need to start peaceful protests to embarrass him into action! I just don't understand!
Yeah Lady Dynamite, When I saw that NBC Nightly News (with Brian Williams) Story Covering the woman's Medical Emergency; It Shook me! Like Wow!... How Can That Story Make The Evening National News... That's Exactly what We've been Talking About (Almost 2 Weeks Now!) . Well, I'm going to continue reaching out to those in the DC Area. In addition encourage My Modest Local EUC Advocacy Group To "Keep-The-Faith and Keep Marching". IT's CRUNCH-Time... Can We Post Our Cause On Milk-Cartons.? BIG Smile... BTW, I Just read Jessica's Story On YOUR Site Leadership and OUR EUC Cause FAMILY. T'was EXCELLENT. Thank You TNT, For Stepping Forward at a Critical-Time in America. May GOD Richly Bless You
I rather move to another country than living here in the goo old USA. Out government sold us out years and getting richer by getting "kick backs" from the big corporations. We need to all of us to stand up and fight!!!
For the last 2.5 hours I have been reading tweets, re-tweeting tweets, and tweeting tweets!!! I see where a ten year old girl gave Michelle Obama her dads resume. I saw on here earlier where someone put a fax number to boneheads office. Can you please put it again? I think we all need to seriously fax our resumes. Then he will see not all of us can work this magic pipeline. He will see not all of us have or can work the jobs he thinks we need to be trained for. You know, those jobs that will be here in a few more years. Not over night. Sort of like them having to make cars with better fuel mileage by a certain year. That's all fine and dandy but we need better fuel mileage now or lower fuel prices like we need jobs a year ago!!!!!
For the last 2.5 hours I have been reading tweets, re-tweeting tweets, and tweeting tweets!!! I see where a ten year old girl gave Michelle Obama her dads resume. I saw on here earlier where someone put a fax number to boneheads office. Can you please put it again? I think we all need to seriously fax our resumes. Then he will see not all of us can work this magic pipeline. He will see not all of us have or can work the jobs he thinks we need to be trained for. You know, those jobs that will be here in a few more years. Not over night. Sort of like them having to make cars with better fuel mileage by a certain year. That's all fine and dandy but we need better fuel mileage now or lower fuel prices like we need jobs a year ago!!!!!