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| Josie Maisano of St. Clair Shores (at microphone) was among those who spoke out at Roseville forum last week for long-term unemployed workers that was hosted by U.S. Reps. Gary Peters, left, and Sander Levin, right. |
By Chad Selweski
@cbsnewsman on Twitter
A St. Clair Shores woman who is on the verge of losing
her home after her unemployment benefits were eliminated on Dec. 28 by Congress
will be the guest of U.S. Rep. Sander Levin at tonight’s State of the Union
address.
her home after her unemployment benefits were eliminated on Dec. 28 by Congress
will be the guest of U.S. Rep. Sander Levin at tonight’s State of the Union
address.
Josie Maisano, 60, of St. Clair Shores was laid off in
May 2013 from the mortgage company she worked for. Prior to that, she had spent
40 years as an administrative assistant in
the auto industry and had obtained certification as a legal secretary.
May 2013 from the mortgage company she worked for. Prior to that, she had spent
40 years as an administrative assistant in
the auto industry and had obtained certification as a legal secretary.
But, like many unemployed workers of her generation, she
is finding that age trumps experience every time when applying for a job.
Employers won’t hire someone in their 50s or 60s and “applying online is useless
as there are at least 20 people applying for the same job,” she told Levin when
she met him last week.
is finding that age trumps experience every time when applying for a job.
Employers won’t hire someone in their 50s or 60s and “applying online is useless
as there are at least 20 people applying for the same job,” she told Levin when
she met him last week.
“I am now two months behind on my mortgage payments. I
send (utility) companies partial payments. I am so afraid of becoming homeless,
and I know I am this close to that actually happening,” she said.
send (utility) companies partial payments. I am so afraid of becoming homeless,
and I know I am this close to that actually happening,” she said.
Maisano is one of several unemployed workers from across
the nation who will appear at a congressional Democrats press conference today
in Washington. She will watch President Obama’s speech from the gallery of the
House chambers.
the nation who will appear at a congressional Democrats press conference today
in Washington. She will watch President Obama’s speech from the gallery of the
House chambers.
Levin, a Royal Oak Democrat who represents most of Macomb
County, is one of the most vocal lawmakers on Capitol Hill pushing for a return
of the emergency unemployment insurance program that cut off benefits one month
ago for 1.3 million Americans.
County, is one of the most vocal lawmakers on Capitol Hill pushing for a return
of the emergency unemployment insurance program that cut off benefits one month
ago for 1.3 million Americans.
The casualties of the UI elimination grow by
approximately 72,000 every week. In Michigan, more than 56,000 people have now been
cut off.
approximately 72,000 every week. In Michigan, more than 56,000 people have now been
cut off.
“There are more than 1.6 million Americans just like
Josie Maisano, who lost her job through no fault of her own, and has now been
completely cut off unemployment benefits,” said Levin, who hosted a forum
for the long-term unemployed along with fellow Democratic Rep. Gary Peters in
Roseville last Friday.
Josie Maisano, who lost her job through no fault of her own, and has now been
completely cut off unemployment benefits,” said Levin, who hosted a forum
for the long-term unemployed along with fellow Democratic Rep. Gary Peters in
Roseville last Friday.
“Never in history has Congress ended an emergency
unemployment insurance program with the long-term unemployment as high as it is
today. I urge Republicans to join with Democrats to renew the program
immediately.”
unemployment insurance program with the long-term unemployment as high as it is
today. I urge Republicans to join with Democrats to renew the program
immediately.”
In his speech, Obama is expected to again call for the
resurrection of long-term unemployment benefits. So far, UI legislation has
been tied up by Republican senators.
resurrection of long-term unemployment benefits. So far, UI legislation has
been tied up by Republican senators.
“At least with my unemployment insurance coming in, I was
able to sustain some semblance of normalcy,” Maisano said. “But now that it has
been taken away abruptly at the end of the year, I don’t know what to do
anymore. I feel like I’m running out of options.
able to sustain some semblance of normalcy,” Maisano said. “But now that it has
been taken away abruptly at the end of the year, I don’t know what to do
anymore. I feel like I’m running out of options.
“I pray that our elected officials will pass the
unemployment extension, but it hasn’t happened. I have worked since the
age of 14. I did not choose to become unemployed. My jobs have been
ripped away because of the economic crisis that has lasted all too long.”
unemployment extension, but it hasn’t happened. I have worked since the
age of 14. I did not choose to become unemployed. My jobs have been
ripped away because of the economic crisis that has lasted all too long.”
