House OKs unemployment extension; Bush may veto

Do you suppose President Bush knows that you cannot even buy warm food with food stamps or other things that you need and can't eat? Those who oppose helping the unemployed need to be educated. When applying for ten jobs, you get zero responses. Employers are so overwhelmed with applications they too get overworked.

I can't get the State to come off my first 26 weeks,so all these MI politicians should start at home!!! Right On TO Barbara Fulmer!!!! The state isn't helping with anything,unless it's a Fed. Program!!! Can't wait to eat cereal in my card board house!!!

Do you think we can ban Bush from re-entering the country?

At least you have cereal.....there has got to be something for the unemployed. My husband lost his job in management and can't even get an low paying entry level postion because the employer knows he will leave when he finds something else. It costs the company too much to train one person and then have them leave. I agree with Barbara for every 1 position open you can have as many as 100 applying for it here in MI. The sad part is I think this is only the beginning. I am afraid to say it is only going to get worse.

a few million people surrounding the white house banging on plates with spoons might get his attention.

Okay, all you people that sit on unemployment for months, thanks for wanting to take more money from the state so we will never get out of this failing economy. Obviously asking you get a job is out of the question because you all complain your "over qualified" or "There is no one hiring". Well, last I checked Walmart is hiring, and there are several pages of jobs in the Press. I'm so fortunate to have a job so my taxes can go to pay for lazy Americans like yourselves to collect Unemployment, welfare, medicaid and the like. GET A JOB!!

Get a Job wrote:

Okay, all you people that sit on unemployment for months, thanks for wanting to take more money from the state so we will never get out of this failing economy. Obviously asking you get a job is out of the question because you all complain your "over qualified" or "There is no one hiring". Well, last I checked Walmart is hiring, and there are several pages of jobs in the Press. I'm so fortunate to have a job so my taxes can go to pay for lazy Americans like yourselves to collect Unemployment, welfare, medicaid and the like. GET A JOB!!

Well, "Burger Flipper".. maybe you ought to try looking at employment section in this state. As to your offer of Walmart I'll pass. I wouldn't work there if it were the last business in the state. I'd sooner stay in bed till noon knowing you're paying my way. People on unemployment don't go running out looking for work the same day they get laid off. Further more unemployment at least shows signs of having worked unlike those on welfare.
Hold the pickels , hold the lettuce cram it man you upset us.

Get a Job: you are so ignorant. Did you ever think about families of the unemployed? Sorry, but 3 year olds cant work. And they do need to eat.

Get a Job wrote:

Okay, all you people that sit on unemployment for months, thanks for wanting to take more money from the state so we will never get out of this failing economy. Obviously asking you get a job is out of the question because you all complain your "over qualified" or "There is no one hiring". Well, last I checked Walmart is hiring, and there are several pages of jobs in the Press. I'm so fortunate to have a job so my taxes can go to pay for lazy Americans like yourselves to collect Unemployment, welfare, medicaid and the like. GET A JOB!!

Well, as one who knows the ins and outs of the unemployment system (having worked there), I can say this.... unemployment does not affect the state's budget. It has its own budget that is not a part of the general fund. And, no, you are not paying for their unemployment, unless you were their employer. You, the worker, do not pay into unemployment, so just knock that right out of your argument.
I had lost my job in 2001 (yes, BEFORE Granholm was in office... imagine that!), and could not find work for almost a year. I applied for every possible job that I could qualify for, or be over- or under- qualified for! I even applied internationally! Guess what? No one was hiring me! And I have a great resume, skills, etc. I applied for 400 jobs. I eventually got a crappy one. But that was my first job offer in almost a year!
So, I can sympathize with all of you who are having a tough time. I've been there, and I know you aren't sitting on your butts no looking for work... well most of you anyway. Pride is the first thing to go. Being discouraged is easily done. I have faith in those looking for work. The key is not to lose your focus. Yes, easie said than done. But trust me, I cannot express how bad things got for me before they got better.
And ignore people like "Get a Job". Obviously, this person is not struggling.... yet.

I for one would like to say-- STOP JUDGING PEOPLE! People like "get a job" are the same people who drive by after an accident instead of offering to help! The greed of people like this astounds me. My husband lost his $20.00 per hour position in late Dec. 2007. He has been looking for a job every single day since then. Guess what! Nothing! I am a credentialed medical coding specialist. Guess what! No job! We have 2 small children, one who has been sick since birth last year. We are practically destitute, yet we found some clothes & items that we don't use to donate to the local homeless shelter. As for Walmart, well my husband and I are both "overqualified" (their words!). I am going to go to medical school and my husband WILL find a job. In the meantime-- I hope people like "get a job" obtain a job somewhere other than Michigan. That way, when the rest of us recover, we will live in state with other resilient, hard working, and loving families!!!

Bush send most Jobs out of the USA ,so he should do more for the unemployment system, Even if Clinton started it,Bush has 8 years to change things for us.

You obviously have no clue what it;s like to not have a job. I was one of those from Electrolux who lost my job and 2 years later I finally have a GED and took training for a (CENA)job paying 1/3 less the previous wages that I was making. if I hadn't went into the field of taking care of the elderly, I still probably wouldn't have a job. YOU should have a heart for the less fortunate. Because some day it may be YOU!and I hope someone is pointing the gun at you as you have them.

Get a Job wrote:

Okay, all you people that sit on unemployment for months, thanks for wanting to take more money from the state so we will never get out of this failing economy. Obviously asking you get a job is out of the question because you all complain your "over qualified" or "There is no one hiring". Well, last I checked Walmart is hiring, and there are several pages of jobs in the Press. I'm so fortunate to have a job so my taxes can go to pay for lazy Americans like yourselves to collect Unemployment, welfare, medicaid and the like. GET A JOB!!

Ok for the person who wrote the comment "get a job" so I dont have to pay taxes on your unemployment and welfare. First off YOU DO NOT pay taxes on someone elses unemployment. When you start a job the employer is required to set aside money per employee to go into an unemployment fund, its not the tax payers paying the unemployment, it is the EMPLOYER. Get your facts straight!

Get a Job wrote:

Okay, all you people that sit on unemployment for months, thanks for wanting to take more money from the state so we will never get out of this failing economy. Obviously asking you get a job is out of the question because you all complain your "over qualified" or "There is no one hiring". Well, last I checked Walmart is hiring, and there are several pages of jobs in the Press. I'm so fortunate to have a job so my taxes can go to pay for lazy Americans like yourselves to collect Unemployment, welfare, medicaid and the like. GET A
JOB!!

hey GET A JOB, I would LOVE to find another job. lets see. I was out of work for a whole year, half in 2004, 2005. I worked half of 2005, all of 2006 and 2007 and I got laid off 8 weeks ago just as I finished paying all my bills from being laid off for a year. Unemployment barly pays my basic living expences. I am thinking of putting my stuff in storage, swtiching my address to my sisters house, having my unemployment automaticaly deposted into a checking account, then driving down to texas where I can sleep in my car untill I find a job, and then maybe a place to live.

I hear a lot of people saying "get a job". Well, there are NO JOBS.. We have to go where they are. And that takes more money than unemployment pays.

Not to mention going somewhere where you know no one, don't know were the bad areas, etc..

And using monster dot com is a help but its not the magic bullet.

We need jobs in Michigan, and the only way to get them is to lower taxes. Do you really think the moonbats in lansing are going to do that? After loosing 400,000 jobs? Nope.. they won't give a dime, in fact, if anything you can expect tax INCREASES.

Last one out of michigan gets stuck with the bill.

Yep,he will do just like his daddy, I should have another tee shirt made like the one i wore when george sr. was pres. it read " The George Bush- Anywhere but America tour"

Notice how much travel he has been doing lately ??

The fruit doesnt fall far from the tree !!!

I also hope the extensions go through and soon. I have sent out my resumes with very few replies. Once they see I am in my fifties, they don't even want me. They don't say it but I can see it in their facial expressions during the interview. One thing that might help us all who are looking for a job would be for all those people who are working more than one job to quit them so others can get a job. Why do people need more than one job in the first place? Just think how many jobs could be created if this were to happen. They say because of their bills but we still have bills, also. Please print more stories on how this bill is going. I am very concerned because my unemployment is about to end and my wife can't even find a job either. I lost my last job due to a layoff.

Don wrote:

I also hope the extensions go through and soon. I have sent out my resumes with very few replies. Once they see I am in my fifties, they don't even want me. They don't say it but I can see it in their facial expressions during the interview. One thing that might help us all who are looking for a job would be for all those people who are working more than one job to quit them so others can get a job. Why do people need more than one job in the first place? Just think how many jobs could be created if this were to happen. They say because of their bills but we still have bills, also. Please print more stories on how this bill is going. I am very concerned because my unemployment is about to end and my wife can't even find a job either. I lost my last job due to a layoff.

Do you think people who work more than one job do so because it's so much fun??? Most don't have a choice... Also, maybe they're a lot more ambitious than YOU. AND, what makes you think that an employer would hire YOU if they were to quit? If you were more marketable, you wouldn't have a problem competing for the few jobs available. And besides, what you're suggesting is such a 'socialist' idea, it's ridiculous! Stop crying and move to France!

Get a Job you need to get a clue. Your ignorance sickens me. I'm 19, I worked hard for 8 months only to get laid off from a factory. I have put in jobs EVERYWHERE, I'm on Michigan Works constantly, I will even take a HUGE pay cut but there is just nothing out there. I really hope the extension goes through..I have 200 dollars to pay 300 dollars worth of bills this month and I really hate begging my family for help...they're not much better off than me...

Our home is in final foreclosure and we must be out by August. My husband also was laid off from his job in Novermber 2007, to make matters worse! If they decline the extension, we may end out on the street. We have two kids to provide for and there are not opportunities in Michigan. Shall we leave the state?

Ottawa County Resident wrote:

Our home is in final foreclosure and we must be out by August. My husband also was laid off from his job in Novermber 2007, to make matters worse! If they decline the extension, we may end out on the street. We have two kids to provide for and there are not opportunities in Michigan. Shall we leave the state?

My heart goes out to you and I will be praying for you. I too lost my job last summer and did not get another one until January. Although I did not lose my home I did lose my car shortly after I got my job which makes it very difficult to get to work, but I make it every day!!! I hope you find a solution to all of your problems soon. And to people like Get a Job, I really hope this doesn't happen to you because I would not even want to put my worst enemy in that position.