212,000 LOSE Unemployment Checks Thanks To Republicans

[Segami]

" As unemployment benefits expired Monday for tens of thousands of jobless workers, Democrats and Republicans renewed their haggling over whether to vote for an extension when Congress returns from its spring break next week.


At the heart of the dispute is whether the extension should be offset by spending cuts, as Republicans are demanding, or whether it constitutes an emergency, as Democrats say.


The expiration means 212,000 unemployed people will lose benefits this week, according to figures provided by the National Employment Law Project.


In the latest round of skirmishing, Senate Democrats rejected Republican charges that they had backed away from a deal giving quick approval to a one-week extension, paid for with budget offsets, that would have kept unemployment checks coming until Congress reconvened.


"There were a lot of conversations going on and things were moving very quickly, but no deals were made," said Jim Manley, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).


Two weeks ago, when the Senate took up the question of a 30-day extension already approved by the House, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) objected that the $9-billion price tag would add to the federal deficit.


The GOP objection raised the specter of a filibuster; Democrats no longer have a filibuster-proof majority.


"It is inexcusable and irresponsible for Republicans to once again block the extension of these benefits," Reid said in a statement.


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<http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-jobless-benefits6-2010apr06%2C0%2C3648300.story>

[tonysam]

1. And MILLIONS more will lose EUI altogether because Congress

refuses to add a Tier V. It's necessary until we have a real recovery here. Otherwise there will be millions of homeless out on the streets.

[inna]

2. What a shame.

K&R