House GOP coy on plans for unemployment extension

House Republicans wouldn't say on Wednesday whether they would join their Senate counterparts to demand that an unemployment extension be paid for.

House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said that while Republicans were concerned about the deficit and unemployment, the House GOP would wait to see what is sent from the Senate.

Senate Republicans have maintained objections to moving forward with a measure that would extend unemployment benefits, demanding that the provisions be paid for with spending cuts elsewhere. This marks the second straight month where the benefits have temporarily expired because of GOP objections; Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) drew a national spotlight for his objections in late February.

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) has raised similar objections this time around, though Democrats were able to cobble together enough votes on Monday evening to move forward with the extension. Democrats, for their part, maintain the extension is emergency spending, and need not be offset with cuts elsewhere.

Cantor ducked Wednesday on whether Republicans in the House would raise similar objections. He blasted Democrats' economic policies, but stopped short of vowing GOP opposition to the bill if its spending isn't offset.

"We still haven't gotten word as to when that extension plan is coming," he said. "We are continuing to be concerned about people who are out of work."