benefits

Sen. Bunning Stalls Jobless Benefits Bill

Feb 27, 2010
Sen. Jim Bunning was not a popular man among his Democratic colleagues this week. The Kentucky Republican, apparently so concerned about the federal budget deficit that he thought it unwise to allow the passage of legislation extending unemployment and health care help to jobless Americans, enacted a "one-man filibuster," as the Los Angeles Times put it, and didn't budge on Friday.

First-Time Jobless Claims Jump Again

Feb 5, 2010
Another indicator that Congress needs to get to work on the country's pressing unemployment problem came in the form of a Labor Department report showing a spike in the number of first-time filers for unemployment benefits last week, according to The Associated Press.

U.S. Jobless Claims Drop

Dec 31, 2009
The Labor Department announced Thursday that fewer Americans than anticipated have filed unemployment benefit claims this month, potentially pointing to a less substantial unemployment population and maybe, just maybe, better economic growth in 2010.
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The Unemployed Will Roar

Jul 9, 2009
There's a lot of argument in Washington about the economy, but if anyone's looking for some clear voices, there are 650,000 of them just waiting to be heard. That is roughly the number of long-term unemployed who will begin losing their jobless benefits in September.

Chrysler Heads for the Chop Shop

Apr 24, 2009
The Treasury Department has cut a deal with the United Auto Workers to send Chrysler into bankruptcy while protecting retiree benefits, The New York Times reports. Fiat would be in a more favorable position to take a cut of the company once it's in bankruptcy. Chrysler's equity stakeholders are shaping up as the big losers in all of this.

The Jobless Hold Their Breath

Jan 5, 2009
President-elect Obama is still working out the nuts and bolts of his recovery (fingers crossed) package, but Obama advisers have disclosed that at least one proposal would expand benefits and compensation to the unemployed With the economic meltdown vaporizing more and more jobs, here's hoping Congress gets it done before February.

Unemployment Filings at 26-Year High

Dec 24, 2008
With American jobs being steadily peeled away, hundreds of thousands of people are being forced to seek unemployment benefits for the first time. The number of first-time claims rose 5.4 percent last week, to their highest level in more than a quarter-century.

Obama Throws Support to Chicago Sit-In

Dec 8, 2008
President-elect Barack Obama has added his voice to the chorus of encouragement for a group of Chicago workers who are sitting-in at their former factory. Obama said the workers, who have protested their way into the national spotlight, were "absolutely right" and "what's happening to them is reflective of what's happening across this economy."

Congress’ Missing Backbone

Jun 27, 2008
After doing everything but follow the overwhelming anti-war mandate given by voters in the 2006 congressional elections, the Democratic-controlled Congress accepted a war bill late Thursday that will keep U.S. troops in Iraq until at least Jan. 20.

Struggling Families Feel Sting of Rising Food Prices

May 27, 2008
For the working poor who depend on food stamps to feed their families, it's hard enough keeping up with inflation, let alone the steep price of food these days. Even in the richest country on Earth, the cost of basic foods has a huge impact on families that count every dollar, and benefits simply aren't keeping pace.

Shrinking Payrolls Worry Economists

Mar 20, 2008
A sharp jump in the number of Americans filing for unemployment has brought the four-week average to its highest level since the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Last week, 378,000 new claims were filed. Roughly 2.8 million workers currently receive unemployment benefits.