Job Went Overseas? Tough Luck, Says Congress Congress Fails to Extend Aid for Workers Displaced by Foreign Competition Over Sleeping Bag Deal

by Jen Mon Feb 14, 2011 1:57 pm

Job Went Overseas? Tough Luck, Says Congress
Congress Fails to Extend Aid for Workers Displaced by Foreign Competition Over Sleeping Bag Deal
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/congress-fails-extend-benefits-workers-laid-off-foreign/story?id=12896112

by mrgolf Mon Feb 14, 2011 2:05 pm

Jen wrote:Job Went Overseas? Tough Luck, Says Congress
Congress Fails to Extend Aid for Workers Displaced by Foreign Competition Over Sleeping Bag Deal
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/congress-fails-extend-benefits-workers-laid-off-foreign/story?id=12896112

Life just got harder for Americans out of work because of foreign competition.
Congress on Saturday failed to extend the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, which provides aid to some 150,000 workers unemployed because their jobs were outsourced overseas or their company couldn't compete with imported goods. In the past two years about 360,000 Americans have qualified for TAA benefits, which include reimbursement for schooling and retraining costs to find jobs in a new and different industry.

The benefits paid vary by state, but an average worker enrolled in a year-long training program gets around $15,000, in addition to what TAA pays for tuition.

by Sunrise Mon Feb 14, 2011 2:15 pm

One interviewee hit the nail on the head:

"Congress' failure to extend the program she views as a mistake. "It's
sad," she says, "because honestly, in order to make America stronger, we
have to invest in education." In her case, she says, TAA wasn't a
program that wasted taxpayers' money. "It helps restructure people's
lives.""

by mrgolf Mon Feb 14, 2011 2:49 pm

How are they going to pay for retraining that they (VP Biden) say we need?

by Guest Tue Feb 15, 2011 4:48 am

Job Went Overseas? Tough Luck, Says Congress

Congress Fails to Extend Aid for Workers Displaced by Foreign Competition Over Sleeping Bag Deal

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/congress-fails-extend-benefits-workers-laid-off-foreign/story?id=12896112

by tofer Tue Feb 15, 2011 6:06 am

Hey Need2Bworking...thanks for the post concerning TAA...i'm a qualified TAA member and it made me remember about some of the changes that will affect me next month with my health care tax credit...thanks

by Phillymg Tue Feb 15, 2011 7:30 am

Many thanx Need2B.....the TAA info is important for DAWU members to know about.

Somebody posted a 2/11/11 article about the TAA cuts the other day (maybe it was on UFF but maybe it was here). I saved that link thinking maybe the fight for TAA would continue. The article said the TAA Retraining Program & TAA-HCTC (Healthcare Tax Credit for p/t workers) were both expiring on Sat. The article said Sen. Bob Casey of PA & Sen. Sherrod Brown of OH tried to get the TAA laws extended by unanimous consent 3x on Thurs. 2/10/11 but each time Sen. John Barrasso of WY objected--

http://thinkprogress.org/2011/02/11/brown-by-blocking-unemployment-aid-set-to-expire-the-gop-says-too-damn-bad-to-american-workers/

Given that the WH has so heavily emphasized the need for 'Retraining' of the unemployed & the importance of 'Healthcare' in general.....you'd think that the WH would be fighting to stop the cuts in TAA & TAA-HCTC. Yet the 2/14/11 ABC article you gave us Need2B doesn't paint a pretty picture about the support of the WH for TAA.

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/congress-fails-extend-benefits-workers-laid-off-foreign/story?id=12896112

'The president, in his budget released today, cuts TAA retraining funds in half.'

Besides the increase in TAA claims due to the recession since 2009 the program has added service workers & manufacturing-components workers--'Funding of retraining has almost tripled.'

That might be the main reason for the TAA cuts--nothing to do with whether they're useful or beneficial (the Repubs say TAA is 'ineffective').....just that they cost something.

The ABC article says that Sen. Jeff Sessions of AL stopped the TAA bill because he wanted to add some help for a small AL sleeping-bag manufacturer (who seems deserving of help since China is trying to steal his customers & put him out of business tho I have no idea why the Repubs decided to call their amendment 'The Andean Trade Preference Act' as if anyone would be in favor of something with such a foreign-sounding name).

Maybe this is the part of the ABC article that's really important to know--
'Sessions, trying to garner enough votes to amend U.S. trade rules, held up the vote.'
Maybe that means that Congress has never interfered in 'Trade Rules' & the Repubs want to get a bite of one of the rules--but the Dems think if they get a bite at that apple then the whole 'Trade Rules' become open to attack?? I have no clue.

Not sure but just guessing what the ABC article is saying that it was Sen. Jeff Sessions who really 'held up the TAA vote' (behind the scenes) not Sen. John Barrasso (who officially stopped the TAA vote). ABC doesn't even mention Barrasso. Not that it matters.

Sigh. The President's budget cuts TAA Retraining funds in half. Just guessing.....like COBRA subsidy lost last summer.....that TAA-HCTC (Healthcare Tax Credit for p/t workers) isn't in the President's budget. Nothing final till Congress votes on *2011 Budget/Debt Extension Bill*. The fact that COBRA subsidy is no longer available may even be a good argument for extending the TAA-HCTC.

The Unions will put/are putting up a big fight to restore TAA & TAA-HCTC through Sept. 30, 2011. Imo support for HR589 can be found by joining with the Unions in their TAA struggle.

by Phillymg Tue Feb 15, 2011 7:55 am

*JUST FOR LAUGHS* HERE'S WHAT THE SENATE PRESS GALLERY SAID THAT THE SENATE DID ON THURSDAY--

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2011

The Senate will convene at 4:00 PM and will be in a period of Morning Business. There will be no roll call votes during today's session of the Senate. The next votes are expected to occur Monday, February 14, 2011 at 5:30 PM, possibly on a judicial nomination and amendments to S. 223 (Federal Aviation Administration Modernization Bill). Sen. Reid announced the Senate hopes to clear the Trade Assistance Adjustment legislation on today.

The Senate convened and proceeded with Morning Business.

H. R. 359 (Trade Adjustment Act). Sen. Casey motion to proceed to the bill and agree to it with Casey amend (18 month adjustment assistance and Andean Trade Preference Act) was objected to by Sen. Barrasso.

H. R. 359 (Trade Adjustment Act). Sen. Casey motion to proceed to the bill and agree to it with Casey amend (4 ½ month adjustment assistance and the Andean Trade Preference Act) was objected to by Sen. Barrasso.

H. R. 359 (Trade Adjustment Act). Sen. Brown motion to proceed to the bill and agree to it with Brown amend (18 month health insurance tax credit) was objected to by Sen. Barrasso.

H. R. 359 (Trade Adjustment Act) Sen. Barrasso motion to proceed to the bill and agree to it with a Barrasso amend (Andean Trade Preference Act) was objected to by Sen. Brown.

S. Res. 48 (Congratulating the Green Bay Packers on winning Super Bowl 45). Agreed to by unanimous consent.

The Senate will convene at 2:00 PM on Monday, February 14, 2011 and will resume consideration of S. 223 (Federal Aviation Administration Modernization Bill). At 4:30 PM, the Senate will proceed to an Executive Session to consider Cal. #1, James Graves to be US Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit Court and Cal. #5, Edward Davila to be US District Judge for the Northern District of California for one hour of debate. At 5:30 PM, the Senate will proceed to a voice vote on Cal. #1, Graves and a roll call vote on Cal. #5, Davila.

The Senate adjourned at 5:05 PM.

*YA YA YA.....WE CAN ALL GET A GOOD LAUGH FROM THE WHOPPING 1 HOUR & 5 MINUTES OF WORK THEY DID.....BUT WHAT'S SIGNIFICANT IS THAT NOW WE KNOW THE NUMBER OF THE TAA BILL*

H. R. 359 - TAA BILL

H. R. 589 - EUC BILL

*THEY MAKE A GOOD PAIR DON'T THEY*

Job Went Overseas? Tough Luck, Says Congress Congress Fails to Extend Aid for Workers Displaced by Foreign Competition Over Sleeping Bag Deal 618340

Job Went Overseas? Tough Luck, Says Congress Congress Fails to Extend Aid for Workers Displaced by Foreign Competition Over Sleeping Bag Deal 618340

by Jen Tue Feb 15, 2011 12:07 pm

merged

by Guest Tue Feb 15, 2011 12:24 pm

Phillymg wrote:*JUST FOR LAUGHS* HERE'S WHAT THE SENATE PRESS GALLERY SAID THAT THE SENATE DID ON THURSDAY--

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2011

The Senate will convene at 4:00 PM and will be in a period of Morning Business. There will be no roll call votes during today's session of the Senate. The next votes are expected to occur Monday, February 14, 2011 at 5:30 PM, possibly on a judicial nomination and amendments to S. 223 (Federal Aviation Administration Modernization Bill). Sen. Reid announced the Senate hopes to clear the Trade Assistance Adjustment legislation on today.

The Senate convened and proceeded with Morning Business.

H. R. 359 (Trade Adjustment Act). Sen. Casey motion to proceed to the bill and agree to it with Casey amend (18 month adjustment assistance and Andean Trade Preference Act) was objected to by Sen. Barrasso.

H. R. 359 (Trade Adjustment Act). Sen. Casey motion to proceed to the bill and agree to it with Casey amend (4 ½ month adjustment assistance and the Andean Trade Preference Act) was objected to by Sen. Barrasso.

H. R. 359 (Trade Adjustment Act). Sen. Brown motion to proceed to the bill and agree to it with Brown amend (18 month health insurance tax credit) was objected to by Sen. Barrasso.

H. R. 359 (Trade Adjustment Act) Sen. Barrasso motion to proceed to the bill and agree to it with a Barrasso amend (Andean Trade Preference Act) was objected to by Sen. Brown.

S. Res. 48 (Congratulating the Green Bay Packers on winning Super Bowl 45). Agreed to by unanimous consent.

The Senate will convene at 2:00 PM on Monday, February 14, 2011 and will resume consideration of S. 223 (Federal Aviation Administration Modernization Bill). At 4:30 PM, the Senate will proceed to an Executive Session to consider Cal. #1, James Graves to be US Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit Court and Cal. #5, Edward Davila to be US District Judge for the Northern District of California for one hour of debate. At 5:30 PM, the Senate will proceed to a voice vote on Cal. #1, Graves and a roll call vote on Cal. #5, Davila.

The Senate adjourned at 5:05 PM.

*YA YA YA.....WE CAN ALL GET A GOOD LAUGH FROM THE WHOPPING 1 HOUR & 5 MINUTES OF WORK THEY DID.....BUT WHAT'S SIGNIFICANT IS THAT NOW WE KNOW THE NUMBER OF THE TAA BILL*

H. R. 359 - TAA BILL

H. R. 589 - EUC BILL

*THEY MAKE A GOOD PAIR DON'T THEY*

Isn't it wonderful how they chickened out of revamping the filibuster.
Good night Irene................

by js123 Tue Feb 15, 2011 3:58 pm

Job Went Overseas? Tough Luck, Says Congress Congress Fails to Extend Aid for Workers Displaced by Foreign Competition Over Sleeping Bag Deal 951891

Senators annual income, $174,000.00. Why should they work all day. They don't work for us, they work for big corporations that are lining their pockets daily.

by Guest Tue Feb 15, 2011 4:05 pm

js123 wrote: Senators annual income, $174,000.00. Why should they work all day. They don't work for us, they work for big corporations that are lining their pockets daily.

We are just names and numbers. They only time they listen is when money is taken out of their pockets or laws are passed to curb the behind the door bribes. Its like they have a license to steal.

by Sponsored content

Job Went Overseas? Tough Luck, Says Congress Congress Fails to Extend Aid for Workers Displaced by Foreign Competition Over Sleeping Bag Deal

Job Went Overseas? Tough Luck, Says Congress Congress Fails to Extend Aid for Workers Displaced by Foreign Competition Over Sleeping Bag Deal

Re: Job Went Overseas? Tough Luck, Says Congress Congress Fails to Extend Aid for Workers Displaced by Foreign Competition Over Sleeping Bag Deal

Re: Job Went Overseas? Tough Luck, Says Congress Congress Fails to Extend Aid for Workers Displaced by Foreign Competition Over Sleeping Bag Deal

Re: Job Went Overseas? Tough Luck, Says Congress Congress Fails to Extend Aid for Workers Displaced by Foreign Competition Over Sleeping Bag Deal

Job Went Overseas? Tough Luck, Says Congress Congress Fails to Extend Aid for Workers Displaced by Foreign Competition Over Sleeping Bag Deal

Re: Job Went Overseas? Tough Luck, Says Congress Congress Fails to Extend Aid for Workers Displaced by Foreign Competition Over Sleeping Bag Deal

Re: Job Went Overseas? Tough Luck, Says Congress Congress Fails to Extend Aid for Workers Displaced by Foreign Competition Over Sleeping Bag Deal

Re: Job Went Overseas? Tough Luck, Says Congress Congress Fails to Extend Aid for Workers Displaced by Foreign Competition Over Sleeping Bag Deal

Re: Job Went Overseas? Tough Luck, Says Congress Congress Fails to Extend Aid for Workers Displaced by Foreign Competition Over Sleeping Bag Deal

Re: Job Went Overseas? Tough Luck, Says Congress Congress Fails to Extend Aid for Workers Displaced by Foreign Competition Over Sleeping Bag Deal

Re: Job Went Overseas? Tough Luck, Says Congress Congress Fails to Extend Aid for Workers Displaced by Foreign Competition Over Sleeping Bag Deal

Re: Job Went Overseas? Tough Luck, Says Congress Congress Fails to Extend Aid for Workers Displaced by Foreign Competition Over Sleeping Bag Deal

Re: Job Went Overseas? Tough Luck, Says Congress Congress Fails to Extend Aid for Workers Displaced by Foreign Competition Over Sleeping Bag Deal