Unemployment Benefits to Lapse as Congress Fails to Agree

[Purveyor]

Source: Bloomberg

By Jim Efstathiou Jr., William Selway and Kathleen Hunter Dec 12, 2013

Unemployment benefits for 1.3 million people in the U.S. are poised to end Dec. 28 as Democrats failed in their last-ditch effort to extend the jobless assistance before the House adjourns tomorrow.

Republicans who control the House refused to keep the aid flowing to the long-term unemployed without agreement on budget cuts elsewhere. Extending the benefits would cost $26 billion over two years, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid today said the lawmakers won’t have a chance to act before leaving for the holiday recess. It will be the first issue taken up when Congress reconvenes next month, Reid said, and lawmakers would try to make the benefits retroactive.

“This is something we are focused on like a laser, and we’re going to continue working on it,” Reid told reporters today. “It’s been extremely difficult, procedurally, to move things along.”

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-12/last-ditch-effort-mounted-to-extend-unemployment-benefits.html

[shenmue]

1. Okay #$%@* the Republicans

Heartless bastards.

[grilled onions]

2. won't be time before THEY leave for holiday

Not only does that make them sound cold and callous as they are caring more for themselves than those out of work,out of money and perhaps out in the cold before too long but they do forget all the days off they had just before the LAST holiday. Meanwhile corporate 'Murka insists that their workers literally work around the clock till the 25th of Dec with no concerns of their workers and their families and "quality time" for the 99%.

[TheKentuckian]

3. Reid ought to be saying that either the unemployed have benefits on Christmas

or Christmas will be spent with him or under arrest.

I'd hold them 24/7 until the term expires. Maybe company discipline is required so punish the Senate until and unless they can get their little friends in the House to behave.

[Iliyah]

4. GOPers don't care. I would say at least half of the 1.3 million who

will lose unemployment by Dec. 28th votes for them. But of course GOPers will blame the Dems which will be backed up by the corporate media.

[iamthebandfanman]

5. its sad

that we are being told to 'embrace the suck' by one of our party leaders...

would she care to say that to the face of someone about to lose their unemployment check?



one things for sure though, if anyone knows about feeling the suck and finding ways to cope.. its the poor.
weve been embracing the suck for as long as I can remember.

[mitty14u2]

6. GOP - The Real War on Christmas.

[SmittynMo]

7. I see real problems with this.

1.3 million without the final crutch holding them up? The outcome can't be good.

The GOP and the tea party have overstepped their boundaries again. They will do anything to destroy the less fortunate.

[Beacool]

8. In other words, don't bother us we are getting ready for the Holidays.

Screw those who won't have any cheer this season because they will have to carefully budget their last pennies to carry them over into January. They simple don't care.

No job and no benefits? Too bad!!!

[SmittynMo]

9. They don't care in the least bit.

Don't cha know, "It's all out me, me, me." F them!!! Heartless bastards.

[Beacool]

10. It's mostly the Republican's fault, but I don't see the Democrats too concerned either.

There are some exceptions, of course. I did hear Pelosi speak about it.

[Sunlei]

11. "longterm". The program is back to traditional 26 weeks, with up to 48 weeks in some cases.

We really need to switch people who have been unemployed for 2 and 3 years to other benefits they (and their dependent family) may need.