Casey Emenhiser's List: Essay 4 - Unemployment

President Obama signed into law an agreement reached by congress which maintains the payroll tax cut and extends unemloyment benefits, but also allows states to drug test people who seek unemployment benefits if they were fired from their previous job for using drugs or if they are seeking a job that would ordinarilly require drug tests. A study claimed 84% of employers required new hires to pass a drug test. Democrats opposed for all applicants to be tested - what about discrimination?

LSU Column - Against Welfare Drug Testing

Vanishing Jobs in 2009 - statistics

Grand Rapids - In December 2010 the unemployment rate was averaging about 11.4 percent from January through October. Stated Senior Regional Analyst George Erickcek was too pessimistic about his predictions of the 2010 unemployment rate - he called 1.1% decline in the service sector.

Gives a prespective on proactively addressing the job search length, following a person's passion versus a need for income. It states the fact that finding a job in todays economy is very challenging . They discuss the emotional toll the job searching process takes on a person, keeping in mind finding an job that will meet their income needs.

The GOP proposed an extension in unemployment beenfits for another year. It is felt that by doing this it would make large changes to the national jobless benefit program, including a provision in allowing states to give applicants drug tests. It would also extend the payroll tax cut. They also mention that applicant for unemployment insurance be enrolled in a GED program if they haven't graduated high school and would also require that they are actively looking for work. It is stated that if approved, more than $1 million would be ineligible for benefits and would cut back how long workers could claim extended benefits from 99 weeks to 59 weeks.

Against - Republican-led efforts proposed that everyone receiving government safety-net benefits would have their urine examined for drugs. They feel though that this is a violation in Constitutional Rights, violating federal law, which in turn would lose federal funding for the benefits and employers would lose tax credits.

Discusses how Arizona was the first state to implement this requirement but was not successful. They would base testing an applicant by "reasonable cause" - they feel this is why it was not beneficial. Also, discuss how Florida had the requirement but was only for about 4 months total before a court stopped the testing because they felt it was unconstitutional.

Discusses Grand Rapids Community College Job Fair held and how students were lined up before the event even started. It is stated that the unemployment rate is down to 9% currently in Michigan.