I almost categorized this one under “Clueless” but I decided to come up with another category. I think it’s going to get a lot of use.
Thanks to Gauis for pointing this one out.
The newly launched Conference of National Black Churches criticized Congress on Thursday (Dec. 9) for linking extension of unemployment benefits to tax cuts for the wealthy.
The letter called on President Obama and Congress to endorse “an extension of unemployment insurance without conditions.”
Hours before beefed-up benefits were set to expire at midnight, Democrats sought to extend them for another year. But they were blocked by Republican Senator Scott Brown, who said Democrats should have taken time to work out a compromise.
The House failed to pass an extension unemployment insurance benefits for another three months Thursday afternoon. The vote was 258 to 154, short of the two-thirds needed for passage.
Republicans have sought to block the extension of benefits before, arguing that the spending should be offset by savings elsewhere.
Representative Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the Democratic majority leader, said his party will continue to push for the extension when lawmakers return on November 29. Without an extension, benefits will expire on November 30.
“Today, Republicans blocked an extension of unemployment insurance for thousands of families who have lost jobs through no fault of their own,’ Mr. Hoyer said. “As a result, they can expect their insurance to begin to run out just after Thanksgiving weekend. Republicans’ opposition to this bill was bad for families across their own districts, and worse for our economy as a whole.”
For the third time in three weeks, Senator Scott Brown last night joined Republicans in blocking a vote on providing unemployment checks to millions of people across the country.
Senate Democrats and Republicans launched a last-minute round of negotiations over a new short-term unemployment insurance bill after Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) used procedural tactics to block Democrats’ one-month extension Thursday afternoon.
