Bradford, Maine – Andrew Libby would have been unemployed for about 88 weeks today if he had not received a break last month. If he is grateful that it pays for his new job, clerking with a Big Apple convenience on Fleming Street, only $ 220 per week.
"It is better than not having a job, but it does not take on too much," said Libby Saturday.
A certified structural welding and outside job paid a minimum of $ 16.50 an hour, the 21-year-old Lee man and his fiancee, 20-year-old Jessica Arlo, figure that they will need at least 11/2 years before their new minimum wage job can dig them financial holes created by his april 2009 layoff.
"When his unemployment drove, that is when we have really started to get behind," Arlo said.
It is therefore both said they hope that Congress pass an extension of unemployment benefits for those who were without work in 99 weeks, even if they help now pay as members of the labour force.
-I know what it is like to be there and not have anything, "said Libby.
The latest enlargement was to expire on Wednesday. Federal and State officials estimate that the benefits of 2 million Americans end of Christmas and 21,500 Mainers loses the advantages of June without an extension.
Democratic u.s. Rep. Mike Michaud believes that it is annoying to Congress, Republicans are "holding hostage" extension of benefits to the unemployed, in exchange for an extension of the Bush-era tax cuts of richest Americans. Democrats in order to extend the Bush tax cuts to era men to do as much as $ 250,000 and I can rate to Clinton-era levels for those who earn more than 250 000 USD. GOP seeks an extension across the Board.
-It is very hypocritical, said Michaud Friday in the Republican stance. "If you talk to economists from most liberal to most conservatives, everyone says that the quickest way to get the economy going is to extend the benefits. Every dollar of benefits generates $ 1.67 economy. "
Republican United States Sen. Susan Collins gives priority to expanding the cuts that Bush-era. The nation's top employees own some 750,000 small businesses. Stops the cuts would tax law $ 2.7 trillion on the efficient firms Jan 1. An economist estimated to raise taxes on top employees would cost 770,000 jobs to 2012, "she said.
"The fact is that this tax increase would make it difficult, if not impossible, for entrepreneurs to grow their businesses and make the necessary investments to remain competitive. When SMEs cannot invest and grow, they can add job, "Collins said in a statement.
As Sunday, appeared in the White House and Congress were to compromise – try to extend the Bush tax rates reduced for all income levels for maybe two years in exchange for unemployment benefits extension.
Libby and Arlo said they felt for those caught in the middle of the debate. His layoff came one month after the employer Rhode Iceland-based had spent approximately $ 10,000 on his training, he says. A keen workers, Libby had travelled around New England to the company's work.
"I would travel 500 miles for work if the phone rang," he says.
He moved in with Arlos family, send resumes everywhere and accumulated several thousand dollars of debt, sometimes lose their car insurance. With his new job, he has worked for morning, evening and night shifts every week, bad stress, lack of regular sleep, and is very keen to take on the henchmen work outside his new job.
A volunteer firefighter in Lee, Libby hope to get back on their feet financially by becoming an EMT if he can find the time and money for education.
"Everyone tells me to go to school so I will not be unemployed, but who will pay for my gas or my food as I? I don't have money to live while I go to school, "said Libby. -It is a vicious circle. I will not, but I am not either. "
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