Congress is poised “for another partisan showdown over extending unemployment insurance, as concerns about the growing budget deficit have complicated the path forward for an otherwise popular program,” the Washington Post reports.
On its first day back in session following a two-week recess, the Senate is scheduled to vote Monday on whether to end debate on a measure extending jobless benefits, subsidies for the COBRA health insurance program and federal flood insurance through May 5. Democrats will need at least one Republican supporter to get the 60 votes necessary to proceed.
Attempts to pass the bill before members left town for recess were unsuccessful. Republicans objected to quick passage of the measure because they wanted the cost to be offset with unspent stimulus funds.
Democrats, meanwhile, argue that the funding constitutes “emergency spending” and therefore requires no full offset.
Both the House and Senate “have passed jobs bills with longer-term extensions of jobless benefits, but now the two chambers must reconcile their versions of the measure.”
In the meantime, Democrats contend that Republicans will pay a price at the polls for their tactics, particularly if they vote en masse Monday against the extenders measure.
(credit image – getty)
Congress in Your Pocket
S E N A T U S 
Hey there,
We just started a new blog, While We Wait, which is dedicated to telling the stories of unemployed or recently rehired people. Check out recessionstories.wordpress.com if you’re interested in submitting. We also encourage any of your readers to do the same.
Thanks,
While We Wait
I was invited to a after ski gathering of friends last evening. About 12 or so…….most I did not know, as I met people I was shocked to learn: out of the 4 woman in attendance, 3 were without jobs. One, an accountant, for over a year, one a regional portfolio property manager, for over 6 months, one, a high end retail manager, within the past month. All, very sharp, and shocked!
Out of the 8 men in attendance 2 were without jobs, and 2 had suffered badly due to cut hours/or loss of business: One, a forman for one of the largest home builders in the area, just given notice that in 2 weeks the company will relocate and those here will not have jobs,very worried because construction is just not hiring and he has a young family, one, unemployed for almost a year, highly paid service supervisor at a car dealership, one, self employed owns trucking company, down millions from last year had to lay off several employees and feels sick about it since they had been with him for years, one, a high school teacher for 9 months.
I am in my 50″s, never have I attended a party where this many sharp, educated, individuals were without unemployment or without decent paying jobs. Nor……where it was a topic of open conversation! Party downer!
For a recap: 4 of the 12 were still employed at their same jobs and wages. This is in a state with one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation.
Last night was a reality check…………I am one of the unemployed woman.