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StumbleNevada to borrow up to $1 billion to cover jobless benefits
Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010 | 3:32 p.m.
Sun Coverage
The state will borrow between $800 million and $1 billion from the federal government this year to continue paying unemployment benefits to Nevadans.
Employers will be saddled with paying off this debt at an interest rate of 4.6 percent.
Cynthia Jones, administrator of the state Division of Employment Security, says it initially predicted it would collect $313 million a year in tax from Nevada employers in the tax they pay. But the state won't reach that figure because of high unemployment.
Jones appeared before the Legislative Commission Thursday to speak on the regulation that would keep the tax rate at 1.33 percent for Nevada employers this year.
Nevada's unemployment rate reached 13 percent in December, the second highest in the nation. The maximum payout to a jobless person is $400 a week for 99 weeks.
The state has already borrowed $201 million from the federal government. More than 40 states have dipped into the federal fund to help them pay unemployment compensation, Jones said.
Jones said she's hoping for some "federal relief" either in forgiving all or part of the debt or lowering the 4.6 percent interest rate. The state has two years to pay off the loan.
If Nevada can't pay it off by the deadline, the federal government will increase the rate it charges Nevada employers.
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Every good conservative out there should gladly refuse this money and get by on their own, after all this is what they preach.......why not practice what you preach......conservatives should take no handouts from the government!
Ummmm....Big question...As a Business owner, I know that unemployement is paid by the employer and employee. You only have benefits if you work.....SO WHERE IS ALL THE MONEY THAT IS SUPPOSE TO BE THERE? WHO IN THE STATE GOVERNMENT DIPPED INTO THAT ACCOUNT? That is the question that needs to be asked. Sounds like a bunch of crap if you ask me.
Bertsos, that's what you would like, have others pay for your plan but they shouldn't be allowed to take the money because they were forced to pay for something they didn't want. This isn't like shopping at Walmart.
Thekingofbail- the president was kind enough (extreme sarcasm) to extend benefit coverage last year. This shouldn't have been surprising. This is a tactical move by Obama to create federal dependency (speculation but not really). One small problem, the federal government doesn't have any money either so they just turn on the printers and borrow more money. Expect crap like this because this is the government of entitlements and dependency. History is full of examples that followed this path. If Obama wanted things to get better, he would back off. But to quote Obama's Chief of Staff Emmanuel"Never let a crisis go to waste".
FYI.... those examples didn't fair so well.
And the Hole gets DEEPER....
A tax-mandate to bailout a Ponzi-scheme designed to breed parasites?
"I don't give or ask for help!" -- Howard Roark
"The creator stands on his own judgment. The parasite follows the opinions of others. The creator thinks, the parasite copies. The creator produces, the parasite loots. The creator's concern is the conquest of nature - the parasite's concern is the conquest of men. The creator requires independence, he neither serves nor rules. He deals with men by free exchange and voluntary choice. The parasite seeks power, he wants to bind all men together in common action and common slavery. He claims that man is only a tool for the use of others. That he must think as they think, act as they act, and live is selfless, joyless servitude to any need but his own. Look at history. Everything thing we have, every great achievement has come from the independent work of some independent mind. Every horror and destruction came from attempts to force men into a herd of brainless, soulless robots. Without personal rights, without personal ambition, without will, hope, or dignity. It is an ancient conflict. It has another name: the individual against the collective." -- Howard Roark (The Fountainhead)
: {
I know of at least one person receiving benefits (extended) who has no intention of finding work.
How long can we support these parasites?
Harley, have you ever been unemployed (other than voluntarily quitting, which prevents you from drawing unemployment)?
Have you ever had to wonder if you could afford to go to the doctor and pay cash for you or your child because you have no job and no benefits? Or try to make the money for food stretch for the month? Or pay for shelter? Or put gas in the tank (or pay the bus fare) to get to an interview for a job you need because you're about to exhaust your benefits?
There are about 150 people applying for every one job out there in the state. What should the 149 who don't get the job do, panhandle to pay the bills?
borrow and spend. its the democratic way (capital D democrat)
"I know of at least one person receiving benefits (extended) who has no intention of finding work."
Then report them. If you are not actively seeking work (and you have to prove it), you lose your benefits.
Instead of whining about the "parasites", drop the dime on them if you know they're abusing the system.
DouglasDemocrat,
You are an idiot man. Its not my problem (the tax payer) that you or your child has to go to the doctor, or that your kids are hungry. I didnt tell you to have kids. Start a garden and eat what grows. You belive you are intitled to a way of life. And about wondering how you are going to fill your tank with gas.... Your hybrid shouldent need any gas right?? Good luck to you man.
human kindness overflowing
i think it's gonna rain today
There's a whole lot of give-n-take in America -- the problem is government always seems to be in the middle of it, which has to end, unemployment benefit schemes such as this are wrong because they unjustly force the victimization of society's creators to the benefit of it's parasites harming the common good "will" hoped to be established within, amongst and between individuals in a "just" society.
FWIW:
I've been unemployed and qualified to receive State unemployment benefits one time but refused them, even though I was forced to pay into the program, as I would expect any other citizen worthy of being labeled "American Sucker" would have done.
: {
You can blame Obama and the Democrats as you wish, but no one says that Nevada has to let itself be dependent on the feds if that is so unpalatable to everyone. And why are you so focused only on the federal govt.? What have your state and local leaders done to be proactive? Can you name me 5 proposals that are being actively pursued right now to bring in additional types of industries? Why are your leaders not even willing to even bring up the possibility of having a discussion about raising mine taxes, or of instituting a lottery?
If you want to be so free of federal involvement, then you need state and local leaders to actively and aggressively lay out their plans and get to work on them. You think a mob museum is going to get the job done?
The problem with unemployment is that it doesn't always encourage some people to work. So maybe a simple solution might be to have all unemployed workers still receive their benefits if they agree to work a job that the state places them in. Any employer who accepts one of these employees would be given a tax credit per employee hired. Most people do want to work but their will always be some who try to game the system. Everyone shouldn't be penalized for the deceit of a few.
Well said, Teaser.
The problem is that some folks like to immediately focus on those that milk the system. However that's not to say that many more are responsible, tax-paying, law-abiding citizens that are going through tough times right now. I personally know two people exactly in that situation and they're basically looking out-of-state. This is the eye of the unemployment storm.
Meanwhile, the Nays will be the first taking a hand-out.
"The hardest part isn't finding money - the hardest part is losing what you've earned because your government made sure of it". -- Harley
: {
Nobody argues that there is a need. The question is if it is the state's responsibility to take care of all the needs of it's citizens. I say no.
1+1+=2 and we've already spent 2 so what now?
Wasn't it a sworn Democrat that once said, "ask not what you can do for your Country, ask what your Country can do for you"?
: p
Thank you republicans. Ruined the economy for years to come
"You belive you are intitled to a way of life"
1) It's "believe" and "entitled" - it's hard to take your argument seriously when your spelling is lousy.
2) A way of life? You have no idea what an unemployment benefit is do you? Here's a hint - the maximum unemployment benefit is $362 per week. That's slightly better than $9 per hour if you were to spread it out across a 40 hour workweek.
Boy, that's the high life for me! Sign me up!
3) I'm not unemployed NOW. I was for nearly 2 years. And I was willing to do anything from file papers to flip burgers. I applied everywhere in state, out-of-state, and even out of the country. And still, it took 2 years to find a job. And I wasn't the only one who was beating the bushes like crazy for ANYTHING that was better than unemployment.
So, again I ask you - 150 people for every 1 job. 1 person gets the job. Should the other 149 just beg for scraps?
I've always considered pink-slips to be nothing more than a notice that my skill-levels needed to be up-graded with a more diverse flavoring.
Grandmother use to hand wash clothes in the basement with a scrub-board and a ringer between two large metal tubs until the invention of the washing machine -- lesson, some jobs are worth losing.
My first job was working for an alcoholic that supported his addiction by hiring-n-firing naive scapegoats in an attempt to conceal his embezzlement from the company -- lesson, some jobs aren't worth having.
"The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising after you've fallen". -- Vince Lombardi
: {
Am I wrong but wasn't it Gibbons who wanted to refuse any of the Stimulus Bill's money that would go for unemployment benefits eary last year?
What if it wasn't just 150 per job? What if it was 1,000,000 per job? Does government have the right to take MORE money from people who they deem to have too much and give it to those people? What is the maximum % of one's income that the government should be able to take?? 50%? 75%? 99%? After all, you need to take care of everyone's needs right? I still say no.
We already have about 100 million citizens working to support the needs of about 300 million. It's already unsustainable.
I remember this discussion before the Federal Government via Congress passed legislation that required the states to extend unemployment benefits.
It was an unfunded mandate to the states that required the states to extend these benefits without an reimbursement from the Federal Government who passed the law in the first place.
So now Nevada will have to increase taxes to employers to pay this new debt. Employers just may have to lay off workers to stay solvent.
And the circle of life goes on...
99 weeks of unemployment????
Help me out with the math here, Larry... that's what, almost 2 fricking years????
May as well break out the butter for Nevada because that state is toast.
"Does government have the right to take MORE money from people who they deem to have too much and give it to those people?"
"Those people" are your neighbors. "Those people" may be your friends. "Those people" may even be members of your own family.
I suppose anyone who loses their job DESERVES to live off of whatever handouts they can get from such "charitable" citizens like yourself. After all, it's their fault they're out of work.
It couldn't be because their boss was a crook. Or the company grew too fast or in the wrong direction. Or that the whole industry tanked.
Nope, their fault. Good to know.
Those Darned ol Dems. Fox news and Rush said they are all gonna take my guns yall.
First problem is; you got people working for cash while collecting unemployment.
Second problem is; unemployment office does not enforce their own rules. They dont check to see if people are looking for work.
"Second problem is; unemployment office does not enforce their own rules. They dont check to see if people are looking for work."
They have about 100,000 people to keep track of. A few months ago they hired a bunch of new employees just so they could cut back on the amount of overtime they were clocking in just to keep the system from breaking down (the ratio of DETR employees to unemployed workers makes a child advocate's caseload look light).
Here's my solution (and it's a damn good one, if I do say so myself):
Let the whole country burn down and then start over.
Why is our government STILL bringing in 1.5 MILLION foreign workers a year? http://www.americanworker.org/
My nephew was working a good job 4 yrs ago..bringing in about $90k a year...then his guard unit got sent to Iraq for 15 months..when he came back..his job was gone. He spends his days on the computer sending resumes. He has traveled to other states looking for work...and you fine Americans begrudge him the measly $400 a week he gets in unemployment...sickening
I'm not saying it's anybody's fault if they're unemployed or not. I'm not saying anyone's needs are illegitimate and they are undeserving. All I'm saying is that you cannot have a sustainable system where a shrinking portion of the employed and productive population pays for all the needs of those not working. Eventually the system breaks down and all the "shoulds" and "needs" end up not being met for everyone.
Harley you seem to talk the fool, act the fool, you be da fool.
You must be so proud to spout out that you don't need unemployment funds. That's fine but don't try and play the big man and put people down for wanting to survive. Not everyone is in your shoes. If it takes me to act like you to survive like you, I'll collect what I paid into my unemployment fund.
99 weeks? I wish I was there!
HOW MUCH MONEY IS BEING FORKED OVER TO ILLEGAL ALIENS COLLECTING BENEFITS?
BORROWING AGAINST MY TAX MONEY TO PAY FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS 'COMPENSATION' BECAUSE EMPLOYERS REFUSE TO USE
E-VERIFY
TO ESTABLISH LEGAL AUTHORIZATION TO WORK IN THE UNITED STATES.
ANY EMPLOYER WHO DOESN'T USE E-VERIFY SHOULD PAY QUADRUPLE OR QUINTUPLE THE TAX RATE. OR HIGHER.
NOT ME AND YOU.
Comprende Amigo...???
Teaser,
You forget that Nevada is a donor state. For every dollar the state gives to the fed, it gets 65cents back. That means we lose 35 cents out of every dollar and then on top of that the federal placed the mandate on the states to increase the time limit on unemployment. The federal government was never meant to have this much control over the states.
I will not argue that the state has it's problems as well but this article is specifically talking about unemployment and the burden it causes on our donor state.
There have been many articles in the past few weeks that address the state problems you mentioned but taxing industries, businesses, or people more only makes the problem worse. Find out were 35% of the state federal tax dollars are going because they aren't coming back to Nevada and it shows. But according to liberal tax philosophy, more taxes equal prosperity (it doesn't).
"I call BS on that one, unless there is another problem like you have something else going on- disability, criminal record etc."
Oh, brother...
See, this is why we can't have a discussion like adults. Anyone whose story doesn't fit your perception must either be lying or hiding facts.
No I don't have a criminal record. No I don't have a disability that prevents me from work. I have a college degree and a strong work ethic. It's just because I had a degree, I was overqualified for every job I applied for (why hire someone when 6 months down the line they're going to jump ship for something that pays better and is in their skill set?) or did not have enough experience for jobs in the field I got my degree in.
I did temp work - low pay ($9/hr) and no benefits.
And you seem to forget, or are simply not aware, that once you are in the "emergency" extensions you have to take ANY job that is available and pays better than your unemployment benefit. And not everyone gets the maximum of $362 - my last stint on unemployment my benefit was $306, which is just slightly above the minimum wage when calculated out to a 40-hour work week.
Did you miss the point of this letter?
Unfunded mandates from the Federal Government can ruin the financial solvency of the states.
Nevada is going to have to borrow approximately two (2) billion dollars from the Federal Government because the Federal Government extended unemployment benefits and IT HAS TO BE PAID BACK...
Who is going to repay the Feds? We all are. Employers will be hit with more taxes and most of these will have to be passed on to the comsumers...
This is just a example of what will happen to Nevada if Harry can force his health care bill through...
Larry, I think we need to use smaller words.
ex: Fed make state pay more when state had no money. Now state need to borrow for bad fed plan. NO MONEY!!
You said it well Larry, "Unfunded mandates from the Federal Government can ruin the financial solvency of the states." Expect more unfunded mandates from the kind and concerned federal government.
Hell, Titus had the answer to this dilemma last Saturday when she so eloquently told Pelosi, "They're All F--ked"!
Actually, she sort of plagiarized, "Let them eat cake"! But anyone that thinks they represent Naaaavada, is entitled to one little diiiiva F--k Up!
"Actually, she sort of plagiarized, 'Let them eat cake'!"
Funny, that sounds more like the people commenting on this thread:
"Can't find a job and need unemployment? Sucks to be you."
DouglasDemocrat appears to have been on unemployment a good part of his adult working life. Isn't that right there Doug?
You say you can't find work because you are over qualified? I guess your hands don't fit a shovel or a rake? How about a pencil. Can you stand and walk? Maybe you can find a security job?
I will bet you something there Doug. I bet that you will become qualified as soon as your unemployment benefits run out.
Last time I checked the employers pay for the state and federal unemployment, not the employee. The state rate is based on the employers reserve. Which brings another thought; how is the federal mandate to extend benefits going to impact the employers reserve?
"You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it."
"DouglasDemocrat appears to have been on unemployment a good part of his adult working life. Isn't that right there Doug?"
No. I never exceeded my first 26 weeks of unemployment because I worked contract jobs. As in week-to-week, hand-to-mouth existence with NO benefits and NO pay (and even then, there were HUNDREDS of people applying at the temp agencies). But it was 2 years from one full-time job to the next.
"I bet that you will become qualified as soon as your unemployment benefits run out."
You missed the part where I said I did get a job.
And don't call me Doug.
Correction: NO benefits and LOW pay.
GDP grew in the 3rd and 4th quarters, jobs are always lagging the numbers recovery in each recession. Those thinking about long-term recovery, know the enviroment will be a big winner in the conversion to biofuels & biopower -- saw a cool site; Balkingpoints ; incredible satellite view of earth
Lowden does not want unemployment extensions, that will not get her any votes.
wizard you can thank Harry for allowing illegals to receive unemployment benefits. Does anyone see a patern here?
Illegals getting citizens rights to receive unemployment benefits. Instead of deporting them, they get benefits.
Harry had them getting health care until the reform fell through. Rights that a citizen gets.
They break federal immigration laws but still get to work with out being deported.
It seems that some of our government leaders are planning on giving the illegals rights of a citizen and keep on doing so until they finally say "Hey they have all the rights of a citizen, might as well give them true citizenship".
Instead of making the immigrant conform with the American way of life, we have to conform with what our Government wants, assimilate to the immigrant.
DouglasDemocrat,
I may have spelled a word wrong, but at least im not a democrat and admit to it. Good luck to you Doug.
Good for Lowden... mr ed appears to want unemployment extended again. Old horse sense must not realize that continuing to extend unemployment is going to create financial havoc for Nevada's employers and will increase inflation for the entire state.
Of course, some Liberals would like to see unemployment benefits continue forever. They don't care who pays the bill because they are such caring people.
I want to get paid in gold, because the dollar won't be worth anything.
anybody making over 100 thousand a year should pay 30% taxes for the next 5 years.
Are government isn't trying new things like marijuana to tax, but rather just keep piling it on the middle class.
My vote is to all new people run for government especailly NV where most of them are crooked on the public and their famlies.
"anybody making over 100 thousand a year should pay 30% taxes for the next 5 years."
uhm, I make over 100 thousand a year and already pay well over 30% in taxes, einstein.
I thought if you went to college you would make an extra million. So where's everybody's million dollars?
simple- we've let jobs go overseas since ronnie was pres- no jobs=unemployment, jobs=payroll tax. both parties to blame. wingnuts=selfish uncaring termites
a lot of misanthropes on this thread. for the unfortunate out of a job, las vegas is the wrong place to be. apparently only the kids in school can see this clearly because when they graduate most will leave the state to find what employment there is to have. blaming the illegals or people 'gaming' the system is the easy way out for those without much intelligence.
Remove the illegals from the equation and the job market, schools and health care situation would improve dramatically...
Since Liberals/Progressives caused massive unemployment they should be held accountable. Here in Nevada any Liberal/Progressive who has or is collecting unemployment benefits should be required to give 50% of their benefits to Conservatives and 50% back to their employers. As for the Liberals/Progressives, "let them eat cake."
Kevarian:(D-Papa Gino's) We need to increase food stamps now! We should be proud that we are the fattest nation. I am proposing passes to the unemployed, to the all you can eat buffet of your choosing. Shut up and give me my dole.
A passing comment from a Midwestern "Conservative Christian" : Both Obama and Reid have their hands in your pockets
I wonder when these same conservative christians were and are sharing the goodwill justice banner at the dinner table how much their christian morals have gone out the back door.
As I stated previously, since there is a need for jobs in the Las Vegas area and since the Nevada State Supreme Court has kicked back the Water Authority attempt to obtain more water for the conservative christians showers in the a.m.,
build a state of the art hospital for the use by the UNLV Medical School's students and the world will be coming to your city.
Here in the Midwest where goodwill justice banners are the normal now a days, the hospital that needs to be built before the college, home of the Thunderbirds, is still waiting to be built because now the economic minds have gotten something else to while away their time and our money. Their idea of health care is to kick in the door of your car by the son of a City employee.
I never collected u/benifits but you know what my thought are that I wouldnt mind paying a few extra bucks a months to help out my vegas neighbors. I know alot of good people in this town and some not so good. But if the state and the gov as much as I disagree with him on alot stuff asked I will give a little more. This to me means nothing about politics and idelogy but helping out my neighbors.
uddeboda needs to go to the Nevada Website and do a little reading before he opens his mouth about something he does not have a clue about.
All employers pay a minimum percent of wages into state and federal employment compensation funds. The percentage is determined by the employers past claims record. If an employer have claim reserve is low or in the "red," the employer, not the employee has to increase his payment percentage.
When the State's fund runs in the "red," the minimum percent is increased to all of the State's employers, even if they did not terminate or lay off any employees.
So, If you are a large employer in the state of Nevada, or if you are a large employer outside the state, you might think twice before expanding or relocating you business to Nevada.
Extending unemployment benefits has left Nevada with an unfunded mandate of approximately one (1) billion dollars that has to be paid back to the Federal Government by the state of Nevada...
"Do not the workers, when working, pay into an unemployment fund, so that in times of need there are funds to be paid out."
nope.
"millions of illegals flood the national job market". . . . . when did my fellow american citizens start demanding jobs that require dish pan hands or jobs that require blistered hands from harvesting crops or cutting grass? the only time i ever saw a bunch of white men doing manual labor was when they were in a chain gang.
"bunch of white men"
your fellow american are not just white men...
your username is appropriate...
Needle speakith with the knowledge of a Golden Book.
dipstick speakith with the knowledge of a dipstick.
"So at what time does this unemployment money become "WELFARE" & you become "LAZY BUMS"?
Unemployment NEVER becomes welfare because it ends. You are not eligible for the rest of your life to collect unemployment. There is a cap; used to be 18 months. I believe now it is longer thanks to the extensions. (See my closing comments re permanent unemployment).
"I know of at least one person receiving benefits (extended) who has no intention of finding work.
How long can we support these parasites?"
The unemployment will STOP. You cannot go on and on getting unemployment. 99% of people unemployed ARE actively looking for work so please do not put everyone into the category of that "one person" who is a loser. Of that 99%, many have worked 20+ plus years and have put into the system for that period of time. The longer you have worked, the more you have put into the system. And are basically getting back what they put in over the years.
"anybody making over 100 thousand a year should pay 30% taxes for the next 5 years."
Good grief! You obviously know nothing of tax brackets. I made a little under $48K a year and I believe I was in the 26% bracket!!! Before moving to Vegas, my salary was obviously higher $50K) and I was in the 28% bracket.
It seems many of you here have no idea about unemployment judging by your ingornance of your posts. It is NOT a free ride for the people collecting it. Taxes have to paid on the money you receive. It is only good for X amount of time. You cannot be on unemployment all of your life....that's unless you keep losing any job you may have. BUT.....any employer can reject your claim for unemployment so there is no guarantee you will receive it if that is the game plan.
Those who brag about staying on unemployment instead of getting a job are losers and chances are they are big babies still living at home with mommy and daddy, who pay for everything. And if you have a friend like that - then you are no better since birds of a feather flock together.
Any time government gets involved, they screw things up.
Additionally, the tax system is a joke. My best friend didn't pay taxes this year and he and his wife are Canadian citizens with two kids. They just finished doing their taxes and are getting more than $10,000 back.
What is right about that liberals?
THEY BETTER HAVE MONEY I HAVEN'T HAD A UNEMPLOYMENT CHECK IN 9 YEARS.
This state is on its ass, and Obama tells the world not to come here and spend their money.
It's O.K. for him to go to Hawaii over Christmas making the Secret Service work away from their homes, which was the first president to do so, ever.
No thanks mr. pres (small cap's), I think I can decide for myself who to vote for and where to spend my hard earned dollars and it ain't on your or Harry's half-assed stimulus hair brained idea's.