Good News...Senate Reaches Deal To Extend Unemployment Benefits

Not just any deal mind you. No it's the best kind of deal...a bi-partisan one.

Two leaders of the negotiations —Sens. Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Dean Heller, R-Nev. — said in a statement that the deal would be retroactive to Dec. 28, when the emergency benefits program expired.

"We're not at the finish line yet, but this is a bipartisan breakthrough," Reed said.

Heller expressed satisfaction that "Democrats and Republicans have come together on a proposal that will finally give Americans certainty about their unemployment benefits."

...

Lawmakers said the proposal was fully paid for, with the bulk of the money raised by extending some customs fees through 2024 and changing how some companies set aside money for pensions, in effect increasing their taxes. More federal revenue would be raised by letting some companies make earlier payments to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp., which guarantees workers' pensions.

"Retroactive"? So people will be getting checks to cover the last 2/5 months? Ok.

And the deal is for 5 months so....we'll be back here in August doing it again. Just in time for the start of the campaign season and another round of "Republicans hate the unemployed".

Of course that's if the House passes this. And that's the rub. Because five idiot Republicans can't stay on script the House will now be pressured "to do something".

Prediction...after weeks of wrangling and MSM hits on the the House GOP for being big meanies, Boehner will bring this bill to the floor and let it pass with Democrats and a handful of liberal Repubicans.

Maybe we should just cut to the chase this time.

Here are the Republican sellouts.

5 GOP Senators on board with jobless benefits deal: Heller NV, Portman OH, Murkowski AK, Kirk IL & Collins ME

— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) March 13, 2014

Ever notice the Democrats never have any problem finding Republicans who will sellout to help them? Even when the Democrats have 59 votes and the GOP is down to a rump caucus they can find a few turncoats. Hell, even when the GOP has a majority the Democrats can find allies across the aisle that will stymie the Republican message.

But yeah...go Team GOP. Yay! Or something.

Maybe if there were some evidence that endless unemployment benefits hurt people in the long run these idiots would do the right thing. If only. Oh wait.

posted by DrewM. at 10:31 AM

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