The Teabagger Revolution -- One State at a Time . . . . First Up - The Tar Heel State . . . .

This is the predictable outcome of electing self-centered, vindictive extremists to positions of legislative power:

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — With changes to its unemployment law taking effect this weekend, North Carolina not only is cutting benefits for those who file new claims, it will become the first state disqualified from a federal compensation program for the long-term jobless.

State officials adopted the package of benefit cuts and increased taxes for businesses in February, a plan designed to accelerate repayment of a $2.5 billion federal debt. Like many states, North Carolina had racked up the debt by borrowing from Washington after its unemployment fund was drained by jobless benefits during the Great Recession.

The changes go into effect Sunday for North Carolina, which has the country’s fifth-worst jobless rate. The cuts on those who make unemployment claims on or after that day will disqualify the state from receiving federally funded Emergency Unemployment Compensation. That money kicks in after the state’s period of unemployment compensation — now shortened from up to six months to no more than five — runs out. The EUC program is available to long-term jobless in all states. But keeping the money flowing includes a requirement that states can’t cut average weekly benefits.

Because North Carolina leaders cut average weekly benefits for new claims, about 170,000 workers whose state benefits expire this year will lose more than $700 million in EUC payments, the U.S. Labor Department said.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/north-carolina-becomes-first-state-to-eliminate-unemployment-benefits.php


Ahh yes -- because nothing says "we've got your back fellow American" than kicking the already down and out to the curb by running a box-cutter blade to the underside of the fragile safety net that these people have been desperately clinging to, and as their destitute asses fall to the cold hard cement, handing them a one-way ticket to the poor house accompanied by an emotionless smile and the now truly meaningless words, "God bless America."


----TFG