Democrats want jobless benefits in 'cliff' deal

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http://bigstory.ap.org/article/democrats-want-jobless-benefits-cliff-deal

Democrats want jobless benefits in 'cliff' deal

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hovering in the background of the "fiscal cliff" debate is the prospect of 2 million people losing their unemployment benefits four days after Christmas.

"This is the real cliff," said Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I. He's been leading the effort to include another extension of benefits for the long-term unemployed in any deal to avert looming tax increases and massive spending cuts in January.

"Many of these people are struggling to pay mortgages, to provide education for their children," Reed said this past week as President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, rejected each other's opening offers for a deficit deal.

Emergency jobless benefits for about 2.1 million people out of work more than six months will cease Dec. 29, and 1 million more will lose them over the next three months if Congress doesn't extend the assistance again. ...

[Love Bug]

1. Glad to hear the unemployed are not being totally forgotten

I was unemployed from 11/08 - 8/11 and it was difficult. My benefits ran out a year before I found work and as hard as things got it would have been much worse if those had run out earlier. I can`t help but think of those who are still struggling.