"Mass. job agencies may shed 70 staffers"
"by Robert Gavin, Globe Staff | March 14, 2008
With a recession looming, the Patrick administration might cut up to 70 jobs in state agencies that provide unemployment and job placement assistance to laid-off workers.
But we got BILLIONS to toss at Israel and the War Contractors!!!!
Administration officials say they are in the process of closing a $6 million shortfall in these programs, which they blame on federal funding that has declined by $15 million over the past five years. As a result, they have launched a voluntary layoff or buyout program, offering takers a $2,500 bonus. They are also considering eliminating walk-up services for people to file unemployment claims in state career centers, which help laid-off workers find jobs. Most people file unemployment claims by phone.
Suzanne Bump, secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, said no final decisions have been made on which services to cut. The state must collaborate with 16 regional Workforce Investment Boards, which, under federal law, oversee career centers and share responsibilities with the state for job training and other employment pro grams.
"These decisions will [not] and cannot be unilateral," Bump said. "But we've been in a situation of having to provide an ever more extensive support system with fewer dollars."
By now I already know you have your trousers around your ankles and are grabbing them tight, so I won't say it, 'murkn!
At least you got shit to eat while getting reamed!!!!!
In a letter obtained by the Globe, the Workforce Investment Association of Massachusetts, which represents financial administrators of the federal Workforce Investment Act and career center directors, raised concerns to Bump that eliminating walk-up service would hurt those who speak little English, have little education, or just have difficulty navigating the automated phone system.
Hey, then the state can save money by not providing for them -- and instead, Bush can use the money for wars!
That's a better way to spend it anyway, right, shit-chompers?
In many cases, the letter said, walk-up services have helped these clients solve problems that were holding up their unemployment benefits.
Last year, the state's 37 career centers served about 180,000 walk-up clients, according to the letter.
"This group of unemployed, who are the most vulnerable customers, will be the most negatively impacted by the removal of the walk-in claims services," the letter said. "They may also be the . . . applicants who are financially strapped and need assistance to access their funds ASAP."
Aaaaah, fuck 'em!
Unless it's you, right, shit-chewer?
Judy Selesnick, executive director of the Workforce Investment Association, said the state has been working closely with the regional workforce investment programs on closing the funding gap and considering various options. No decisions have been made, she said.
The cuts would come in the next fiscal year. The state expects to receive $58 million, the same as this year, but down from $68 million in 2005 and $73 million in 2003. In addition, Congress late last year cut $1 million to $2 million from other grants.
Thanks, Congress!!!
And here they are blaming Bush all the time!
You in it together and WE KNOW IT, shitters!!!!!!!!!!
Meanwhile, declining federal money over the years has led the state to deplete a reserve fund that had been used to support unemployment assistance and job training programs.
Bump said it's still unclear how many jobs will be cut, depending on which employees take the buyout and additional administrative savings. Tuesday is the deadline for taking the buyout, she said.
While it's never a good time to cut unemployment assistance programs, it's particularly worrisome to have to do it when a recession is looming, Bump said. Massachusetts, however, still has a low unemployment rate, which was 4.5 percent in January, compared with 4.9 percent nationally.
And those who have stopped looking?
Extending unemployment benefits and providing additional funding to states were considered but ultimately left out during negotiations over the recently approved federal stimulus bill, which will send tax rebate checks to most US households.
There is Congress FUCKING YOU AGAIN, 'murkn?!
And those "rebates?"
Well, you gotta PAY to get them, and look at how much letting you know you are getting a check is going to cost: Tab for notifying taxpayers of rebates: $42m
But you unemployeds couldn't have used that $$$$!
Bump said she is hoping the federal government will provide additional funding before cuts have to be made.
What, after they just wasted $42 mil telling us how nice they are to loan us our tax payments?
Senator Edward M. Kennedy, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, has proposed legislation to boost funding for unemployment benefits and programs.
"As the economy continues to worsen, we must take immediate action to jump-start the economy and to help families in crisis," he said in a statement. "I call on my colleagues to join me in helping the millions of hard-working Americans who are pounding the pavement every day looking for work, but having no luck. We need to take up legislation as soon as possible to extend and improve unemployment benefits."
Why?
So it can get a veto?
Just MORE HOT FART MIST from Fat Ted!!!!
And the rest of the MSM:
"""Oil hit a record high, the dollar sank again, and consumers stopped buying pretty much everything.... The economy is being hit by multiple blows and noting that plunging home sales and rising mortgage defaults are showing no signs of abating....
At the White House, deputy press secretary Tony Fratto said the Bush administration expected a "difficult and challenging" period. But he also said Americans should have confidence in the long-term future of the economy because of the positive impact of the Fed's rate cuts and the economic stimulus package that will send rebate checks to 130 million households starting in May.
"I think it's important for the president to get out and talk about how he sees the economy, and why he sees the economy improving as the year goes on," Fratto said.....
Pffffft!
They can't help but lie, can they?
Both crude oil and gasoline prices hit all-time highs yesterday, with crude closing at $110.33 per barrel.... Gasoline prices jumped 2.1 cents a gallon overnight.... analysts forecast they will keep climbing.
But there is ENOUGH SUPPLY!!
And how come PRICES NEVER FALL AS FAST, huh. shitters?
The dollar, meanwhile, dropped anew as global investors worried about the length and severity of any US downturn. The dollar dipped briefly below 100 yen for the first time in 12 years and fell to a new low against the euro.
That's why the price of oil is going up and the economy shitting the bed: The DOLLAR is worth SHIT!!!
On Wall Street, stocks slid but then rebounded somewhat as traders grew hopeful about a Fed rate cut Tuesday of one-half point to as much as three-fourths of a point....
Which will WEAKEN the DOLLAR more!!
But who cares if we are plunged into a fucking DEPRESSION, right?
Ain't gonna hurt the wealthy (they never do), so who gives a flying fuck, right?
Write-downs of subprime asset-backed securities could reach $285 billion globally, up from a previous projection of $265 billion. However, it said that "the end of write-downs is now in sight for large financial institutions."
Yeah, there is light at the end of the tunnel!! For the banks and the richers!!
As for the American worker, anybody hear a train?
"Foreclosures jump 60% in February"
"More than 223,500 properties were in some stage of default, or 1 in every 557 households...."With declining prices, there is a pervasive problem of not being able to refinance or sell," said Susan Wachter, professor of real estate at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School in Philadelphia.
Foreclosure filings are likely to be "explosive" in May and June as more payments jump.... There may be between 750,000 and 1 million bank repossessions in 2008."
"Mortgage rates climb to 6.13%"
"This is not only a problem for Carlyle," Jochen Felsenheimer, the Munich-based head of credit strategy at UniCredit SpA, wrote in a note to clients yesterday. "We expect a further flood of downgrades especially of higher-rated securities, putting enormous pressure on the system."
