The average length of unemployment is about 34 ½ weeks, up from 29 ½ weeks at the end of 2009. The Labor Department estimates that nearly 10% of the jobless have been looking for work for MORE than two years now.  Up until last month, “unemployment benefits” ceased after 99-weeks.

In order for the unemployment rate to reach the pre-recession level of around 5%, the economy would have to create about 335,000 jobs per MONTH for the next 4 years.  The Labor Department recently announced that it will be changing how it measures long-term unemployment, and will now track the “very” long-term unemployed, those who have been unemployed for 100 weeks or longer.  

The Congressional line-up has changed in 2011.  The previous 111th Congress had a Democrat majority in all three branches of the federal government.  Now, the new Senate no longer has its super majority, although Democrats are still holding a 53 to 47 lead.  The House now has a Republican majority of 242 to 193, which puts some of the “balances” back in the “checks and balances” in Washington.   

Congress had an end of the year race to pass through as many bills as possible, before many Congressmen and women saw their terms come to an end.  Their enthusiasm has been matched by the incoming Congress, at least in the House of Representatives.  

The first and most widely debated order of business, is the REPEAL of Health-Care Reform.  The GOP prevailed in the House with a 236 to 181 procedural vote for repeal of Obama-care. However, the vote is being called “symbolic” at best.  Any “real” bill would likely be rejected by the Democrat controlled Senate or White House.  However, the House is laying the groundwork for what will be an up-hill battle and continued debate on the pros and cons of Health Care Reform.  

Congress has more on their minds than healthcare this year.  They’ve already passed some new procedural rules.  Each bill that comes before the House must include a “Constitutional Authority Statement,” specifying which section of the Constitution allows for passage of the bill; new spending requirements - stating that for any spending INCREASE proposed by Congress, it must be offset by a spending CUT similar in size - and no NEW taxes will be created to pay for any NEW programs; and now every new bill must be posted on-line for at least 72 hours, before a final vote is taken!

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