A handful of Republicans claim (despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary) that tax cuts pay for themselves, so the $678 billion extension of the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans does not have to be offset.

At the same time, Senate Republicans are firm against a $33 billion extension of unemployment benefits, because they say that it is too expensive.

It's really amazing that the minority in both houses has SO much power.

Quoted from 147

It's really amazing that the minority in both houses has SO much power.

Tax cuts for the Wealthy of this country has some support in both parties...
The wealthy have always bought 'policy', and corruption (campaign contributions) are not limited to one particular party.

~Give a rich man a tax cut and he may invest it back into the economy,
or, he may invest in a foreign or tax free offshore product that will NOT help our economy.

~Give a man without a job, unemployment benefits and he WILL spend it on groceries, rent, mortgage, utilities, to pay bills,  but all of it WILL be invested back into your economy...
which helps all Americans.

I'm all for extending unemployment benefits provided we institute the following:

1. You document where you have looked for work each week, with employer confirmation
2. Any employer that offers you a job, that is 80% of your previous salary, and you refuse the job, reports you to the Department of labor and in turn, your benefits are terminated.
3. You perform at least 20 hours of volunteer work weekly, either for charity or doing municipal services.

There are WAY too many people looking for the perfect job and as long as the feds are willing to pay,they will stay out of work.

I have one of those in my own family. She won't work for Walmart because "they don't treat their employees well", she won't for stewarts because " I don't want to work weekends", etc..She works around the house and her garden instead.
She is just a example of many more.

Quoted from Box A Rox

~Give a man without a job, unemployment benefits and he WILL spend it on groceries, rent, mortgage, utilities, to pay bills,  but all of it WILL be invested back into your economy...
which helps all Americans.

Or don't give him benefits and he goes on food stamps, WIC, and medicaid and still contributes to the economy.

Food stamps , wic, medicaid = Gov't money
Unemployment benefits = gov't money

Where's the difference in the monies source????

Quoted from 55tbird

I'm all for extending unemployment benefits provided we institute the following:

1. You document where you have looked for work each week, with employer confirmation
2. Any employer that offers you a job, that is 80% of your previous salary, and you refuse the job, reports you to the Department of labor and in turn, your benefits are terminated.
3. You perform at least 20 hours of volunteer work weekly, either for charity or doing municipal services.

.

Sounds like a good plan T-Bird.

I would add:
1.Corporations who receive 'corporate welfare', weather federal or state, be required to post a refundable bond, that guarantees they will NOT move from the state for another 10 years, after completing the govt freebies.
2.As recipients of Corporate Welfare, these companies will set up a formula where a like percentage of management jobs will be reduced at the same time as hourly layoffs.
3. In prosperous times Corporate Welfare recipients pay scale is what ever they deem necessary... but in times of layoffs or work reductions, corporate salary will be tied to hourly wages.  As one is increased or decreased, so is the other.

My tax dollars fund unemployment & welfare, as well as Corporate Welfare & govt incentives for Corporations.
Both drain my tax dollars.

Box a Rox,

I'm not a fan of corporate welfare, I think NYS bending over for AMD/global foundries is a joke.

BUT...there's a huge difference between corporate welfare and unemployment/personal welfare

The personal welfare/unemployment segment PAY no taxes, at least the corps pay some.
The corps also produce jobs.

End corporate welfare, the income tax for individuals and go a flat sales tax.
Tax-exempt the necessities like food, fuel, utilities and rent, so it does not hurt the working poor.
The sales tax would be close to 30%, but the more you spend the more you pay.
Maybe then we'll see everyone pay their fair share instead of the middle class paying for the 43% of Income tax filers that pay NO federal income tax and/or receive a check from the gov't resulting in negative taxation.