Sen. Bunning Stalls Jobless Benefits Bill

Staff / Truthdig 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. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

First-Time Jobless Claims Jump Again

Staff / Truthdig 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. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

U.S. Jobless Claims Drop

Staff / Truthdig 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. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

The Unemployed Will Roar

Marie Cocco / Truthdig 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. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Obama OKs Some Benefits for Gay Federal Workers’ Partners

Staff / Truthdig Jun 17, 2009 It would take new legislation to extend full health coverage to the same-sex partners of federal employees, but President Obama, via presidential memorandum, will grant some benefits to them. Update: Progress or pandering? Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Chrysler Heads for the Chop Shop

Staff / Truthdig 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. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

The Jobless Hold Their Breath

Staff / Truthdig 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. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Unemployment Filings at 26-Year High

Staff / Truthdig 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. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Obama Throws Support to Chicago Sit-In

Staff / Truthdig 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." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Congress’ Missing Backbone

Staff / Truthdig 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. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Struggling Families Feel Sting of Rising Food Prices

Staff / Truthdig 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. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Shrinking Payrolls Worry Economists

Staff / Truthdig 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. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )