Moments ago, the Senate gave final passage on a bill that would extend unemployment benefits in all states for an additional 14 weeks, with 6 weeks on top of that for the most hard-hit states. The vote was 98-0. Earlier today cloture was passed on the bill by a whopping 97-1 count (only Jim DeMint voted no), but a final vote was expected on Thursday. A deal was reached to speed up that process a bit.
However, this does not exonerate Republicans for spending weeks holding up the bill, trying to attach unrelated amendments and denying unanimous consent to bring the bill to the floor. In that time, hundreds of thousands of Americans saw their unemployment benefits run out, and found themselves with no sustaining income.
The final bill added $20 billion in business tax breaks and an inefficient and poorly targeted homebuyer tax credit to the bill, to partner with an unemployment extension that cost only $2 billion. The entire bill is paid for (but that revenue could have been put to use on better things than business tax breaks and the homebuyer credit). The unemployment benefits, at least, will offer a small economic stimulus to the country.
This odyssey over getting the unemployed a benefits extension is an ominous warning for anyone who thinks that health care will pass smoothly once it hits the Senate floor.
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This was another capitulation by the democrats to the rethugs. The limit on credits for homebuyers was raised to $800K. Another handout to the wealthy.
$800K
No kidding, it’s a handout.
However, as an unemployed person in partway through the first Federal extension of benefits, I’m pleased that this is finally moving forward. I just wish the Lamestream media hadn’t ignored the ‘Thugs’ machinations so completely. But, then, that would have given potential teabaggers something substantial to be angry about.
FunnyWheelieDiva
This is the definition of dithering: making jobless American families wait for FOUR WEEKS with no income and then passing a bill 98-0. Harry Reid is probably the WORST leader of any party, ever.
I wonder if any of these princes and princesses of the United States Senate have ever gone FOUR WEEKS with no income, trying to feed, clothe, and shelter their families.
And why does every single fucking bill these mandarins pass have to have a goddamn TAXCUT?
I wonder, will people whose benefits ended during this dithering be made “whole” or will their benefits simply resume? Could see lots of evictions and foreclosures unless the missing four weeks is made up.
And what is this eight hundred thousand dollar tax credit for buying a house? How can I get in on that? Is a liar loan acceptable? Can I stretch the tax credit over a number of years — like maybe ten?
DITHERING over a two billion dollar assist, and then larding it up with crap. That’s our Harry.
It isn’t a $800k tax credit but a tax credit on houses of up to $800K in value
Of course the Republicans didn’t want to extend unemployment benefits. They want everything to really turn to shit just in time for next year’s midterms.