Congress Weighs Unemployment Benefits Extension

http://unemployment.offerwatch.info
BY ZACH TOOMBS An estimated 1.8 million Americans are set to lose unemployment benefits in January if Congress doesn't act soon to extend them. CNN has the story. "The federal government supplements the 26 weeks of benefits provided by most states, allowing people up to 99 weeks of aid as long as they're looking for work. The average weekly benefit is about $300. Under current law, people must file for extended benefits by the end of the year. President Obama wants to push back that deadline for another year." Traditionally, Democrats have favored extending those benefits and Republicans have resisted. But this year there seems to be more consensus, with GOP House leaders expressing support for the extension if the costs can be offset elsewhere. And with GOP support of high-income tax cuts still a large part of the conversation in Washington, liberals, including Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, are holding their feet to the fire on the issue of unemployment benefits. "Every poll that I have seen and that you have seen says that it is basically insane. Nobody believes that you continue to give huge tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires and then tell people who are unemployed, 'Sorry, we cannot continue to extend unemployment (benefits).' Nobody believes it. Republicans are on the defensive. We've got to keep pressing that issue." Many Republicans, including presidential candidate Newt Gingrich, have voiced discontent for extending unemployment benefits but haven't gone ...
http://unemployment.offerwatch.info

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