Deadline for the Long-Term Unemployed -- WSJ

Link here to deadline looms for long-term unemployed, WSJ.

More than 40% of the nearly five million Americans who receive unemployment insurance are set to lose those benefits if federal programs expire as scheduled at year-end.

Some economists worry that cutting off those benefits could harm the economy by leaving millions of Americans with less money to spend on everything from food to fuel. Others argue that overly generous benefits are helping to prolong joblessness.

Congress has repeatedly extended unemployment benefits amid high joblessness, and it could do so again. But the programs have gotten caught up in the fight over the "fiscal cliff," a package of tax increases and spending cuts due to take effect early next year.

Some Democrats are pushing to extend benefits again, but the programs must contend not only with Republican opposition but also competing priorities such as business and individual tax breaks.

Comments:

• at least one Hostess/Twinkie employee said unemployment benefits better than the $35,000 job
• American Crystal union members have voted down, three times, and counting, a contract offering a wage increase
• so much noise about the fiscal cliff, the long-term-unemployed story is having trouble being heard
• the number on extended unemployment benefits continues to drop; smaller constituentcy
• no election for two years