Thanks for the info!

I am unemployed and drawing benefits in Texas. Unfortunately, my initial benefit weeks run out this month. I wonder if they will even extend them now. I was expecting the extension, and perhaps they still will grant it at the 10% cut. I hope that is the case, rather than being cut off entirely. It's somewhat encouraging to see this, "In Texas, job seekers are eligible to receive an additional 37 weeks of federally funded jobless benefits", but I wouldn't put it past them to kibosh the extension altogether. I'd best give them a call!

Thanks again for the heads up.

I realize the value of this information since I'm also unemployed. If the Republicans would stop pulling political stunts and sabotaging the economy the pumps are primed for a strong recovery. Business won't budge until they know that the games are over.

Good luck with your job hunt. What part of the state are you looking for employment?

Actually I am in Arkansas, not far from Texarkana. I worked for a clinic in Texarkana, TX for 10 years as a medical transcriptionist, but worked from home in Arkansas, actually. The clinic laid off all the transcriptionists (by Republicans in charge, of course). They claimed that the "Obama Care" law made it mandatory (which was a lie) and then blamed it on Obama, of course. As it turns out, it was not mandatory but, rather, a policy that the clinic admins came up with to trim the "bottom line", ergo, to enrich themselves. So, I consider myself a victim of the Republican scourge all around. I just do not understand how they are able to continue to wield so much power when their party lost terribly in the last election and they are in the minority overall (save the House, of course).

I would like to get a job in Arkansas but I am already 64 and that makes it difficult to start afresh (not making me a particularly attractive candidate for employment given my advanced age). I think I am going to try to start retirement at 65 (instead of 67, which is my actual retirement age) and just accept the ding it will bring, not being 67 yet. It appears that I will just have to.

I was really impressed with Dan Rather's comment on Rachel Maddow's show the other night when he told her he would give her his "Oklahoma word", that if Obama would decree an executive order halting all congressional pay until the sequester issue were resolved, it would get done in a matter of 2 to 3 days tops. They don't give a rat's a$$ if it hurts you and me, but let it affect THEM directly, and they'll squeal like a pig but go ahead and do the right thing (out of their own self interest only, of course). It's infuriating and terribly unjust but that's what we will have to put up with until more than 27% of the American people become aware that the sequester issue even existed. (This is from poll data mentioned by Thom Hartman.) It is going to take having the majority of the public become aware that they are being screwed royally by the pubs but I'm afraid it's going to be like the frog in the kettle of slowly heating water. They won't rise up until it is too late!

but I noticed that there isn't much activity in the Arkansas Group so I might have to pop up over there occasionally to keep it active. I've also hit Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and if the story fits California and Colorado.

I try hard to keep those groups active because it fosters a sense of community among DUers so that we remain involved and hopefully not have a repeat of 2010 occur in 2014.

Lots of people have been hurt by Republican policies and I want to contribute any way possible to avoid that in the future. Please feel free to pop in on the Texas group though.

Your work is very important and much appreciated, and I'm sure by many others beside myself.

It was my roommate who came across your post and he passed it on to me. It certainly has come at a very auspicious time as my 26-week stint is coming to an end and I will need to find out about the extension. See, you've done some good already! I hope any others in our situation might benefit from your article as well. I will definitely want to check out the Arkansas Group... sounds interesting.

Keep up the good work and hey, right back at you and also for your efforts!