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Bipartisan deal falls apart, endangering expiring unemployment benefits
A
bipartisan Senate deal to briefly extend a package of expiring
provisions fell apart Thursday night, endangering unemployment aid set
to expire April 5.
Senate leaders
from both parties had neared a deal to allow swift passage of a package
providing benefits for another week that would be fully paid for,
according to Senate sources from both parties. The compromise was
needed because Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) blocked Senate Democrats from
quickly passing a month-long extension. Coburn objected because its
cost, $9.2 billion, wasn't offset and would increase the $12.7
trillion national debt.
With Congress set to go on a two-week Easter break starting this weekend, unemployed Americans may go without benefits for at least a week.
Larson pinned the blame on Senate Republicans for slowing down Democrats' preferred package.
"Apparently, they need another Bunning moment to drive the point home that this is about real people," Larson told The Hill, referring to Sen. Jim Bunning's (R-Ky.) decision to block a previous extension this month.
Senate Republicans blamed Democrats in the House for turning down their offers.
“Senate Republicans and Democrats came to an agreement on a short-term, fully paid-for extension of unemployment benefits to prevent potential expiration at the end of the month," said Don Stewart, a spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). "Unfortunately, the bipartisan agreement that was reached in the Senate was rejected by House Democrats.”
Democrats are considering passing an extension that could be applied retroactively when they return April 12, according to Sens. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) and Tom Carper (D-Del.).
Democrats are still hoping to pass the month-long extension before the
Senate adjourns Wednesday. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.)
repeatedly filed motions to immediately pass the longer, emergency
extension by unanimous consent, only to have Coburn block it because it
wasn't paid for. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) also filed
a cloture motion Thursday to end debate, leaving open the chance the
Senate could stay in Washington this weekend and pass the one-month
extension early next week.
In addition to extending unemployment insurance, the
legislation would prolong a freeze in scheduled cuts to doctors'
Medicare payments, extend COBRA healthcare subsidies for the
unemployed and extend a satellite television licensing agreement that
could leave rural residents without network TV if it expired.
The impasse over
the package could force Reid to miss a politically important event in
Nevada scheduled for Saturday with Wayne LaPierre Jr., CEO of
the National Rifle Association.
The two are scheduled to mark the opening of the new Clark County
Shooting Park, which Reid helped build just north of Las Vegas.
J. Taylor Rushing contributed to this report.
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