June 18, 2010
Washington, D.C.
The failed June 17 vote by the U.S. Senate -- to extend unemployment benefits and adequately fund Medicare reimbursements as well as the state-based Medicaid system – points out the urgent need for rank-and-file pressure to break the anti-worker logjam. All 38 Republican senators voting opposed the measure. They were joined by Democrat Ben Nelson (NE) and Independent Joe Lieberman (CT) in opposition to the legislation. The bill failed by a 56-40 margin, since a total of 60 votes are needed in order to meet the super-majority threshold under current Senate rules.As a result of the failure of the bill, more than 900,000 long term unemployed will see their benefits cut off. Within 2 weeks more than 1.2 million jobless will see their meager unemployment benefits stopped. This blow falls on unemployed working people who have also seen the federal subsidy drastically reduced for the very costly COBRA health insurance extension. States are expected to expand their layoffs of public sector workers as a result of the Medicaid funding rejection, and Medicaid participants are facing steep cuts in benefits and services as a result.
Commenting on the Senate failure, UE General Secretary-Treasurer Bruce Klipple said, “The Senate has once again allowed the minority of anti-labor Republicans to wreak havoc on working people. The 60 vote super-majority rule has stalled almost all urgently needed legislation over the past 18 months. Senate Republicans have systematically blocked all legislation that would protect or benefit working people. Do Democrats have any plan to recognize this fact, and restore majority rule to the U.S. Senate? With the November elections fast approaching it’s past due for Democrats to shove the anti-worker roadblock out of the way. Working people need a new and expanded jobs bill along with additional unemployment benefits and COBRA funding. Under the current Senate rules there is no possibility of progress. We don’t want any more excuses for failure. The rank-and-file want to see some results. Period.”
UE members are asked to contact their members of the U.S. Senate to demand that majority rule be restored to the Senate proceedings. They may be reached by calling the Congressional switchboard at 202-224-3121.