If the state unemployment office offers to put your unemployment insurance check on plastic for you, it's probably a good idea if you politely decline in favor of direct deposit (at this point, even taking your money as a Circuit City gift card is probably better than putting it on a bank debit card):
For hundreds of thousands of workers losing their jobs during the recession, there's a new twist to their financial pain: Even as they're collecting unemployment benefits, they're paying bank fees just to get access to their money.
Thirty states have struck such deals with banks that include Citigroup Inc., Bank of America Corp., JPMorgan Chase and US Bancorp, an Associated Press review of the agreements found. All the programs carry fees, and in several states the unemployed have no choice but to use the debit cards. Some banks even charge overdraft fees of up to $20 - even though they could decline charges for more than what's on the card.
"It's a racket. It's a scam," said Rachel Davis, a 38-year-old dental technician from St. Louis who was laid off in October. Davis was given a MasterCard issued through Central Bank of Jefferson City and recently paid $6 to make two $40 withdrawals.
You have to hand it to the big banks: Even as they're lining up for federal bailouts, the money from which they will try to use to hire lobbyists to prevent toughening up of oversight regulations, they're also finding a way to cash in on the rising unemployment numbers.
The justification offered for putting the money on a VISA debit card is, of course, customer convenience--which is pretty much the same argument that justifies eating a Big Mac and large fries instead of something healthy.
It's happening here in Oregon and workers--and unions--are catching on:
Kenna Gortler, a laid-off paper mill worker in Oregon, said her union is advising members to avoid the debit cards and sign up to get their benefits through direct deposit. More than 300 of her fellow workers have lost their jobs at the mill in the last three months, and horror stories about ATM fees and overdraft charges are starting to filter back to others who are just now signing up for their benefits.
"It's discouraging," Gortler said. "People have limited funds and they don't need to be giving money to the banks. They need to be keeping that money to feed their families and pay bills."
In Oregon deny the unemployed their Unemployment news, it appears that the state has arbitrarily opened a bank account, replete with VISA debit and attendant fees and sixteen pages of typefont font two restrictions, on my half. Didn't ask if I wanted a bank account, just opened one up. No more checks, just direct deposit, to a bank not of my choosing. In collusion with USBank and VISA, the State of Oregon and the US Federal Government opened a bank account with sixteen pages of typefont font two fees and restrictions and a tentative three thousand dollar credit limit on my behalf.
For a hundred and thirteen dollar a week claim.
Make sure your wallet's in your pocket--let's Span the State.
The second Oregon bank to go under this year--community bank Silver Falls Bank in Silverton--was eaten by the FDIC this week. (Beaverton-based Pinnacle Bank folded last week.)
Deposits at Silver Falls, and the other 13 banks that have failed just since January 1, 2009, are insured up to $250K by the FDIC, another one of those socialist New Deal creations that Republicans like to remind you destroyed America's fiber.
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When Peter DeFazio and Greg Walden end up on one side of the stimulus bill, and the rest of Oregon's delegation (and pretty much the rest of Congress except the Republican dead-enders) end up on the other, you know it's not yet time to retire the phrase strange bedfellows.
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Industry analysts say that the increase in gas prices, after bottoming out in the buck-fifty range last year, may have to do with drivers "getting bolder" in their gasoline use--although, for better or worse, we're probably not likely to see pump prices hit $4/gal again anytime soon.
Here in Oregon, the average reported pump price for unleaded dropped a nickel this week, to $2.085/gal, pretty much mirroring the national trend (although, as usual, gas costs more in Oregon).
Cheapest reported price: $1.87/gal, at the Arco station, 39555 Pioneer Blvd near Proctor Blvd., in Sandy.
Highest reported price: $2.39/gal, at the 76 station, 3890 W 11th, in Eugene.
Teachers should work some days without pay this spring to avoid early school closures, Gov. Ted Kulongoski said Thursday as he laid out his plan to keep the state solvent in the teeth of one of its worst recessions.
"The only way we're going to get out of this is if everybody contributes," Kulongoski said. As for teachers: "You do it without pay."
The governor said he would lead by example. He pledged to work up to four days for free over the next four months and cut his $93,600 annual salary by 5 percent, for a total decrease of about $5,680, sending the difference to the state school fund.
And even as we watch education in Oregon preparing to take more hard shots on goal before the recession ends, there's this bright spot at the other end of the state's economy:
In California, where lawmakers are squabbling over a $42 billion deficit, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger put 48 state parks on the chopping block last year, and some world-famous parks like Pfeiffer Big Sur may not open this year.
In Washington state, Gov. Christine Gregoire's budget proposes closing 13 state parks, and Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter's budget would whack state parks there, too.
And in Oregon? State parks here remain a bright spot in an otherwise dismal budget crisis.
The reason: In 1998, Oregon voters approved a ballot measure that directs 15% of lottery profits to salmon restoration and state parks.
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And if disgruntled teachers hope to ease the pain of our state's struggling economy with an honest pint of local beer, well, it looks like there's no hiding place there, either.
"The Oregon Trail" was a big deal to me in 5th grade. It was a big deal to everyone in my class. Whenever you finished your in-class work early, you could jet over to the class' personal computer and play the game of your choice.
For most of us, that game was "The Oregon Trail." That game was eventually banned, thanks to one kid who decided to push the envelope.
When you die in "The Oregon Trail," you have the opportunity to type your name into a gravesite. Someone in our class decided it'd be funny to type f*** onto their gravestone, which our teacher eventually found out about.
Our teacher didn't know how to erase the word, so the game was removed from class. If you can't tell, I'm still bitter over the whole thing.
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