Senator Reid: "I am opposed to offsetting the cost of emergency unemployment benefits"

[ProSense]

Harry Reid Urges Passage Of Jobless Benefits Without Offset

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said Wednesday he wants to revive jobless benefits without offsetting the cost, hardening the Democrats' position that at least a short-term extension must be enacted without strings attached.

"I am opposed to offsetting the cost of emergency unemployment benefits," he said. "The five times President Bush extended emergency unemployment insurance, we never offset the cost. And we should not offset it now, when there is still only one job available for every three people seeking work."

Reid said Democrats are "willing to discuss reasonable ways to pay for a long-term extension of emergency benefits. But in the meantime, Republicans should not punish 1.3 million Americans still struggling to find work."

President Barack Obama also believes Congress should at least enact a short-term extension of the emergency jobless benefits without a pay-for, a senior administration official said. But he's willing to support an offset for a longer-term extension, the official said.

- more -

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/harry-reid-unemployement-benefits

Updated title.

[IllinoisBirdWatcher]

1. Offset Unemployment extensions with big bank Wall Street fines.

JPMorgan Chase is giving the government 2.6 billion as a starter.

[riversedge]

2. Good on Harry

[Johonny]

3. Perhaps the Republicans should be fined the 24 billion they cost the country by not passing a budget

that should pay for it just fine.

[ProSense]

4. That would do for a one-year extension.

Deal!

[MiniMe]

6. And the cost for shutting down the government!

[librechik]

5. now say it louder and more, Harry

damn!

[Hotler]

7. You can pay for UI by.....

pulling the money from the Pentagon. Simple.