Senators Negotiating Ways To Pay For Yearlong Jobless Benefits

[DonViejo]

Source: TPM

SAHIL KAPUR – JANUARY 9, 2014, 10:14 AM EST

Senators are having bipartisan talks about how to pay for a revival of long-term unemployment benefits. The Republicans engaging with Democrats are said to be Sens. Rob Portman (OH), Susan Collins (ME) and Dean Heller (NV).

Democratic leaders prefer to enact the Reed-Heller three-month extension, which is on the floor, without an offset and then negotiate a one-year pay-for. But they're waiting to see what comes of the talks before making their next move.

"Some Republican senators are having conversations about possible offsets for a full-year extension," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said Thursday. "Let's see how they want to pay for it."

He said offsetting a short-term extension would be "ill-advised" as Congress would have to return to the issue in three months.

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Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/senate-negotiations-unemployment-benefits

[seabeckind]

1. I've got a couple suggestions

Eliminate tax breaks for companies that export jobs.

Eliminate deductions for an individual employee expense above some arbitrary number -- like 10 times the poverty rate.

Eliminate tax writeoffs for empty facilities.

[yeoman6987]

2. 99 weeks

I thought it was 99 weeks already. I don't understand why they need to make it just a year.

[adirondacker]

7. Corporate Governance. Someone needs to fill the flood of minimum wage/poverty line jobs. nt

[Andy823]

6. Don't forget

Taking away subsides and tax breaks for big oil, and any kind of corporate welfare the banks, or huge corporations are getting. Of course I really doubt that any republican will come up with "these" kind ideas to pay for this. They seem to think that finding ways to pay for things that really need to continue should come on the backs of everyone else besides the rich, or their corporate masters.

[onehandle]

3. Seize the assets of millionaire House Representatives that vote against this. nt

[Vincardog]

4. We l since the GOP brought it up; there does seem to be a REVENUE problem a Financial Transaction

TAX might be the answer. Why don't we here any Democratic Leaders mentioning it?

[Drew2510]

5. You can bet your "bippy"

that tax increases will not be mentioned by either party until after the Nov elections.

[Plucketeer]

8. Eliminate the two fighter jet programs

we DO NOT NEED! Then we can fund a BUNCH of programs to help those needing a job!

[Populist_Prole]

9. Cut the military and tax the churches n/t