Unemployment Extension for 2 Months Passed by U.S. Senate

A bill which would extend unemployment benefits and also extend the current payroll tax cuts was passed yesterday by the U.S. Senate. The renewed unemployment extension benefits comes as good news to many still struggling to find a job in this still struggling U.S. Economy.

The bill for the unemployment extension is known as H.R. 2055, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2012. While the bill passed, not all in congress were in favor of it. Many claimed that the bill did little to address the root of the problem, and that congress should have acted earlier in the year with real solutions for the economic crisis that currently exists.

Those in congress opposed to the bill also cited continued concerns about the growing U.S. deficit and see the bill as adding to that debt.

According to a report in the Brevard Times, Representative Bill Posey from Florida, issued the following statements as to why he voted against the bill:

“Too many in Washington still do not take seriously $1.4 trillion annual budget deficits, adding billions of dollars each and every day to our nation’s $15 trillion national debt. Americans watch in disbelief as Europe heads toward economic and social meltdown brought on by years of spending borrowed money. This bill failed to exercise the restraint needed to get our own budget in order.

The decision to abandon the 72-hour requirement for this 1200-page bill and rush through a stack of spending bills that should have been subjected to thorough review is disappointing. It’s been almost three years since the U.S. Senate has approved a budget. Senate leaders have once again waited until the last minute to consider appropriations bills, which begs the question: just what have they been doing all year besides having dozens of votes on raising taxes?

More American’s are finding themselves without work each and every day as businesses are strangled by regulation and saddled with thousands of dollars of compliance costs. It is imperative that the Senate take up and consider some of the jobs bills we have sent them so that American businesses can grow, expand and hire American workers.

The House, and more importantly, the Senate, should hit the ground running next year and work together to stop Washington’s wasteful spending and bring accountability to Washington. Let’s learn from Europe’s mistakes and turn things around while we can rather than rushing headlong into the same disaster.”

For those currently employed, the extension of the payroll tax reduction is welcomed news and will allow them to keep more of their pay check each week. For the unemployed, the extension in unemployment benefits may help make the holidays a little better.