Nancy's Letters of Unemployment, Part 1

Nancy's Letters of Unemployment, Part 1

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-----Original Message-----
From: Change.org
To: genny1@aol.com
Sent: Sat, Jun 5, 2010 3:22 pm
Subject: You received a message about "The 99ers need a Tier V added to Unemployment Benefits"

Hey Nancy,

You have received the following message from the creator of the petition "The 99ers need a Tier V added to Unemployment Benefits" on Change.org

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LETTER 9
The petition has 31,349 signatures.
There is something coming up that could turn out to be some good news for us.
I know we're all disappointed with the way things have been going for the 'exhaustees,' those of us who have exhausted all unemployment benefits, which includes the 99ers. However, there's something else brewing that seems to be in our favor and a little action on our part might help it along.
Senator McDermott, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee (the seat of power where our issue is concerned), has announced a special hearing on the long term unemployment problem to be held on, June 10, 2010. Experts have been invited to address the Committee on that day, and the rest of us are invited to make written submissions in a format described below. June 10 is for the invited experts, the Committee will continue to discuss the issue after the 10th.
Here's an excerpt from the advisory:
In announcing the hearing, Chairman McDermott stated, "Our first step to respond to long-term unemployment is obvious -- continue the emergency federal unemployment programs to prevent millions of workers from losing their benefits. If we can afford wars, tax cuts, and bank bailouts, then we can certainly afford to maintain programs for workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. But we also need to think about additional steps to help those trying to return to work. An increasing number of Americans who have worked hard and played by the rules are now finding themselves with no job, no savings and no support. We must not abandon these workers and their families.”
The whole advisory can be read here: waysandmeans.house.gov/press/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=11200
Mike Thornton from the Rochester Unemployment Examiner and I discussed the impact that personal stories have on the reader, and we are suggesting sending them to the Committee. This isn't our usual letter writing campaign because a submission to a congressional committee is published and has to follow a certain rather easy format, or it's rejected. (We learned a little about this with the official submission of the petition to Sen. Reid!)
We're hoping you'll join us by writing your story in your own words, using the Committee's format. This means you'll send an email with your story as an attachment. Certain information has to be on both the email and on the attachment. Your story itself, of course, is all your own words.
1) Please include the following information in the body of your email and also on your story attachment:
-Name:
-Attribute this submission to: (Your name again)
-Organization (if applicable): (No organization)
-Address:
-Phone Number:
-Contact E-mail Address:
-Title of Hearing: Hearing on Responding to Long-Term Unemployment
2) The attachment with your story should also include the same information as above. "The statement must be attached as a Word, Rich Text Format, or WordPerfect document in order for it to be considered for the record." It's the attachment that will be published.
3) Send to wmsubmissions@mail.house.gov "Please be advised that submissions may be published in the official printed record of the hearing and on the Committee’s website. If you have any questions, or encounter technical problems, please call the Committee at (202) 225-1721."
4) If you would like, you can cc Mike for possible publication of your story in his articles on unemployment. mike@layofflist.org
The page where I found the formatting information is
http://waysandmeans.house.gov/singlepages.aspx?NewsID=10951
You can watch the hearing by clicking where indicated on this page: waysandmeans.house.gov/Hearings/hearingDetails.aspx?NewsID=11201
I hope everyone does this. We have nothing to lose and maybe a lot to gain.
We have a new facebook page for the petition created by an anonymous supporter: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-99ers-need-a-Tier-V-added-to-Unemployment-Benefits/124398524249236
Issa
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Click the link below to view the message and reply.
http://www.change.org/messages/private/index?message_id=3417475

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Comments from my web page at:
Tier 5 Unemployment? H___ (heck)YES!
http://nancyg43.blogspot.com/2010/04/tier-5-unemployment-h-heckyes.html

14 comments:

ron1825 said...
im losing my house we need a tier 5 help

cdhooks7545 said...
Where are the jobs... I have two little boys that depend on my care, but they cutting off my benefits is scary how will I survive when every job I apply for is filled and I'M NOT EVEN CONSIDER. Trying to keep my head above water and stay strong for my kids. Please help

ron1825 said...
PLEASE HELP WE NEED A TIER 5 WE ARD LOSING AVERY THING

Effie said...
We need a tier5, I am losing all that I own and can't even find a shelter,we have no food,no money,no job. How are we supposed to survive? Effie/newjersey

Diane said...
Where is help for the 99er's!!! If we have been unemployed this long it is not for lack of seeking employment. I in my 34 years of working have never been unable to find a position; no one is hiring!!! I help my mother and disabled brother and am in fear of losing our home. Why are we constantly giving millions to bail out the banks and billions to keep our troupes in a war we have no business being in. I lived in NYC I watched the buildings fall it had nothing to do with Iraq. Now we are finally in Afghanistan hopefully to get the job done BUT imagine just giving the working poor one month of what it cost for the past 7 yrs to keep there. We could keep our homes, put food on the table, pay for water and electric etc. We are the so called richest country on this planet yet congress hems and haws about helping us Americans who have worked out whole lives, paid our taxes, voted for a new way and a change in how the middle class is treated. It will be a very, very sad day come next election if we are again left by the wayside. So please Senators hear our cry for help and do not let it fall on deaf ears.

cole68 said...
I will run out of the 4th tier unemployment extension in about 2 weeks. I am 41 years old and have worked hard and paid my taxes since I was 16. Now I cannot find work and I have no idea how I will pay my rent or buy food if my benefits run out in 2 weeks. I would love to be at work, but I can't find a job. Even jobs I am overqualified for there are others ahead of me even more qualified. Please extend benefits until there are jobs for all of us who want to work.

bla bla blog said...
Where are the jobs? A city the size of Stockton,CA and only 23 jobs in the Stockton Record yesterday. Half of those were military. Where did all that stimulas money go?
From middle class to sub-poverty in 99 weeks! We need at least one more extension. Help us Obama.

Davis410 said...
Help!!

I have used up my 99 weeks, still no work to be found. We need Tier 5 now. I realize some people believe that most of us are not even trying to find a job. That is not the case, there just is not jobs out there to be found.

TeePeezee said...
I have been without benefits for over a month now. My utilities are scheduled to be interrupted tomorrow. I lose my house after this month. I have 2 kids in college and one about to graduate high school. No one knows how much of a failure I have felt because I couldn't do more for my son's last year of high school. OMG!!! If I could just crawl under a rock and die I would. He's been great because he knows I really have had a struggle. Just think, over a year and a half ago, I was making $950 per week.I was only receiving $275 in unemployment and now its gone. I tell you US, I'm severly depressed over how our government can send billions to other countries while we the tax payers are slowly dying!!! can we say get our priorities together!!! Oh yeah! Not to mention my house flooded in the storms which came thru TN over the weekend. If my luck was good, I'd swear I had died!!!

Big C said...
As mentioned above, I will also have to succumb to foreclosure if a Tier 5 plan in not instituted by our legislators. I have been unemployed for about one year, sent out hundreds of resumes, interviewed, etc. Age does matter and not being 35 any longer, but late 50's, and female, does have a major impact on getting a professional job. I agree with statements or government bail outs for banks, etc. Yet, the middle class, which is dying out, can't make ends meet. Unemployment in PA is still at 9.4%! We need Teir 5 now!

Brenda Pearson said...
BJ,
Help I have not worked in 3 yrs.I lost my last job after 28 yrs. I moved back to Tn. my home have been looking regualry here even went to school for medical assistant still no luck I am 58 yrs. old no one wants to hire anyone at this age and changing carees has not helped I need the extra extension what are we to do. I would rather work than draw unemployment.You can't afford insurance our mortage payments or anything I was a tier 2 but had drawn for 99 wks.so yes I am one of the 99ers and if a tier 5 means another extension for us yes I am all for it and in the mean time hopes someone hires me

ajdbrat96 said...
I have been without benefits since March and no job in sight. I am losing my home, will be filing bankrupt, and have ruined my good credit without knowing when I will be able to fix it. I have a son who is entering high school and I am doing everything I can so he doesn't have to live with this burden of not having any money. He should not have to live worrying about his parents and their financial well-being. I am totally disgusted with our government and especially Obama. I cannot even bring myself to call him president. We are no longer the strong America that every other country knows us to be and it will only get worse from here. Continue to bail out the big corporations and let the little people suffer. I guess we don't matter to our government anymore. I will continue to look for work and do what I can to support my family, but I have lost my admiration for this country and am hurt to know that when the things got tough, the American government left us hanging.

Arn said...
My benefits ended in March and it has been a struggle ever since. I have continued to apply for jobs with no results, not even an interview. We desperately need a Tier 5 extension, hopefully just to make a few ends meet.

-----Original Message-----
From: Linda
To: genny1@aol.com
Sent: Tue, Jun 8, 2010 12:36 pm
Subject: [NancyG43] New comment on Tier 5 Unemployment? H___ (heck)YES!.

Linda has left a new comment on your post "Tier 5 Unemployment? H___ (heck)YES!":

I've graduated into Poverty. Once a prosperous Manager in Retail, making 60K per year, plus bonuses.. Now widdled down to a big fat Zero! PLEASE ADD A TIER 5 !!!! Until jobs are available we are a dying bread. Watch us wilt away Congress. Great job. While we paid your salaries and taxes all these years. I have nothing but disgust the way this Country behaves towards its own people. I am 53 yrs old with two teenage boys. I'm VERY capable of doing about anything..From cleaning bathrooms to Mopping floors. But I am considered 'old' now, and not entry level material!! Where are the JOBS? What happened to this so called Stimulas Jobs Bill ???????

Disgusted !

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Comments from my web page at::
Tier 5 Unemployment Benefits Extension is Sorely Needed by the Long-term Unemployed
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5453424/tier_5_unemployment_benefits_extension.html?cat=3
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BiG REG (Guest) 06/08/2010
I forgot to add something, I wanted to go from a five year term policy that just doubled with State Farm and get a twenty year term life insurance policy with Farm Bureau, they declined me because I was unemployed. I checked with John Oxendine insurance commisioner and they said insurance companies can do this due to financial restraints. I never missed a payment on life insurance with state farm and I cannot believe they can deny you life insurance because you are unemployed. I guess we're all just a part of statistics, unemployed and considered to be poor or not the average person.

Big Reg
(Guest)
06/08/2010
This is why we Must vote out all the people who are currently in office. These people are suppose to be helping the American people but instead we are all losing everything we have including our pride. They're all rich and don't care about us unemployed americans. I wasn't in office allowing our jobs moved to Mexico or overseas. They let it happen. That's why they, all elected politicians need to be replaced. This will send them a message.

Emily O (Guest) 06/07/2010
Seriously. It's time to put ALL of our country's money into it's OWN people. Not projects, not studies, not foreign lands, not the envionment, not... well you get it. OUR PEOPLE ARE OUR FUTURE Invest in them and the rest will take care of itself.

juanita
(Guest) 06/07/2010
People that are unemployed for longer than six months will be the new homeless employer is not willing to hire anyone that are unemployed and make it known: Client will not consider/review anyone NOT currently employed regardless of the reason." Now our elected officials have lost touch with the lower level of Main Street, whether democrats or republican no one is listening to the little people that put them in their seats.

Steve (Guest) 06/07/2010
Jobs priority one? Crumbling infrastructure, unsecured borders, environmental clean up (wonder how long the fishermaen will recieve unemployment if the fish don't return), so much needs to be done, but the feds say they can't create the jobs, it's up to the private sector. Was the "New deal" funded privately?, Oh yea, I forgot our country is broke. But somehow we find the funds for other projects. I was initally pleased with the job groth stimulus bill, being in construction, and needing a job, but when i saw the funds being whittled away with pet projects (rum importers need jobs too), I knew it would do little if anything to help the ailing construction market. Do the feds represent the best interests of the american people? Neveda passed the immagration bill because they said the feds were not securing the border, Lousiana tried to build berms to protect their shores because they said the feds were not protecting them, is that the new state of things?

Renae (Guest) 06/07/2010
Tier 5 Dedication by Blaze Records USA Recording Artist, Renae Go to http://www.reverbnation.com/renaethesexyrocker and in the music player is the song "The Government Stole Our Christmas" by Blaze Records USA Recording Artist, Renae. Spread the word on this song and let's see if we can get all of the politicians to hear it. Hopefully it helps get Tier 5 passed for the 99'rs that our Government has left behind and forgotten about.

Chris K (Guest) 06/07/2010
The politicians of this country have sold the American worker out for years by taxing us to death and sending jobs overseas and now they blame us for not finding a job! Throw the bums out!

Bob in Philadelphia (Guest) 06/05/2010
We can be assured that Congress will not pass a Tier 5 extension. They need the numbers to look better on the unemployment figures. Even though we starve in the streets and eat out of a KFC dumpster. Thanks Nancy Pelisi and all of the elected officals. We need to vote all of these people out of office. They can give money to corporations and they give bonuses away with our money but there is nothing for the American worker.

LENA IN SC (Guest) 06/05/2010
I HAVE WORK FOR OVER 43 YEARS AND BEEN OUT OF WORK FOR3 YEAR NOW I AM OVER 50 AND IT HARD TO FIND A JOB. I AM GOING FROM PLACE TO PLACE NOW TRYING TO FIND WORK NO ONE HAVE JOBS SO WHY CANT WE COME WORK THERE IN CONGRESS? WE WILL WORK AND NOT BE OUT FOR 240 DAYS OUT THE YEAR GIVE THE JOBS TO WE THE PEOPLE.AND LET THEM TRY TO LIVE OFF OF UNEMPLOYMENT LET SEE HOW THERE LIKE THAT .

will in ny (Guest) 06/04/2010
I never had a chance to buy a house or take out big loans worked almost 39 years, what is next lock us all up,because no more unemployment.I will be glad to take a job,but there is none.

Steve Frost 06/04/2010
Liked this article very much. Added it as a supporting link to an article I submitted today :)

Eric in Texas (Guest) 06/04/2010
Cindy im in total agreement with you, I am an unemployed professional and i would happily take there job for free.

Kevin (Guest) 06/04/2010
Hey Cindy, what's so bad about it is that they're all millionaires anyway.


Nancy G in Tennessee 06/04/2010
I think Cindy has a great idea there! I'll vote for it!

Cindy Hardina (Guest) 06/04/2010
I'll tell you how to balamce the budget, start cutting wages of Congress and then freeze them. Nobody in Congress right now in my opinion is worth the $170,000.00 they make. Would you do any work for the good of mankind while making this (GUARANTEED) kind of money? Cut their wages and make them live on a MODEST income. See how long it takes before they are whining
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LETTER FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, PRESIDENT OBAMA:

-----Original Message-----
From: The White House - Presidential Correspondence
To: genny1@aol.com
Sent: Tue, Jun 8, 2010 9:35 am
Subject: Thank you for your message

Dear Friend:

Thank you for writing me. I have heard from many
Americans who are losing their jobs and struggling to pay their bills.
Every day, I meet with my economic advisors to make sure we are
doing all we can to create good jobs and help Americans support their
families and pursue the American Dream.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) was
the first step to spur job growth and ease the pain of unemployment.
This measure was designed to save or create millions of jobs here at
home in industries such as alternative energy, health care, and
construction. By extending and increasing emergency unemployment
compensation and increasing access to health insurance, ARRA has
provided relief to millions of unemployed Americans and has helped
improve our Nation's economic outlook.

Many Americans, however, are still struggling to find
employment and provide for their families, and I am working to
promote additional job creation. To assist workers who lose their
jobs, I signed into law the Worker, Homeownership, and Business
Assistance Act in November, extending unemployment benefits
beyond what exists in ARRA. I also signed into law an extension
of COBRA benefits and partner with Congress to ensure that a safety
net remains in place for those who face long-term unemployment.

My Administration is also helping Americans return to work
by emphasizing job training in industries that cannot be outsourced.
Recently laid-off workers receiving unemployment benefits have
new opportunities to pursue higher education and job training
programs, including easier access to Pell Grants. To encourage job
creation in the United States, I am replacing tax laws that send jobs
overseas with new incentives to create them here at home. Available
assistance can be found online at:
www.dol.gov/recovery/implement.htm or www.opportunity.gov.

Together, we can help more Americans find and keep good jobs and
enjoy a healthy standard of living. To locate an employment center
near you, select your state at: www.dol.gov/dol/location.htm.
For information on benefits and opportunities for those out of work, I
encourage you to visit: www.dol.gov/dol/audience/aud-
unemployed.htm. To find career resources, you may call 1-877-872-
5627 or visit: www.careeronestop.org. While it will take time to turn
our economy around, I am confident that, working together, we will
emerge from this crisis stronger than before.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama


To be a part of our agenda for change, join us at www.WhiteHouse.gov


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LETTER FROM THE HONORABLE PHIL ROE:

-----Original Message-----
From: Representative Phil Roe
To: genny1@aol.com
Sent: Tue, Jun 8, 2010 1:17 pm
Subject: Responding to your message

June 8, 2010
Dear Mrs. Goodman,
Thank you for contacting me to express your opinion regarding H.R. 4851, the Continuing Extension Act. I appreciate your views, which help guide and inform me in Congress.
I understand and share your concern about the current lack of job opportunities in our economy. Due to the employment crisis in Tennessee, and across the country, it is critically important that we enact policies that will serve as job creation catalysts.
I voted for this legislation when it passed the House by a vote of 289 to 112 on April 15, 2010. This legislation authorized certain critical programs to continue to operate without interruption. I believe allowing unemployment benefits and Medicare physician payments to stop in this economy would have been detrimental.
Please rest assured that I will continue to stand up for common-sense, pro-growth solutions to strengthen our economy and provide job opportunities in the First District and across the nation. .
Again, I thank you for your opinions and look forward to serving you. Please do not hesitate to contact my office in the future. If you would be interested in receiving my e-newsletter, or for further information, please visit my website at www.roe.house.gov to sign up or contact me

Sincerely,

David P. Roe
Member of Congress
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LETTER FROM TENNESSEE CONGRESSMAN BART GORDON

-----Original Message-----
From: bart.gordon@mail.house.gov
To: genny1@aol.com
Sent: Tue, Jun 8, 2010 9:01 am
Subject: Re: Constituent Comments on Economy from Bart's Website

Dear Nancy,
Thank you for sharing your support for H.R. 4213, the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act. Hearing from you helps me better represent Middle Tennessee.
I agree we must continue to provide assistance to individuals and families as the economy begins to recover. I have repeatedly supported extending assistance programs through H.R. 4213, the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act. This bill provides much needed support to families during these tough economic times by extending unemployment insurance and releasing TANF Emergency Funds. Furthermore, the bill blocks a 21% cut in Medicare physician payments expected to take place on June 1.
In addition to providing this necessary backstop for people who are unemployed through no fault of their own, this bill will also create jobs. First, it will restore credit to small businesses that hire the bulk of American workers and enhance bond programs that spur construction jobs. It will also eliminate a tax loophole that for too long gave companies an incentive to ship jobs overseas.
The Senate will consider this package in early June. I will urge my counterparts to move swiftly to approve the measure and ensure that families can keep food on the table and find gainful employment as soon as possible.
Once again, thank you for getting in touch with me. Please do not hesitate to call on me again in the future if I may be of further assistance.
Stay in touch,
BART GORDON
Member of Congress


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LETTER FROM TENNESSEE SENATOR BOB CORKER:

-----Original Message-----
From: senator@corker.senate.gov
To: genny1@aol.com
Sent: Thu, May 27, 2010 12:44 pm
Subject: Responding to your message
Dear Mrs. Goodman,
Thank you for taking the time to contact my office regarding your support for a "Tier-5" extension of unemployment benefits. Your input is important to me, and I appreciate the time you took to share your thoughts.
In these difficult economic times, I understand the problems being faced by many individuals who have lost their jobs. Many Tennesseans have now exhausted their federal unemployment benefits and state-wide unemployment remains over 10%, making finding work difficult. On March 2, 2010, the Senate passed a short-term extension of current unemployment programs for the month of March. On March 10, 2010, the Senate passed a further extension that will carry unemployment benefit support through the end of the year. These measures simply continued all of the current unemployment programs, allowing folks to collect up to four tiers of extended benefits. However, at this time, there are no proposals to provide for a further expansion of unemployment benefits for those who have exhausted both their standard unemployment benefits and all four tiers of Federal Emergency Unemployment. As we continue to wrestle with our difficult economic situation, the insight and information you have given here will certainly help my staff and me more effectively look into this issue, and I thank you for your input.
Thank you again for your letter. I hope you will continue to share your thoughts with me as I serve you in the United States Senate.

Sincerely,

Bob Corker
United States Senator

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LETTER FROM TENNESSEE SENATOR LAMAR ALEXANDER:

-----Original Message-----
From: Correspondence_Reply@Alexander.senate.gov
To: genny1@aol.com
Sent: Wed, May 26, 2010 4:14 pm
Subject: Correspondence From Senator Alexander

May 26, 2010
Mrs. Nancy Goodman
Dear Nancy,
Thanks very much for getting in touch with me and letting me know what's on your mind regarding unemployment benefits.
I know that many Tennesseans are struggling to find work as our state continues to suffer from its highest unemployment rates in a quarter century. That's why in 2009 I voted for bills that provided extended unemployment benefits to Tennesseans who have lost their jobs for reasons outside their control, giving them more time to find new jobs during this tough economic time. I also backed legislation that extended the COBRA subsidy to 15 months, which gives workers who lose their health benefits the opportunity for a temporary extension of health coverage for themselves and their families.
As our economy has continued to lag, both parties in Congress want to extend unemployment benefits. The difference is, the majority wants to do it by adding to the federal debt, but senators on my side of the aisle want to do it without adding to the federal debt. In April 2010, I voted for three amendments - rejected by the Senate majority - that, without adding to the debt would have extended unemployment benefits.
Record unemployment rates are hurting, and it is important to get Americans back to work. I will continue to work hard to bring good-paying jobs to Tennessee and to support legislation that encourages economic growth and job creation, while also keeping an eye on our growing national debt that threatens our nation's future prosperity.
I appreciate your letting me know where you stand, and I'll be sure to keep your comments in mind as Congress looks at ways to boost the economy and help Americans balance the family budget.
Sincerely,
Lamar
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