Extended unemployment benefits for about 1.3 million Americans expired on Dec. 28, and Congress is unlikely to restore those payments swiftly, or at all.
The Senate could try as soon as next week to pass a three-month patch of the program, which would grant payments retroactively. But the short-term bill would not be offset with cuts elsewhere. And even if Democrats can get enough GOP votes to stave off a procedural filibuster — no sure thing — there’s no clear path to garner the Republican support necessary in the House.
Speaker John A. Boehner, R-Ohio, has
said he will not take up a bill that does not include commensurate budget
savings, even though previous extensions have not been structured this way.
No comments:
Post a Comment