If you chose to drop out of high school, you made an unbelievably bad choice. I really don't have any sympathy for those that do.

Fired up - Try reading the article instead of getting "fired up".

" or be enrolled in an adult education program working toward a General Educational Development, or GED, certificate"

If you didn't graduate and want to collect benefits while not even attempting to make yourself employable, then you are clearly leeching off your fellow citizens. Those who are trying can still get the benefit.

What if they're enrolled and fail because they're not cut out for education? I guess all they have to do is sit in a classroom and absorb the atmosphere to get paid. HEY! Why didn't I ever collect a paycheck for learnin'?

People drop out of high school for a family trade and become pretty knowledgable about their area of expertise. Granted they don't have much to fall back on outside the trade, but what they do they do well.

Typical Republicans... punish others as long as it doesn't affect them personally.

Although... President Obama would veto something this hateful before the ink dried, so don't over-stress this. It'll simply be more fodder showing the Republicans true colors. Find a way to hurt the poor but protect the rich from that evil 4% tax increase on income over $250K.

Ruken, you have no clue. I'm happy you never had to choose between caring for an ill parent or child, making money for your family, or finishing school, and I'm happy that you don't know apparently that family situations can make it hard or near impossible for a teen to finish.

pj, as usual you are wrong. There are many reasons people quit school, and most work their butts off after. Many are girls and have kids, and if they get some help they can finish school. But you would rather see them fail and their children be stuck in poverty so you can gloat and say they are leeches. Pitiful.

Many people with mental retardation get jobs. Yet, they are not capable of graduating from High School. All employed people pay payroll taxes, shouldn't they all get the benefits? Don't the mentally and intellectually impaired deserve unemployment if they have been working? This is their right! This bill would be unconstitutional!

Ruken, you have no clue. I'm happy you never had to choose between caring for an ill parent or child, making money for your family, or finishing school, and I'm happy that you don't know apparently that family situations can make it hard or near impossible for a teen to finish

The 6-8 that didn't graduate in my class were due to drugs and lack of motivation (they'd rather sit at home and play Halo). From my knowledge, at least 2 have been in prison since we graduated five years ago.

So for that, let's penalize everyone. Makes sense.

Ah, Ruken, so these folks in prison, they aren't eligble for unemployment insurance, then, Not having paid into the system?

See, the thing about insurance, like car insurance, or home insurance, or health insurance, is that you pay into the system, and may or may not need a payout. It's insurance. And in other situations where the insurance pool is inadequate, like a natural disaster, the government steps in with assistance. For the good of the economy and the country. It is not welfare, it's insurance.

What unbelievable arrogance. The distain held by the GOTea for common Americans is astonishing.

Is it just me or are the Republicans in the House trying to lose the election for their candidates? With crap like this no one is going to vote for them.

Everyone should have equal opportunity at employment regardless of education where education is not part of the job requirement. If you work at all for the length of time required to pull unemployment if you get fired you should be able to do so.

There is no way this law, if it even makes it to and through the Senate, is going to be signed by President Obama.

The problem with the GOP at the moment is that they keep trying to take things away from everyone without giving them any other viable option. "Let's yank unemployment for those without a diploma without then turning those funds to adult education programs." Even if it isn't leaving the vast majority of Americans in the dirt, it leaves enough.

We are judged by the way we treat our own.

Ruken - why do I totally doubt your post? What a bunch of GOP garbage!

How about if we make it so that you have the option to opt out of unemployment. Like, you don't have to pay into it but it is not necessary to pay into it if you choose not to, you just do not receive the benefits? Would that make it fair to all of yall who say it is an investment by these people?

Blame the unemployed for there being too few jobs available. The GOP are f'ing idiots.

If you're going to withhold unemployment insurance benefits then the employees should have the right to the unused unemployment payments made by the employers.

The Republicans need to get their heads out of their asses.

Let's force failed business owners to get a business degree before taking any government insured loans on any new businesses they create...

Workers don't pay into the unemployment insurance system. Employers do.

However, the long term unemployment compensation that has been paid over the past couple of years far exceeds what anyone pays in, so it's simply another element of the humongous Federal deficit.

It's time to dust off the ole George Carlin youtube video again.

George sums it up pretty darn well for what the GOP/Tea party is trying to do.

Rated R!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wV1lZMTCqf8&feature=related

So why was PJAM09 censored -- I don't get it. He was not abusive. I may disagree, but he has a right to his opinions just like anybody else. I am getting sick of all the censorship I am seeing on newsvine. The NAZIs are coming out of the woodwork. Time for freedom and tolerance in America. America is not a free country any more.

How funny!! this will starve the GOP base!!! When all the mexicans left alabama the employers could not find anyone to work. At one construction job fair 9 people showed up for 35 jobs. I love how the GOP elite is so far out of touch that they dont realize that it is their own base that is sucking the very life out of this country. I'm glad I only have 20 to 30 years left in this body because with the wingnuts in charge Idiocracy is a given.

I don't understand why they hate everyone who's not white and rich. I understand if they think they're better but I don't get the hate.

Obviously the author of this article flunked geography in high school since they think there are 51 states. Just one more example of the poor reporting on MSNBC. I have no problem with requiring those collecting unemployment checks to be working towards their GED if they do not already have one and are not HS graduates. Part of the unemployment program i supposed to be about helping people get back to work and education is obviously a big part of that.

While I agree that President Obama would veto any bill like this, I do wonder what a President Romney or Santorum would do with it.

I wonder what it's going to take for people who blindly follow the GOP/TP to start to see whats going on. I simply can't understand these peoples tendency to go against everything that's in their own best interest.

I have also wondered now and in past examples about just how the "community" collapses a comment. Often those collapsed comments seem innocuous such as Pjam09. One result is that all of the commenters to a collapsed comment are also collapsed, thus essentially censoring them in the process.

So I agree with the other commenter: What gives here with this strange censorship of non-insulting, reasonable comments? WHO exactly is the "community" that is deleting comments?

Well, it's easy to figure out the average level of education of most posters on this site by the posts that have been collapsed. Most of those that have been collapsed support having a high school diploma or GED.

This just another way to disnenfranchise the poor.

First off, these are federally funded extensions to unemployment. The people receiving these extensions have aready burned through their employer paid unemployment insurance. The U.S. Government (i.e. our elected politicians) is basically borrowing money from China and handing it out now to buy our votes. We the people get stuck paying it back sometime in the future.

It's kind of like me asking each of you who read this to peel $100 off your credit cards and send it to me so I can use it to go out and charm the ladies and get layed.

That said, I don't know that requiring a high school diploma is really going to solve anything. I personnally know someone who has one and spent all of last year vacationing in California while collecting unemployment in Oregon. Last time I talked to her, she was complaining that now she had to start looking for a job!

Guess which political party she belongs to.

What people are missing is that if you cut unemployment benefits, you reduce consumer demand, which leads to people being laid off. Same thing goes with cutting govt spending; it increases unemployment, which reduces consumer demand which again increases unemployment.

Republicans just don't get it; everything they talk about is killing the economy. They killed it in 2008, and are doing everything they can to kill it in 2012 while trying to blame it on Obama.

The policies they like led to the great depression in 1929 and the great recession in 2008. How many times do we need to kill the economy before we run these bums out of town? It is pathetic that we need to look to China and India to understand how economies work; govt healthcare and education, massive infrastructure investments with small military outlays. Not too complicated; just not their ideology.

Another GOP/Tea party style death panel in the making!

Sorry, you people that have no GED are now 3rd Class citizens. Report to the death panel for eradication!

What's next GOP, counting these people as 3/5 of a person. OOPS! Already did that before! I thought the 13th Amendment stopped this type of CRAP!

If these people are drawing unemployment benefits, they should not have to pass some test to continue getting the benefit. They obviously had a job to qualify.

Try working on a damn jobs bill instead!

Out of work and without a high school diploma? If you’re collecting unemployment insurance, you may soon be out of luck.

This is total bs. Why don't we ct back on congress and politicians salaries instead of attacking those that have worked and paid into the system with or without a hs diploma. I now people here in Iowa that work most of the year until winter hits, and then they are laid off since there is no farming work to be done. Most of them never graduated hs and rely on unemployment for the few mths they get it.

We all need to head to congress and start tossing these people out to the curb where their leeching azzes belong. We pay their salaries through our tax dollars, maybe it's time for the people to stop paying their taxes and supporting all these political leeches. There real isn't much the states can do, because there is not enough prison's for them to hold the people in. The people can break the system if they all came together as one and stood up against our crooked and corrupt government.

REVOLUTION 2012

What's the Gross Old People's next cool plan? Exterminate everyone who doesn't contribute large greenback dollars to their backward socio-religious cult?

This is America. Anyone who does not have a job should receive benefits. If they do not get a job they should receive benefits. No time limit. Unemployment compensation does not offer a affluent life style. Same for food stamps. No time limit. FOUR MORE YEARS. FOUR MORE YEARS. By then our president will have this country on the honorable path it should have been on before Republicans robbed everyone of their financial stability and dignity. FOUR MORE YEARS. FOUR MORE YEARS.

Drug testing too? Who will pay for that? Why don't we drug test all elected officials? How about all lobbyists?

What's the Gross Old People's next cool plan? Exterminate everyone who doesn't contribute large greenback dollars to their backward socio-religious cult?

The republicans motto and actual belief I think is: "If it weren't for all the damn poor people, we'd all be republicans... now just to figure out a way to get rid of them!".

The republicans are doing a great job at campaigning for the democrats. I actually want to hear even more from them about what they secretly debate behind their closed party doors.

"Opponents of the GOP proposals argue that jobless benefits are an insurance policy, into which workers pay premiums regardless of their educational background. They dispute the argument that benefits are a disincentive to work"

Ask any reputable economists and they will tell you that extended unemployment benefits do indeed work as a disincentive to finding a job. When people no longer get unemployment benefits, they will try much harder to find a job - anybody that doubts that is just blowing smoke.

Okay then. Bottom line. Let's say everyone gets a dipoma. Very nice. Now would someone like to explain to me just how this will create enough jobs to go around?

Attention republicans: There are not enough jobs. Period. And your folks in the House are still voting to reward those entities outsourcing jobs away from the U.S.

What in the he!! is the idea?

God bless Obama for saving us on a daily basis from the GOP. You know Roy Wilson the article said there are only 3.3 million jobs available and 33 million people out of work I guess you agree with Herman Cain that if you are unemployed it is your fault not that there just you know the ones the GOP/ Tea Party promised in 2010 if they where elected and don't give that crap abut the so called jobs bills passed by the House I have read them and all they do is reduce costs and increase profits for corporations but they do not create one job.

GOP, go for it. But don't EVER turn your back or go to sleep. Think 21 feet!!!

Maybe legislators who have more than $250,000 in assets should give up tax paid salaries and health insurance. Yeah like that's going to happen.

From the article:

“There really aren’t a lot of people out there who are working with the unemployed to make sure their job search strategies are effective as possible, especially in this economy.”

government unemployment offices need to start focusing on helping the unemployed find jobs again instead of simply being check distribution centers. UI IS a good idea, but simply giving out checks is not an effective way to aid those who are willing to work but may not be effective at writing resumes or communicating their skills effectively

reply to JS in SD, post 2.22 - Even before I returned to the article to check, I had figured out the answer "50 states AND the District of Columbia" which equals 51. The article said, in part, "....50 of the 51 states and the District of Columbia."

And no Socoal Security or welfare for them either. If we can't get jobs for them then they should just curl up and die?

dan42day, the article said that there was a "tabled debate on wider reforms to the unemployment insurance program." I am surmising that they are actually debating on whether to make more reforms to the UI program. Indiana has required drug testing for further unemployment benefits, and lowered the amount a person can receive, and also stopped seasonal workers from receiving benefits also.

I do not agree with the need for a GED in order to collect unemployment payments. Many people have stated that many people have gotten along in the workforce without the GED or diploma for many years. It is not the workers fault that our economy has tanked. It is our governments fault, and mostly the Bush administrations fault. They were so busy deregulating wall street and banks, because they were greedy, they could have seen this coming. Actually they should have known it would happen. You just can't have the foxes in charge of the hen house. These guys are just doing everything they can to stop the tax increase on their cronies. It is sickening and they need to be stopped. I certainly hope that come the next round of elections for each of their seats, the people in their states will give them a helping hand and put them in the lines with some of the rest of us. OH, wait, I forgot, more than 50% of them are the 1%. They have the best of the best when it comes to medical insurance FOR A LIFE TIME, they get all the perks that they want to completely take away from everyone else. They are a sad bunch of bullies.

My dad dropped out of school after the 9th grade. He worked hard, built a business, had 10 to 15 employees, and retired at 58 (due to illness). He and mom saved their money, lived comfortably in their golden years. So if for some reason his business had gone bust he wouldn't have qualified for unemployment? Oh, wait a minute, he was self-employed and didn't have unemployment.

The US is in a sad place when it comes to denying someone who has worked and earned unemployment, but is denied because of a piece of paper. Vote the bums out in 2012!

mikela

The republicans motto and actual belief I think is: "If it weren't for all the damn poor people, we'd all be republicans... now just to figure out a way to get rid of them!".

The republicans are doing a great job at campaigning for the democrats. I actually want to hear even more from them about what they secretly debate behind their closed party doors.

Hey, i think you just lifted your skirt. are you saying that the dems need poor people for their ranks and the repubs need rich people for theirs?

therefore the republicans want everyone to be rich and the dems want everyone to be poor.

im glad you admitted what we knew all along.

Galt 2012

Not at all. I mean afterall, I help support as many of you republicans through welfare and all the other support programs as I do any other party supporter. The only differance between a republican and an independant or democrat drawing public assistance is the republican never learned to be thankful for the help given to them and always seem to want to bite off their noses to spite their faces.

Bottom line being that republicans simply believe they are the only ones with a job or education and anyone else are leeching off them.

As a retired Union Carpenter, a good week with some overtime equals $2000. A week of earned unemployment benefits $500. So if $1500 less a weekly paycheck is not enough of incentive to try find a new job what would be?

Before the crash in my state there were almost 1 billion dollars in building construction. After the crash maybe 100 million, that's a lot of construction jobs that just evaporated, that's why I retired. I don't know about a GED, but I my state a PHD couldn't find a job after the crash. It's better now, but certainly not like it was!! And, by the way, to take from the poor and give to the rich is blasphemy.

My father worked his entire life. I only recall him being laid off once or twice. He had an eighth grade education. At the time, he had to go to work to help support his mother and siblings, as so many of his peers did in the 1930s during the Great Depression. Before he retired, he had risen to the rank of General Superintendent of one of the largest conveyor manufacturing corporations in the United States. He's been gone now for 15 years.

He received two purple hearts during WWII, worked in the mines, owned his own company for a while, did construction, worked as a millwright, and finally settled into the world of conveyors--all with an EIGHTH grade education. He wasn't the smartest man in the world, but he was far from the dumbest (who now set in the hallowed halls of our congress.) I'd like to see anyone of them do as much with what he had.

Bottom line: If you earn, you get paid--high school education or not!

(I'm all for everyone getting their education, I even tutored those working for their GED. But this is apples and oranges. To deny anyone their EARNED benefits because of their education is ludicrous. What's next? Someone with a college education, who is laid off, should be paid more?)

Many are girls and have kids, and if they get some help they can finish school.

My High school had a day care for students we were a small California school we only had 1,100 students at the record braking time in 99 we had about 16 kids in that day care.

To deny anyone their EARNED benefits because of their education is ludicrous. What's next? Someone with a college education, who is laid off, should be paid more?)

School is over life in not fair get use to it

Bottom line: If you earn it, you get paid--high school education or not!

That's not life, that's the (current) law.

Typo-error/correction in previous post--should be "sit" not "set" in the hallowed halls. Sorry about that.

Wow , There is a lot of mad liberal HS dropouts on here.

deleted

Jeffromac23 "You know Roy Wilson the article said there are only 3.3 million jobs available and 33 million people out of work"

Then perhaps Obama should encourage more job creation by businesses instead of punishing those that actually CREATE jobs and demonizing them.

PS - The jobless figure is about 13 million, not 33 million.

I bet there are more people out of jobs that they aren't reporting that tells me they'er lying to us so it'll look good for OBAMA this fall.

How about anyone registered as a Republican be excluded from receiving unemployment benefits instead??? I personally feel that would be a lot more fair to everyone.

I never graduated from high school but I do have 118 college semester credit-hours toward the 127 hours that I need for my degree in urban planning and environmental science, with a 3.5 GPA, on top of my 30 years of experience driving a semi, a career that I can no longer perform due to my declining eyesight and my loss of depth-perception at age 55. Heck, because of my declining eyesight, I can no longer use my private pilot's license and fly light planes like I did for 25 years either.

I was just in attendance at an urban planning and environmental science conference last week in Santiago and Valparaiso, Chile too, trying to come up with sustainable urban solutions to runaway population growth and an ever-shrinking base of natural resources to draw from.

But, because I have no high school diploma, I am not fit to draw unemployment according to some whiner Republican?

How about we just give Arizona what Senator Kyl wants and forcibly give the southern half of the State back to Mexico? I think that we would all be a lot better off if we did so too. Our border with Mexico would obviously be a lot more defensible if it included the 5000 ft of elevation gained between Phoenix and Prescott as a no-man's land too.

How about we force all of the unemployed just in the Great Lakes region to move to Arizona and swell that State's unemployment rate to about 75%, and give Senator Kyl something else to whine about instead???

How about we forcibly relocate half of all defense spending to States with the highest unemployment rates, which I think would be a lot fairer to all Americans too?

PS: to Roy Wilson: If we use the Federal U-6 unemployment rate, the same rate that the 1979-1983 recession was judged by, which includes both the discouraged worker, the group over age 55 now viewed as early-retired, as well as those working part-time who want full-time work, there are indeed close to 30 million Americans unemployed today, and if we were to include unemployed teenagers who want to work, (who are not included in our national U-3 unemployment rate) today there are well in excess of 30 million unemployed Americans. The U-3 unemployment rate that is currently used by the Labor Department is quite misleading as it grossly understates the real problem.

Furthermore, if the path of income redistribution from the bottom 80% of Americans to the wealthiest that has been growing steadily since 1980 continues through 2050, just 38 years from now, by 2050 there will be between 40 and 50 million Americans unemployed, and 2/3rds to 3/4ths of all Americans will live below the poverty line, a path which is clearly not sustainable unless 5 billion people all over the world die before 2075. Is that the kind of future that you Republicans are hoping for?

I'm voting Democrat in 2012 because I strongly believe that the Democrats support the kind of future that is fairest to all Americans, whereas I view the Republican platform as very exclusionary and firmly designed around their pet special interests, which are designed to make a small group of wealthy Americans the most money possible while soundly trampling on the rights, hopes, dreams, and lives of everyone else.

JD in SD,

The 51st state, in United States political discourse, is a phrase that refers to areas either seriously or derisively considered candidates for addition to the 50 states already part of the United States. Before 1959, when Alaska and Hawaii joined the U.S., the term "the 49th state" was used.^{[citation needed]} Most commonly, the possibility of Puerto Rico becoming 51st state was discussed as a possible outcome of a proposed series of referendums to decide a change to that island's political organization (see further below).

The phrase "51st state", when used in a negative sense, can refer to independent states which are, or are perceived to be, under excessive American influence or control. In various countries around the world, people who believe their local and/or national culture has become too Americanized sometimes use the term "51st state" in critical reference to their respective countries.^[1] The term 51st stater usually refers to non-U.S. residents who emulate mannerisms and culture of an American, or a non-American politician who is a supporter of the United States, especially its foreign policy.

PS- No disrespect Grandma, but the article states 50 of the 51 AND D.C. Usually Puerto Rico is considered the 51st state, even though it has no official statehood.

So Roy Wilson, who are these esteemed economists you refer to? Bottom line since the unemployed spend all the money they receive, it has a stimulative effect on the economy. I'm sure these esteemed economists are aware that 70% of our economy is driven by consumer spending. Also, with high unemployment where do you propose they get these jobs?

I often agree with Roy Wilson but on this one I'll have to disagree... If you HAD a job and got laid off, not fired for cause, you are eligible for UI if you NEVER went to school. You and/or your employer PAID the premiums for your UI. However, if a high school diploma would guarantee you a job then, maybe... But, it doesn't and hasn't, ever...

I suppose the next stupid thing Kyle will suggest is to cut off my Social Security because I didn't graduate from college. Perhaps cut off my Medicare since I smoked for years... Foreclose on my home because it smells like Korean food a lot... Take away my car because I didn't trade it in on the Cash for Clunkers deal...

How about doing something sensible, like quit giving money to Illegal Aliens... Prosecute Eric Holder and the DOJ for Fast and Furious and for failing to take back our National Park in Arizona that is controlled by the drug cartels and is the place the agent was killed by the Fast and Furious gun(s)...

Yes. The "pattern" is that stupid hypothetical scenarios based on politics are meaningless.

Next Democrat plan? Give all illegals HS diplomas. Not illegal?...

See?

Not really. I have a good grasp of and can accurately characterize GOP ideas.

Not like you Republican hypocrites who - for instance - worked a lot of people into a frenzy by claiming that plans to insure uninsured Americans would involve the creation of "death panels" that would decide if people got medical care or not.

We all know conservatives have a track record of wanting to privatize public programs like Social Security and Medicare.

This idea isn't even internally consistent with conservative idealogy. For years we've all heard conservatives lambast public schools as worthless institutions run by elitists where students are ill served by bad teachers who only have their job because of unions. If we go by the conservative line of thinking, a diploma has no worth anyway.

Why are they making what is a "worthless piece of paper" in you conservatives' view a prerequisite for public benefits?

Ah more worthless paper.

I like the thought of having to get a photo I.D. with your birth certificate that doesn't have your picture on it.

RAS928, it is PAID, not payed, and it is TOO good, not "to good." Chill out on the "dumb" comments until you learn to spell.

RAS928 - I live in Pennsylvania and I DO pay unemployment taxes - albeit very little and that is part of the problem.

RAS928 If you have to hire illegals it is probably because you have GOP beliefs, you know like people should work for 5.00 an hour and no benifits so that you can make a huge profit and live so far above everyone. You know, like a Lord.

If, in many regions in this country, unemployment taxes were paid by employees, the employer would have to pay a higher wage. If the employee paid the tax, the employer couldn't block an employee from collecting.

I ask again, if this proposed bill becomes law, would they reinstate funding for adult education? Would the adult education programs be ramped up before the law takes effect? Would trade schools be included? So many questions and so few honest answers.

.

RAS928, did you pay all those taxes on the workers, were your jobs all above board or bartered? My money says your a THIEF. You'd find workers if you paid a fair wage!!!

Roy, post 3.9 - the best post I have seen yet on this thread - no words at all!

like the thought of having to get a photo I.D. with your birth certificate that doesn't have your picture on it.

According to the DMV it is the most difficult document to forge in the United States.

Chill out on the "dumb" comments until you learn to spell.

Spell Nazi Why don't you troll some where else.

I don't RESPECT------THIEVES-----there are a lot of HONEST HARD working business people out there that are stuggling right now and people like this guy under bids them, does crappy work and gets paid and then doesn't finish the job.

Dropping out of high school is stupid and it is essentially shooting yourself in the foot. However, these people pay into the system when they are working, so they should benefit when the come on hard times. Secondly, if the dismal earnings potential, and generally poor quality of life doesn't disincentives someone for dropping out of HS, I highly doubt anyone will be persuaded to stay in school due to this law change.

Far more sensible and equitable would be requiring people on unemployment to attain their GED within a reasonable time period or face loosing their benefits.

You say they pay into the system? Through what? Income taxes? 47% of federal tax returns amounted to zero or negative returns. Granted, many of the older workers make more money and do pay into the system, so perhaps there can be an exception for those over 50.

The only group I feel sorry for is those over 50. Back then you could get away without a GED. But for the newer generations it's unacceptable.

No payroll taxes. Which they pay for is they work, regardless of their income bracket.

Ah, I have to admit that one slipped my mind. :(

I wonder the unemployment % among those without a GED is, because if we're going to compare this to an insurance policy, shouldn't they pay more taxes into it since they're more likely to use it?

(Assuming this dropping thing doesn't pass, which I doubt it will)

No sweat, I also missed the exception if you are enrolled in a GED program (as pjam noted above). I'm fine holding people accountable to get benefits. I think most people feel the same way; you just need to let people have opportunity to make up for their mistakes.

Unemployment for those with a GED is much higher. But their benifits are much smaller. So maybe they get more out of the system than other groups, but not significantly so I'd imagine.

Eh, someone else said in another post that apply this only to would-be graduates of <Year it's passed>, that way it wouldn't affect all those higher aged groups that could work without a GED and are now unemployed.

I thought it would be a nice compromise.

So then EngEsq, you have no problem with increasing federal spending on those GED programs to cover all the people that will need them?

i can't believe how many people believe the employee pays unemployment taxes. The employer pays 100% of the unemployment taxes, it does not cost the employee a cent.

Not getting a H.S. diploma is not necessarily a sign of irresponsibility or the result of actions that people could change. About 2.5% of the population have IQs under 70, that is a significant number of people. Another 14% have IQs under 85, even these people will have trouble getting a GED. This bill would be gratuitous cruelty, what is the purpose of such a law?

I am a conservative, but I do not understand this at all.

Actually there is a temporary hold on individual payments toward payroll taxes, this was one of the reasons government was almost shut down recently -- but this is an unsustainable situation that must change after economic recovery.

Regardless of who is paying the tax, it is still part of the cost of providing a job! If an employer hires the employee and pays for the benefit -- shouldn't the employee get that benefit?

The only group I feel sorry for is those over 50. Back then you could get away without a GED.

Why give them a pass? After all, they should have known...

Why give them a pass? After all, they should have known...

Do you know what the world will be like 20 years from now? I sure don't...

Why is that important? Doesn't change the fact that they're now unemployable.

Hmm, okay, well since we seem to be on a thread of "pay those that make the effort", then how about this? They can keep their unemployment benefits IF they enroll in some kind of classes. Night classes, GED, whatever, and give them grants to help them afford those classes. That way no one needs to be thrown out on the street, they're bettering themselves and making themselves more employable, and we create MORE jobs by creating a necessity for adult educators. Whatcha think?

I think we have to figure out a way to make that sounds financially beneficial to congress. Unfortunately, they haven't seemed to provide a solution for the "waiting list" problem.

I want to combine Catsclaw's idea with PH's down the line of home checks and drug tests that would have to be administered by *someone*, and I think then we have a good start. God knows it'll need tweaks, but everything does. It provides jobs and provides a decent criteria for the unemplyed to start back on their feet, while still forcing some accountability on those who abuse the system.

UHHH Progressives. The Employer pays for the Federal Unemployment Insurance and for most if not all States. The Employee does not pay Federal not sure if some States has the Employee and the Employer pay.

How hard is it for you dipsticks to understand the employee pays no part of unemployment insurance. The employer pays state and federal unemployment.

Larry.....you put it up first.... right on with that post.

harold #4.8.......I can't believe you said that! Everyone knows the CUSTOMER pays! We're getting a little sidetracked aren't we?

@slodon

Although the employer in most cases administers the unemployment insurance payments it is highly unlikely that they take the money out of their own pocket to do so. Rather, I would suspect that any payments made have a very direct effect upon wages that might otherwise be paid to the employee. To think otherwise is absurd.

Regardless of who pays the benefit. It is unconstitutional to penalize anyone based upon their education. You can be qualified to receive more if you have a higher education but no one and I mean no one can force a person to starve or not pay their bills based upon their educational status.

Again, you cannot force a class of people to walk in peril based upon their personal circumstance and lack of education. Asking people to better themselves is reasonable but after having worked like everyone else and then become ineligible for unemployment is warring against a class of people. Even requiring that after a reasonable time they would be required to increase their education while recieving benefits is reasonable; however, denying a unemployed individual benefits that they earned is dead wrong.

Republicans will yell at the top of their lungs to protect a millionaire to retain or increase tax cuts but offer not a single shred of credible and factual evidence as to why they deserve a cut. The rich get tax payer benefits for being rich but the guy/gal without a GED who pays taxes is not deserving of representative government or rights concerning his hard earned money.

Republican "Reverse Socialism" is not what the founding fathers sought to created in this country via the Constitution. They did not agree with signing a pledge to unelected treasonist individuals like Grover Norquist, an infiltrating seditionist and close friend of the Muslim Brotherhood who funds Egyptian jihadists and Iranian Regimes via Republican dollars.

They are collasping the the defiant republican party with their patent greed and bigotry. Nothing else can explain why the ersatz republican Norquist who votes for recessions and wants to destroy the U.S. Government from within can act as he does.

The republicans are only barking for their corporate masters who would rather save rightfully owed money to their workers. Next they will decide how long unemployment benefits should last, such as 59 weeks instead of 99 weeks because they feel acording to their own circumstance how long it should take an individual to get hired.

Why not propose something similar in nature to those that receive corporate welfare? Why not require CEOs to have a PhD and be drug tested in order to receive bailout money? They receive billions of tax payer money. Money, I might add, that comes from tax paying citizens without a high school diploma.

While we're at it... penalize alcohol consumption and cigarettes as well? Republicans cognizantly amplify the incorrect notion that a certain type of individual is abusing the system and leave the serial big-time abusers who happen to be their donors... alone.

This is the essence of the class warfare they shove down out throats. Face it... there's no such thing as a blue collar republican. Anyone middle class citizen that votes republican is voting against their own interests.

Obama/Biden 2012

Just a question of clarification, don't employers have payroll tax deductions making it less costly for them?

So let me get this this straight you are for smaller government and personal freedom but you want more government to test these people for drugs and then even more government to do home visits. So where is the personal freedom in testing people for drugs. I guess the only personal freedom you care about is your own.

Not getting a H.S. diploma is not necessarily a sign of irresponsibility or the result of actions that people could change. About 2.5% of the population have IQs under 70, that is a significant number of people. Another 14% have IQs under 85, even these people will have trouble getting a GED. This bill would be gratuitous cruelty, what is the purpose of such a law?

They have their own program.

Who gives a fly'n (you know what) who the hell pays UI insurance payments? It makes absolutely no difference who is responsible for paying it. Of course the employer pays it in most, of not all states. It IS paid for the "account" of the employee. Just because your mom pays your Health Insurance premiums doesn't mean you can't go to the doctor or they can withhold covered treatments because you didn't pay the premiums.

If a high school diploma is not a requisite to getting the job then it isn't a requisite to the UI that has been paid into your account. If the high school diploma is a requisite for the job then you probably don't have that job, anyway...

These dopes in Congress are screwing around with things like this and the country is going down the tubes. Hey! Here is a fly swatter... Run down to the beach and kill all the sand fleas.. Kyle is about as far out there as anyone I've seen in a while...

The Republicans are beating Obama bloody about his class warfare and then this brainiac Kyle comes up with a plan for class warfare in SPADES and the Republicans want to jump on the bandwagon...

What the heck are they thinking of?

Its sad that a HS dropout would have to be forced to improve his own situation. One might not have "gotten it" the first time through school but you'd think after a few years of struggling in the real world one would see the mistake and want a 2nd chance. Although getting a GED still isnt going to help THAT much.

peanut gallery, even today there are people who had one job their entire life, and when it goes, along with an entire industry, even a college diploma might not get them a new job. Way too many of us with college degrees NEVER found jobs in our fields, and some have basically been some sort of secretary or blue collar worker ever since. Education is no guarantee of anything, and neither is the lack of formal credentials. I would rather see a law banning credentialism in hiring unless you can prove a rational basis. One of the smartest tenants I ever had, had dropped out of high school due to an impossible family situation. He worked on loading dock but could hold his own in political debates with anyone. Should he get a GED? Of course. But should laws be passed allowing discrimination against him? What would be the point? How can we justify this in a supposedly free society?

But on average, people are average. Dont try to run the world based on extreme outliers.

save the enviro - "Some of the wealthiest people have no High School diploma. Some are so smart that they quit high school to start making money and keep on going being building wealth"

So by denying these "wealthiest people" unemployment benifits the GOP stands for "Generalized Organized Poverty"???

What on earth do you consider handing out "free" government money to those who don't even try to work while also trying to import hordes of uneducated illegal immigrants?

What on earth do you consider handing out "free" government money to those who don't even try to work while also trying to import hordes of uneducated illegal immigrants?

A conservative 'myth' meant to induce fear and division.

Some of the wealthiest people have no High School diploma.

that equals to about .5% of the high school drop outs.

that equals to about .5% of the high school drop outs.

excuse me it is about .1%

so what?

Fifty states and The District of Columbia.

Pretty sure it was an honest mistake, but I agree MSNBC should help out on the unemployment problem by hiring a few proof readers, not just using computer programs to proof read.

Many of the lower brackets doesn't pay federal income taxes anyway. So in reality they already don't.

This isn't income tax... this is funded from payroll taxes and the like. So if these people have EVER worked, they've paid into the system... nice try.

Ruken - don't vote. Thank you.

This isn't income tax... this is funded from payroll taxes and the like. So if these people have EVER worked, they've paid into the system... nice try.

My bad! That one slipped my mind. I haven't exactly had the necessity to learn how unemployment works.

Fired up - " this is funded from payroll taxes and the like"

Yes, and EMPLOYERS pay payroll taxes not EMPLOYEES, so they didn't pay in anything out of their own pockets.

Unemployment is really paid by the employers, not the employees. It is a benefit paid to the employees and the employers get hit for it.

Yes, and EMPLOYERS pay payroll taxes not EMPLOYEES, so they didn't pay in anything out of their own pockets.

:O

Would you look at that...it seems I got lucky today.

Part of payroll taxes are paid by employer, part are paid by employee.

Part of payroll taxes are paid by employer, part are paid by employee.

I see nothing on my pay stub.

Whether unemployment insurance is paid for by the employee or employer or both, it is still paid for out of every paycheck. And the amount it is based on the employee's wages or salary. Lower paid employees get lower unemployment checks than higher paid employes, though the amount is capped at some point.

For that reason, it should not matter what kind of education the unemployed person has, because obviously, that person was employable. When it should matter, is after X amount of time, if the unemployed person cannot find a job, then other measures need to be taken. Once the benefits have expired, and the government has to step in, then taxpayers have the right to demand that those receiving checks are not only seeking employment each day, but are also either getting a GED or some kind of job training in another field.

It doesn't matter. I'm pretty sure the EMPLOYER deducts that tax they have to pay for you from your starting salary... Just like how YOU pay the tax that is imposed on gas via the gas price. You pay the insurance by having a lower salary.

Renee

It is a cost paid for by the Employer and Employer only in most if not all States.

If doesn't make any difference who writes the check, half-wits. The only reason an employer is willing to pay it is because the employee produced something of value to the employer in exchange for it. It's part of the employee's compensation, no different than health insurance or anything else.

I don't know what it takes to get thru your thick demorat heads that employees do NOT pay one sou of unemployment insurance. The employer pays ALL both state and federal Unemployment Tax. I have been an Employer for 50 years.

Once again the Republicans propose something that will hurt the poor of this country. And Republicans keep posing as Christian. Shame, shame, shame on all of them!

@RAS928

It is obvious to anyone who can read english that the author was including D.C.

Oh, you edit it out.

RAS....you're wrong. The CUSTOMER pays the premiums. It's not coming out of your pocket any more than the employee. It's a required cost of doing business, just like SS and Workmens Compensation. You write the check for it, but I can tell from your comments, not willingly.

Actually people, it is a tax paid by the end consumer of the product or service the employer AND employee produces. Since the employer AND employee are end consumers, it is a tax we all pay.

Then raise my pay to equal the unemployment rate my employer pays. Its figured into bids.

Then you would have the responsibility to pay the tax. Isn't it easier to allow the payroll department to use their computers to take care of it? Or are you questioning an option of opting out all together?

if these people have EVER worked, they've paid into the system... nice try.

In only two states does the person pay for it not the employer. I will never get ti because I have to quit my job to stay with my wife and kids. then when we have settled in I get a job the next day (no point getting a job when you don't have a place to live).

@ Fianchetto

Actually, the author distinctly says "producing waiting lists in 50 of the 51 states and the District of Columbia" noting a distinction between "the 51 states" and the District of Columbia. Anyone concerned about editing and the author's linguistic or geographic skills here was fully justified in pointing out this error.

@ Fianchetto

Actually, the author distinctly says "producing waiting lists in 50 of the 51 states and the District of Columbia" noting a distinction between "the 51 states" and the District of Columbia. Anyone concerned about editing and the author's linguistic or geographic skills here was fully justified in pointing out this error.

While most that post on this discussion would like to blame the GOP...one must remember that while Clinton was in office and furthering NAFTA (from the Americas to the world helping to create the problem that is surfacing globally with China) he saw no problem in forcing the workforce to further their education while smiting the common farmer and tradesman from their livelyhood. All of you that shop at Walmart and stores of the like and the dozens of "Dollar" stores share a large part of the problem we face...we as consumers control the goods market...WE WOULD RATHER BLAME THE MANUFACTURES THAT LEFT THE STATES TO MAKE A PROFIT THEN BLAME OURSELVES AND THE POLITICIANS THAT DROVE THEM AWAY BY PAYING FOR CHEAP GOODS FROM OVER SEA'S. If a person is abusing a system then they have to be removed from the system so the system can work. The rules that currently rule this system are corrupt and need to be fixed. I have worked hard for most of my life, I am a tradesman and other then the intial good will i feel towards my fellow man down on their luck, is to help them...HELP THEM, NOT PAMPER THEIR INABILITIES TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES. Rules need to be set and followed thru with little to no excemptions geared towards those that are to week to contribute to society.

RAS928

I don't know what it takes to get thru your thick demorat heads that employees do NOT pay one sou of unemployment insurance. The employer pays ALL both state and federal Unemployment Tax. I have been an Employer for 50 years.

Not true RAS. Not true. Yes you pay it after you withhold it from your employees paychecks. So even though you pay the withheld taxes it is NOT with your money. It is with your employees money. So either you are lying or you are not thinking. I will assume you aren't thinking.

It depends on the state whether employees directly pay unemployment tax. You do in Pennsylvania, trust me. (Maybe that's why PA is so lax about making the unemploymed prove they are looking for work compared to many other states.) Also, even the employers portion comes out of what they might have paid you directly.

Ultimately it doesn't really matter who pays for this program. The point is, if you worked a certain length of time and are then laid off through no fault of their own, you are entitled to it.

Times change, most jobs require a high school diploma, and those jobs that do not pay basically nothing, with no room for career (lol?) advancement. Not too mention, many of those in this era that drop out of high school tend to turn to crime (drugs, etc).

whiner - "to classify someone as unworthy of receiving assistance based on education seems very short sighted"

And yet classifying someone worthy of a job is almost entirely based on education. The only thing that is "short-sighted" is to expect benefits for not having a job while not pursuing what is required to get a job.

Because there are so many minimum wage jobs out there. Get your HS diploma so you can bus tables at Chilis.

Hmmm... seems like you could do that without a diploma.

I do not have a high school diploma. I quit school in the 9th grade do to family issues.

I am retired military 23 years of service retired at 40 years old (that's right joined at 17). Currently work as a ships Captain in the offshore oil field. Still no GED. Currently making 6figures for working 8 to 9 months a year. This Job also has retirement benefits. I will also collect Social security when I am 62.

I will never be able to collect unemployment because my retirement pay put me over the amount and my employer still has to pay the unemployment tax.

To say those who do not have a HS diploma or A GED do not deserve the unemployment benefit is ignorant.

You are right there are some lowlifes out there who abuse the system. some of them are uneducated some also have masters and doctorate degrees.

NO STUDENT DEBT

I guess I am happy getting what I deserve

Now even the military requires at least a GED. Times change and laws change to accommodate them. If we are willing to finance the programs to help those get education, I see no reason to not to require people to make themselves more marketable.

Thomas

You can challenge the GED Test and if you pass you get your Certificate. I'm sure that with you experience it would be NO PROBLEM.

We should do this for all welfare recipients.

Nikki, true. Now is the question, would you be one of those complaining about funding adult education to cover that? You know, it is already a requirement in many places.

Soldon

Why would I challenge the GED test? Would this be to satisfy you? This is not something I think I will do. No need

Trust me I think people should pursue education. To the level they want. I know many high educated people who are stupid. Very seldom am I impressed by someone with a college degree. I am more impressed by someone’s character

So this year we will require HS diplomas or GED's to get unemployment benefits next year we will require associates degrees. 2 years from now we will require Bachelors degrees. Then we will require master degrees. Before you know it the only person who can get unemployment benefits will be those with doctorate degrees.

As I stated earlier I am financially set I will never qualify for unemployment. This does not mean I should look at those lest fortunate them myself and say they do not deserve a safety net because of some situation that might have occurred (Some college educated person lost all of their money on investments in the stock market and now the children do not have a college fund) (there where medical issues and the family had to use it money it saved for their kids for hospital bills) (maybe they just had bad parents and they had to start working early to house and feed themselves and their siblings)

Their employers are required to pay into it as a condition for them to employ the person the person is required to work a certain amount before he is able to get the benefit.

Sounds like, too many College graduates making $30,000 a year are upset. Good thing you got that Liberal arts degree how’s that working for you

what about homeschooled students? In most states, they have no diploma other than the one issued by Mama after she downloads it from "forms.com" or some such site. That's currently good enough for the military, but would it be good enough for the feds? If it IS accepted, wouldn't high school dropouts who were NOT homeschooled have an excellent case for a lawsuit based on the 14th amendment? Since no rational person actually believes that a mama-issued diploma has any objective value, and I'm speaking as a homeschooling mom.

Before you know it the only person who can get unemployment benefits will be those with doctorate degrees.

By which time, a PhD will be necessary in order to be a Post Hole Digger.

Sure, irrational educational requirements keep down official unemployement rates, but they also impoverish a lot of people who are willing and able to the jobs that actually exist. Learning and knowledge may be unqualified goods, but phony credentialism is not.

ricky - "and then what? They die in the gutter?"

No, they get an education to make themselves more employable, just as it states in the article:

"..or be enrolled in an adult education program working toward a General Educational Development, or GED, certificate."

Leave it to Democrats to want to keep everyone dumb and holding out their hands for "assistance".

The liberal Democrats nightmare... an educated eloctorate.

Nice try, "pjam". But like most right-wingers your answers ignore important facts. With no job, no money and no unemployment, this person is supposed to enroll in an adult education program that 'baggers are also hell-bent on de-funding. That leaves us back at "and then what?".

Pjam, while that is the ideal, there aren't enough programs for them- many of those who drop out of high school in the first place leave because they aren't getting enough attention and help from teachers and parents, or have a serious learning disability that is not known or addressed. These people shouldn't have to study for the GED on their own with maybe half of a ninth grade education. If we expect our society to be educated in order to receive the benefits of being a member of society, we should at least expect to provide adequate facilites for them to learn in.

I don't know what things are like in your states, but here they have implemented online schools for k-12, and these programs are free, easily accessed at the local library, and could help a LOT of these people get their GED. While I do not support the notion that they should be ineligible because of not having a diploma, I definitely think they should be encouraged to get as much education as they can. If the government really, REALLY wanted to solve unemployment, (which they don't, they just care about getting reelected), then they would do their darndest to not only provide education to the citizens, but encourage job creation in the process. Whatever happened to the days of apprenticeship, when the apprentice eventually took over for the master? Well, yeah, it was a form of covert slavery, but I believe it has morphed into internship. Why don't more companies do that these days? Train a person up in the job, pay them for their hard work, require them to stick around for a few years if you must, but quit ignoring the people who could be a fabulous asset to the company just because you don't want the bother of paying for their training! There are plenty of people out there that could be excellent at any number of jobs. Adaptable, quick learning, roll with the punches kind of people. All they lack is training. No wonder this friggen' country is falling so far behind the rest of the world.

I know that a lot of non-profits, sports organizations, etc., had to cut intership programs when the economy dropped and with all the budget cuts. Many of these have made their internships for class credit only, which is useless if you aren't enrolled in higher ed of some sort. Though they're "paid" in experience, its made it very hard to find any kind of internship at all if you aren't a student.

All a GED proves is they might have the knowledge to have been able to graduate. Fund the classes. For some it would be an easy check, taking away from the job hunt. For others, a way to an easy check because they would never be able to pass a GED anyways.

No need to be republican or democrat to agree with this statement. Yes, this should be a state mandate. The same goes for those who fail a drug test. No HS diploma/GED and/or fail a drug test, no money. And, if there is no physical limitation to hold a job, then working for the money would be required, too! Millions want a check to arrive on the mail without any obligation whatsoever. Enough is enough!

I am wondering if employers will still be required to pay in on ineligible workers. It might be a good plan if it is funded to provide assistance for people to train for jobs as well as GED programs. We could take areas that seem to have shortages, (ie IT & nursing) and provide education towards this goal. There used to be programs for back to work and continuing education for those receiving unemployment or govt assist but those things have been removed since there was no funding given by state & federal government. And of course will only make a difference if there are jobs to be had.

kmd - If they were willing to include funding for childcare (if needed) and funding for training you'd be right. But they won't. It's just another way to divide up the country so we won't pay attention to what's going on behind the curtain.

Oh, and there is no labor shortage for IT - just a shortage of employers willing to pay reasonably and do a bit of training to their particular systems. They want it all and they want it cheap - so they don't have "enough trained workers"

I don't know what things are like in your states, but here they have implemented online schools for k-12, and these programs are free, easily accessed at the local library, and could help a LOT of these people get their GED.

I'm afraid you're confused. Those virtual schools or cyber charters are ONLY for the same kids who would be eligible for public high school. You cannot be over 21 in many cases, you usually cannot have had problems with truancy or suspensions in your previous school, and there are other restrictions. They do NOT have to take everyone, and they don't. An adult has to be responsible and available to the child five hours a day, which makes them usually unworkable for the children of working moms or single moms. They are no panacea, and have nothing whatsoever to do with the problem of adults who didn't finish high school. Yes, I've had my kids in those schools from time to time.

Masters Degrees in what?

Over 45 and over educated. I know the feeling onefallingleaf. Ruken does not even understand the unemployment insurance program and is posting. Yet if he/she is under 30 and can type he/she will get the job first.

Ruken does not even understand the unemployment insurance program and is posting

Apparently you don't either.

My daughter also is college educated with a Masters Degree in Business Administration. She was laid of when the Mortgage company she worked for closed its doors. She has applied to dozens of jobs only to be told she's 'over-qualified'? Her unemployment ran out years ago. She does odd jobs like house cleaning and small home improvement jobs to get by.

To the people who would like to deprive people without a high school diploma unemployment benefits...If the people without a diploma shouldn't be allowed to collect unemployment, should we go the other way for people like my daughter? She spent 6 years AFTER she received a high school diploma only to be told sorry....you're too educated to work here, when she desperately needed that job.

3.3 million jobs, 13.8 million unemployed. What good will the GED do you and what good will the resume writing workshop do for you?

Those 3.3 million job openings are mostly due to normal retirements, deaths and those changing careers or being promoted (which is also caused by retirements and deaths).

3.3 million jobs, 13.8 million unemployed.

That is the low end of the number of people hired every month.

due to normal retirements, deaths and those changing careers or being promoted (which is also caused by retirements and deaths).

only one of the eight jobs I have had was it opened from career change(the one I am in). the other 7 were from death.

Kids are already on the path to dropping out in middle school. That early, they dont even have the concept of what a trade school is. By time you get into HS, the teachers can already point out the future dropouts.

then it only applies to those who fail to get a diploma after the law passes

I can live with that.

As a retired Union Carpenter, a good week with some overtime equals $2000. A week of earned unemployment benefits $500. So if $1500 less a weekly paycheck is not enough of incentive to try find a new job what would be?

Before the crash in my state there were almost 1 billion dollars in building construction. After the crash maybe 100 million, that's a lot of construction jobs that just evaporated, that's why I retired. I don't know about a GED, but I my state a PHD couldn't find a job after the crash. It's better now, but certainly not like it was!! And, by the way, to take from the poor and give to the rich is blasphemy.

Aaaaaand you believe that NONE of them have that attitude, right? The "welfare queen" attitude is real, is pervasive, and is draining this country dry. No, not all of them are like that, but enough of them are. Enough that our system is near the breaking point because of it. Time to start requiring these people to do something to earn their bread. Volunteer hours, or whatnot. If they aren't working, they should have plenty of time to do some good for their community. Painting graffiti, cleaning up local parks, whatever. If you are correct, and these people really DO want to work, they shouldn't mind showing it. Then we could take the money saved from having to PAY for these services and put it toward adult education.

And you demorats whine that there are no jobs, then tell me why the illegals seem to find them?

Because illegals are cheaper for you to hire and pay under the table, thereby eliminating the need for you to pay unemployment compensation insurance and any other taxes for your employees.

RAS928 - And you demorats whine that there are no jobs, then tell me why the illegals seem to find them?

This is why employers should be required to use e-verfiy in ALL states. Employers seem to find all sorts of ways to hire the illegals.

Remember, if we all followed the laws, there would be no one to hire them and then they would go back home.

Then, the average wage would go up because the employers would have to start paying a more livable wage.

Or you'd see more automation of those jobs.

Deny them a life line to pay bills, buy food and shelter...and then wonder why the crime rate nation wide sky rockets during this depression..ya...typical DC politicians answer to any problem, punish the victims.

Prisons employ thousands. Prisons contract with many large companies. It is kind of like the war contractors. Perfect post cbawl, I agree with you 100%

Good point. I agree the high school thing is a little off - kids make bad choices all the time.

But, on that note, I do think it's fair to require that welfare recipients be made to undergo periodic drug tests, random home checks, be put to work in some fashion and use birth control. Want free money? Fine. But then you have to prove the following: 1. You really need it 2. It's being used for the right reasons 3. You aren't being idle and 4. You aren't trying to grow a family on the taxpayer's dime.

PH- you're completely right. On another note, if the money could be found in the budget, why don't we hire some new employees to do the home checks nationwide? :)

I love it! PH, that's what I've said on other vines! Drug checks are perfectly fair, and there is no reason why cities couldn't require those on welfare to do volunteer work, thus saving money on some city projects that can be easily handled by volunteers (see #16.1) They could even have some of them do internships in city departments that would give them job training and make them more employable, while reducing the city budget. That money could then be put to other programs to help the disabled, war vets, etc, with job training.

So PH, on your point 4: Would you require that women on welfare, even if married, would be required to use birth control and have abortions? Isn't that being naughty?

Anybody hear about the state, I think Minnesota, that hired a company in India to take calls about welfare benefits and food stamps from recipients?

Thanks guys! Kind of thought I was going to get lambasted for that comment, but I'm so glad to see that I'm not the only one who thinks this way!

Okie Joe - Sorry, but yes I would require that anyone receiving welfare aid be using birth control. I think it's naughty to have a child if you are in a position to be on welfare. It's selfish. And, you know why I don't feel bad about this? Because welfare is supposed to be a temporary safety net, not a lifelong provision. If a married woman on welfare wants to have babies, that's a great incentive for her to get off the dole. If she gets pregnant by accident, then we would need to come up with some kind of penalizing solution to that.

Everything in this world should be a give and take, not a take and take. You can't get free money and then expect total freedom. It shouldn't be easy to be on welfare. There needs to be restrictions.

PH---are you suggesting BIG government then? Are you actually suggesting government provide birth control and possibly abortions? I thought Republicans ran against those notions...maybe you don't watch the Republican debates then.

Crabby, I don't see how your comment is relevant to mine. Just because I don't support the rampant abuse of the welfare system, doesn't mean I'm a far right republican. I've never claimed to be one - I've been pretty clear in my stance as an independent and I am absolutely in favor of birth control and the pro-choice movement.

To me, it's not about big government or little government. It's about cutting waste where waste is evident. Providing birth control up front and making it a requirement, would reduce spending on the back end.

Ahh! So much sense :)

It's the same in all the sectors- fund education now, and not only reduce spending on the back end, but in fact raise funds in the future.

The problem with birth control is that some people truly believe that they shouldn't be on it, for personal or religious reasons. It's a brilliant idea, and I support it, I just know the big argument against it is that it's unconstitutional.

Just for fun, pretend I'm one of those people; No birth control on unemployment! Don't interfere with my right to start a family! It's against my religion to take birth control, you're violating my constituonal rights! ;)

I agree Chellular! Such a rule would never pass for the reasons you give. It's unfortunate though.

Call me cold, but my response would be very simple: No birth control? That's your constitutional right. Free money? Not your constitutional right. No birth control, no free money. Live in poverty then - and your kid is going to get picked up by CPS.

Surely, this is not a popular response, but I'm really tired of people thinking they are entitled to welfare without having to make any changes to better their life. There HAS to be some personal responsibility somewhere in the equation. Good, honest people who are on welfare that are just down on their luck should have no problem abiding by the rules for the period of time they are on welfare. When they get off welfare, then they can go on to live out their dreams. This rule would ensnare all the generation welfare bums that have no intention of changing their lifestyle and have kids for no other reason than to milk the system.

The path to dropping out starts in middle school; before kids are even making real choices. At that age, they're still just living up/down to their parents' expectations and their teachers' teaching skills. If they dont get both of those, they fall back, get frustrated and dropout in HS. Kids need to see a future too.

You may be right but just trying to insert such a ridiculous requiren\ment into the unemployment bill shows a complete lack of understanding about the issue and/or a blunt attempt to undermine a program that's been around as long as I can remember and provided much needed assistance to untold millions over that time.

Pointing out idiocy is never a bad thing. the article states that there are 3.3 million jobs available for the 13.8 million people already on unemployment. If there were 13.8 million jobs waiting to be filled and 3.3 million people on unemployment it might be a different picture. It seems pretty clear that the idea is to make it as difficult as possible for people already hit hard.

Only problem I see is that there are waiting lists for many of them, or so the article says.

It sounds like a fair bill :

• if I don't have GED, therefore I DON'T BE REQUIRED TO PAY TAXES, right ?

How would that even relate?

Michelle, if you aren't entitled to any benefits why should you pay taxes?

EMPLOYERS pay the unemployment insurance tax.

Part is paid by the employee, and part by the employer. Either way it is part of the costs that must be paid for with the work performed by the employee. I cannot see how this would be just or fair to people with IQs under 70. The intellectually impaired have rights, just like the rest of us.

Part is paid by the employee, and part by the employer.

And yet my pay stub only has:

Federal income tax
State income tax
Social Security
Medicare

Do you see the lose in pay because the employeer has to pay for unemployment insurance, medical???

You pay when you sign on the line for the job because it is part of your rmployment "contract",

and yes any job at any level you(your employer in your name) pay into the insurnce

Unemployment insurance is a federal-state program jointly financed through federal and state employer payroll taxes (federal and state UI taxes. Generally, employers must pay both state and federal unemployment taxes if:

(1) they pay wages to employees totaling $1,500 or more in any quarter of a calendar year; or

(2) they had at least one employee during any day of a week during 20 weeks in a calendar year, regardless of whether the weeks were consecutive. However, some state laws differ from the federal law

Do you see the lose in pay because the employeer has to pay for unemployment insurance, medical???

I see nothing referring to unemployment insurance of any kind, under 'Taxes' or anywhere on the stub. For "medical" I see what I pay towards my medical insurance.

Because there isn't anything. The employer pays it.

I can see you need to retake some basic high school class ruken

I posted the defention of UI straight from the goverment website

It is insurance or payroll tax paid for you by the company

And under the medical part do you see your company pays for your health insurance???

of course not.

Apparently it must be different state to state, since some people are claiming the employer pays the entire unemployment premium. In my state the employee (through a deduction from pay) and the employer both pay the unemployment premium.

The employer pays the entire amount 100%; and the employer can deny any claimant from receiving benefits. Unemployment was established to provide a portion of their wages if they lost their job through no fault of their own.

Actually, that's not true. The employer can state that it does not want to pay, and that may delay benefits temporarily, but there will be a hearing to decide and (at least in my state) the employee almost always wins.

And yet my pay stub only has:

Federal income tax
State income tax
Social Security
Medicare

And mine says otherwise. Depends on the state.