Thousands of Utahns to lose jobless benefits next week

There's still a fair bit of work in North Dakota.

The worst thing about unemployment "benefits" is any encouragement to people not to work. Working has benefits that surpass the monetary gain, such a sense of accomplishment, self-esteem, confidence, knowing you are contributing to the solutions, not adding to the problems, etc. My New Years wish is that all might enjoy the opportunity to work to support themselves and others.

By law, the federal government is empowered only to "PROMOTE" the general welfare and to "PROVIDE" for the common defense. The fed has not the legal authority to "PROVIDE" general welfare. If you are OK with the fed breaking the laws of the land for the sake of doing what they feel is in someone's best interests, then that same logic should allow local police officers to have the discretion to go into someone's home and remove property from the "haves" and disperse it to the "have nots" all in the name of equality and goodness.

Does anyone recall that one of the planks in Joseph Smith's presidential platform was to not allow miscreants to pay taxes?

OK, LDSers, time to step up with all that tithing! Conservative policy letting people starve is about to hit! Time to pony up replacing welfare with charity! Which means a TRIPLING of it to cover the minimum necessary!

Chris B said "After more than a year of living off the taxpayers backs, its time to take responsibility. This is good news."

It would do well for the ignorant to look up the word insurance in the dictionary.

Over 30 years of working I have paid over $70,000 to unemployment insurance. According to the article, my insurance benefit is $341 per month. That is a bad insurance policy, but it is not welfare. People in this state that think the educated are choosing $341 per month instead of working are living in lala land.

It is better for the highly educated to look full time for a job or start a business and get back to being a taxpayer again than it is to take any job from someone else which only delays both parties from being taxpayers.

Your plan to treat insurance payers as welfare recipients only forces underemployment down the ladder and America's young workers to compete with more experienced workers for minimum wage. Unemployment is down in America, but for the young it is still over 10% and the number of total taxpayers has not increased since 2008.

The unemployed could come out to Vernal and get a job, we are having a moderate boom. But then again they would be essentially homeless because the landlords really gouge during a boom. The heating bills will sink you because Vernal is very cold in the winter.

From the article. "That's why the department will make finding jobs for those affected a top priority." So, in other words finding jobs for the unemployed has not been a "top priority?" The November 2013 Utah unemployment rate was 4.3. That is actually full employment, and may even indicate a tightened job market.

This article is an emotional piece designed for the political purpose of extending taxpayer subsidized unemployment payments. If a person is unemployed, and looking for a job, it seems that the unemployment rate is extremely high, but in Utah this is not the case.

Just in case sympathy and emotion are not enough, this article implies that we will all suffer economically if unemployment payments stop for about 3,000 people, because they won't have the money for necessities, including "buying cars." It has been shown that within a month of ending unemployment payments that most of the unemployed find employment.

It may not be what they had hoped for, but they go back to work. Others base their life style on working until eligible for unemployment, and then not working until benefits end. Ending extended unemployment benefits will not harm Utah economically.

'Pagan

Suspending and Cutting foreign aid are two different things in my opinion.

Will Pakistian eventually get it when it is suspended? I think yes…'

This is my biggest area of concern. That many are choosing to base a stance on opinion..

instead of the facts.

*'U.S. suspending $800 million in Pakistan aid' - By Douglas Birch - AP - Published by DSNews - 07/10/11

'WASHINGTON — The Obama administration's decision to suspend $800 million in aid to the Pakistan's military signals a tougher U.S. line with a critical but sometimes unreliable partner in the fight against terrorism.'

What 'may be' versus what 'is'.

For example, here we are talking about the debt, since we cannot 'afford' to help Americans who are unemployed….

But Utah is fine with spending $2 million dollars against marriage equality.

Conservative ideals have priorities, they are just bad ones.

i.e. stopping Gay Marriage is more important than helping the needy in America.

Orrin Hatch was one of the few Republican Senators who supported SB 744. Thats the immigration reform bill that not only gives amnesty to millons of illegals before the border is secure but it also adds millions new work permits / green cards holders from low skilled to high tech work over a decade.

We have had high immigrations levels for decades but its worse during this recession. Does it make sense to continue to allow in 2 million new workers when we are only creating 2 million jobs? This added about 14 million new workers in 7 years and we didnt created 14 million jobs during this same time. (That bill would add in alot more too.)

We also have 7 to 8 million illegals in non ag jobs that Congress could get out with a mandated e verify program for all work and for all employees (this includes independent contractor work and current employees).

We dont have to wonder why Americans cant find jobs or the jobs that they find only pay minimum wage as we see alot of immigrants daily where we live.

There is a lot of people that's thinking "What Can I Do". Who was it that said: Ask not what the country can do, but what you can do for your country.

I find it odd that people who recognize that having a job brings a sense of dignity and purpose seem not to understand that people without a job would love to have one. Large corporations' treasuries are bulging, but they're not hiring. They claim uncertainty because they are required by their charters to make 'profit' their only priority. Where is the uproar about that? it is far easier to take potshots at the government.

Funny thing about claiming the President is responsible for the national debt, that's just a case of Congress passing the buck. Article One, Section Seven : All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.

IOW, any day the House wants a balanced budget, they need only put pen to paper and write one. They refuse to take the heat for such an action, preferring instead to point fingers and pretend that "someone else" did it. The whole point of the shutdown was to try to shift blame from the Congress for cutting spending and throw it on the President, who has NO control over spending bills whatsoever, saving only the ability to veto a budget bill like any other bill. Gee golly whilikers Gomer, has Obama EVER vetoed a budget bill? No? Not ever? Really? Wow, someone needs to get the word out in Republican Fox NewsLand because that just never seems to be mentioned. I suppose we can fly up past the second star, and then straight on to morning, and maybe we can find them and explain it.

Hey, be happy. Congress is certain this is the only way to unseat Senate Democrats, crash the economy by throwing 1.3 million more on the streets. Plus, they'll get to point to an increase in food stamp use as "proof" the economy isn't in recovery.

It's all part of the plan. So calm down.

Pagan

Suspending and Cutting foreign aid are two different things in my opinion.

Will Pakistian eventually get it when it is suspended? I think yes when their actions come around to our thinking. Delaying the foreign aid could be another termed used.

Cutting foreign aid is a different matter. It means coming to a realization that we can not afford to borrow money and give it away while Americans are hurting.

Our biggest all time recepient of foreign aid over the years has been Israel. My questioin again is why do we cut domestic programs that impact Americans but refuse to cut foreign aid programs that impact foreigners? Specifically Israel.

Could it be that it is about "Corporate Welfare" for our "military industrial complex" and the power of AIPAC?

AIPAC has been discribed as the second most powerful lobby in the United States after AARP.

And just who do they lobby for?

'Foreign Aid to Israel. Am I wrong?

Americans can suffer with the cuts and we refuse to cut foreign aid. Why?'

I cannot speak for Israel, however…

*'U.S. suspending $800 million in Pakistan aid' - By Douglas Birch - AP - Published by DSNews - 07/10/11

'WASHINGTON — The Obama administration's decision to suspend $800 million in aid to the Pakistan's military signals a tougher U.S. line with a critical but sometimes unreliable partner in the fight against terrorism.'

FYI,

that did not happen when George W. Bush doubled the debt.

Or, when Reagan tripled the debt.

Can't say either about Obama.

Sorry.

It would be nice if we could get back that 24 billion that the GOP-Tea Party wasted when they held America hostage during the GOP shutdown because of their futile attempt to defund the ACA.

Pagan
Love your comments. Don't you know the people here view the three trillion borrowed and spent in Iraq as "Old News" and do not want to be reminded of it.

With sequester across the board cuts coming down the line. Guess what one thing will be not cut?
Foreign Aid to Israel. Am I wrong?

Americans can suffer with the cuts and we refuse to cut foreign aid. Why?

These are difficult issues and no one explanation nor remedy solves the problem for each individual --- another reason why the Federal Government should not be in charge. It's difficult enough for a smaller geographical region to be aware of situations of concern.

Either way and any way, it never pays to become dependent upon anyone else. It is one thing to share responsibilities, or to share emotional support, but when government; who I seriously doubt has citizens complete well being in mind, takes over - there is rarely a happy outcome.

welcome to more obama destruction

Well, this is Utah, at least that means most of these unemployed people are Republicans and are getting what they voted for.

"The Obama administration says those payments have kept 11.4 million people out of poverty.." Even if the average Utah payment was $340 per week (rather than per month)the yearly total would be just over $17,000.I hardly think that would qualify as "out of poverty" for most families. And remember, the government taxes those benefits, so either you take lass per month or owe taxes at the end of the year. And how much is actually spent on all those items listed in the article that would have such a big effect on the economy? I was on unemployment for a short time in 2012 and I used the money for rent and some transportation. I don't know how I would have bought food without help from my church. For those people capable of working, misery is a great incentive to finding a job and getting out of poverty.

I sympathize with anyone who is out of a job and wants to work. My heart truly goes out to them and their families. 



The problem I have with the year and a half to almost two years of welfare unemployment benefits is that I know of people who are scamming the system, -- people who say they want to work but aren’t really trying to find a job. I believe there’s a way to weed out the freeloaders while still providing relief for those who are sincere in finding a job. Consider this:



Under the system, EVERYONE filing for unemployment would be required to work. Every Federal, State, county, and city agency would make a long and extensive list of things that aren’t getting done, -- services that need attention but are being neglected because of lack of funds or manpower. Based upon the amount of unemployment someone qualifies for, they will be required to report to work a day or two a week to perform public service. The number of hours they work each month will depend on the amount of unemployment funds they receive. I hope to see such a plan implemented in the future.

Thank you heavenly father for giving us the Republicans.

Let's get real.

We don't really know how many people are out of work. The unemployment benefits were far less than 99 weeks in many states, including Utah, and they are not ultimately the answer.

Many people have given up looking for work and are not statistics of unemployment any more. They may have nothing at all to live on except by the assistance of family members, churches or other sources of private benevolence.

Many, otoh, have had to retire early. Some have claimed disability. The extension of unemployment benefits to some have further added to rampant inflation, which impoverishes the employed as well as the retired and everyone else.

The government has no answers except to do that which they refuse to do;

SPEND MUCH LESS on non-mandatory programs.

Have a freeze on tax-supported hiring of government employees. The guv has already categorized many agencies as such.

Let guv, local and federal ease up on all restrictions on businesses.

Levy a healthy import duty on foreign products, and lower markedly the corporate tax.

End the hiring of illegal aliens; stop assisting existing illegal residents.

Let those who have money to invest open factories and hire people!

The thing I think is sad is these people will suffer for lack of financial support while these political controllers go on enjoying life and having all the money they need to survive. There is something wrong with that picture and we all know who caused this.

Let me see if I've got this straight...Lose your job and the state pays 6 months unemployment then the feds have been covering an additional 11 months, but now it's back to 6 months. Average benefit is $340/month. Seems like 6 months is a reasonable amount of time to find a job that could make more than $340/month.

I know a couple of people who really abuse this system. They live better than I do and both me and my wife work.

So, are we not allowed to talk about the $4 trillion dollars America has spent on pointless wars, the doubling of the US debt.

The Wall Street bailouts, and the Tax cuts we give millionaires…

while Utahns starve?

Continued:

We must begin as a nation to rethink our entailment mentality and go back to the day when work was noble and enterprise was rewarding. We cannot continue to create dependence but rather we must promote the virtue of independence and the reward of self government.

We can do this by getting government out of the way and letting true enterprise and commerce coupled with virtue and the nobility of work be our motivation.

Do not just give me a handout with no requirement of my sweat but hand me the plow and allow me eat the harvest unmolested.

Now don't you feel better that America spent $4 trillion dollars in Iraq?

Happy New Year!

(Note: Sarcasm)

There are many families earnestly looking for work to support their families who will be critically hurt by this. Others have ridden the system for so long that they deserve to be dumped. I hope that jobs will be forthcoming for the former.

God bless America!

Most people go through life in the United States never realizing that the benefits they enjoy after loosing a job are paid for by employers with no cost to the employee.

This money is forcibly taken from the employer at the threat of jail time or worse. If it was not forcibly taken by the "government" but by enterprising mobsters, it would be called extortion and the mobsters, not the employer would be looking over their shoulder.

I have been an employee and an employer and I despise the forcible redistribution of wealth that promotes indolence in many cases and I repeat many cases but not all.

I know some of you will think of me as a cold hearted Scrooge, but I assure you I'm not, I do all I can to voluntarily contribute to any one who has needs to provide for their family.

I will tell you that as an employer now, I am prohibited by some laws of employing anyone under the age of eighteen and with the continued "government" pilfering of my bank account, I am forced to reduce my workforce lest I become unemployed myself.

Barack says Congress needs to fix it....yet he signed the bill along with democrats in the Senate and Congress. He just can't come to grips that we are spending more than we have.

Many things have to be scaled back....Where do you cut without hurting a single person? No matter what you cut someone is going to feel the pain.

Maybe we just need to be more compassionate towards our neighbors and help them out, encourage job creation and get America back to work.

Whether it be 73 or 99 weeks, that is MORE than enough time that can be justified in taking taxpayer money to allow people to get people back on their feet.

After more than a year of living off the taxpayers backs, its time to take responsibility.

This is good news.