Guest blogger De Walker is an activist who is deeply involved in moving the national discussion about unemployment compensation issues. I would like to thank her for preparing this informative discussion of recent events. Here Facebook page on this topic is entitled "Middle Class Americans."
July 9, 2010
The unemployed are left in holding pattern yet again due to political games. The house has passed a watered down bill by Senator Stabenow which excludes 99ers , tier 5 and Cobra Subsidy. They in addition passed a 30 day bill from the Republicans that included a $25 addition to benefits, Cobra subsidy and tier 5, but was only a temporary solution for 30 days. Both bills were passed to the Senate on June 30th and both parties refused each other offers. This development happened after the millions of the unemployed that had been paying for unemployment insurance benefits their entire working lives had been waiting for several versions of the bill to pass for over 8 weeks.
The watered down bill by Stabenow that excludes millions was due to finally break the Republican filibuster on the 12th of July with the help of 2 Republican votes and the vote from recently passed Democratic Byrd’s seat replacement in the Senate. That hopeful yet inadequate bill is yet again under jeopardy due to West Virgina’s Governor Joe Manchin political aspirations. He was given the duty by the Senate and the Secretary of State to quickly appoint a replacement for BYRD’s Seat in order to pass unemployment Insurance among other important legislation before the Senate.
Governor Manchin announced on MSNBC that he instead of appointing the seat he has decided to have the West Virginia Attorney General decide on whether they should hold an early election for Byrd’s seat in November 2010. Thus depending on whether they decide on a temporary replacement for Byrd’s seat or leaving the seat empty until November it will delay the legislation on the floor from a week to several months. Manchin does this action because although he said he would not appoint himself to the empty seat, he has announced several times that he would like to run for the empty seat in November 2010. West Virginia is using a rarely used local law to try and accomplish this political move at the expense of Millions of Americans.
The latest released info links from West Virginia Attorney General and Governor Manchin are at the end of this article.
De Walker
M.C.A.
Middle Class Americans-Facebook
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/38138942#38138942
http://www.wvgov.org/sec.aspx?id=32&articleid=2064
http://www.wvgov.org/uploads/WVAGopinion.pdf
http://www.facebook.com/?page=1&sk=messages&tid=1150745905141#!/group.php?gid=135166673173979
The unemployed are left in holding pattern yet again due to political games. The house has passed a watered down bill by Senator Stabenow which excludes 99ers , tier 5 and Cobra Subsidy. They in addition passed a 30 day bill from the Republicans that included a $25 addition to benefits, Cobra subsidy and tier 5, but was only a temporary solution for 30 days. Both bills were passed to the Senate on June 30th and both parties refused each other offers. This development happened after the millions of the unemployed that had been paying for unemployment insurance benefits their entire working lives had been waiting for several versions of the bill to pass for over 8 weeks.
The watered down bill by Stabenow that excludes millions was due to finally break the Republican filibuster on the 12th of July with the help of 2 Republican votes and the vote from recently passed Democratic Byrd’s seat replacement in the Senate. That hopeful yet inadequate bill is yet again under jeopardy due to West Virgina’s Governor Joe Manchin political aspirations. He was given the duty by the Senate and the Secretary of State to quickly appoint a replacement for BYRD’s Seat in order to pass unemployment Insurance among other important legislation before the Senate.
Governor Manchin announced on MSNBC that he instead of appointing the seat he has decided to have the West Virginia Attorney General decide on whether they should hold an early election for Byrd’s seat in November 2010. Thus depending on whether they decide on a temporary replacement for Byrd’s seat or leaving the seat empty until November it will delay the legislation on the floor from a week to several months. Manchin does this action because although he said he would not appoint himself to the empty seat, he has announced several times that he would like to run for the empty seat in November 2010. West Virginia is using a rarely used local law to try and accomplish this political move at the expense of Millions of Americans.
The latest released info links from West Virginia Attorney General and Governor Manchin are at the end of this article.
De Walker
M.C.A.
Middle Class Americans-Facebook
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/38138942#38138942
http://www.wvgov.org/sec.aspx?id=32&articleid=2064
http://www.wvgov.org/uploads/WVAGopinion.pdf
http://www.facebook.com/?page=1&sk=messages&tid=1150745905141#!/group.php?gid=135166673173979
www.msnbc.msn.com
You're post is factually incorrect. Gov. Manchin asked the AG for an opinion after the AG disagreed with the WV Sec. of State about the legislation. Republicans are threatening a lawsuit, so he's convening the legislature next Thursday to clarify the law. The Special Session will last a day or two. Without the Leg. action some Judge would probably hold up the process for weeks or months.
ReplyDeleteThe Governor has said repeatedly he will appoint someone in the interim as soon as they confirm when the special election will be held. (It makes a difference if it's a 6 month appointment vs. 2+ years.) The interim appointment will occur next week or the following at the latest.
The Governor will run in the election and barring a major upset will win. If Rep. Capito runs against him, she will lose and the Republicans will lose a House seat in the process.
The people holding up unemployment are the current Republican members of Congress -- not West Virginia's Governor.
Jim, perhaps Gov. Manchin like all politicians, has ambition and he is gaming this situation to his advantage. However, the reason he finds himself in this position is the opposition of the Republicans to anything that would make the Obama administration look effective.
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