Unemployment Insurance To Be Extended, $30 Billion Cost Won't Be Offset

[UCmeNdc]

One of the remaining sticking points holding up a fiscal cliff deal appears to have been resolved, as negotiators have decided to extend unemployment benefits without offsetting the cost.

A source familiar with negotiations told The Huffington Post that lawmakers would treat the provision as "an emergency measure that shouldn't be paid for." A Senate Democratic and Republican source each confirmed the plan.

What that means is that the $30 billion pricetag for a year-long extension will simply be added to the deficit. Republicans have in the past objected to reauthorizing federal unemployment compensation because of its impact on the deficit, though in recessions since World War II Congress has generally added extra weeks of benefits without paying for them.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/31/unemployment-insurance-extended_n_2389634.html

[Gargoyle22]

1. Why is this seen as something the Dems "got" from this deal?

Isn't this something for constituents of politicians from both parties? So this is "given" to Dems as part of the negotiation (when it shoiuld not have been up for negotation anyway) and now Dems must concede on spending cuts? That's twisted.

How about if we just extend unemployment benefits for people who voted for Democrats?

[lunatica]

2. What?

The Republicans, especially the likes of Cantor, Paul Ryan and that loathsome McConnell were adamant that any spending for things like unemployment, financial aid to victims of natural disasters, etc. be offset by cuts to social programs. That's no longer the case.

What makes you so bitter about that?

[geek tragedy]

3. Because the Republicans' lack of decency is greater than the public's willingness

to punish them for it.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

5. Nice! +1!!!

[Igel]

6. Because it was supposed to be a "deficit reduction" package.

It wipes out almost half of the spending cuts that were postponed.

And, oddly, while usually we speak of "offsetting" spending increases a notable speech yesterday talked about "offsetting" spending reductions. A novel idea, if ever I heard one. Mildly incoherent, too (giving the benefit of the doubt).

UI extensions were usually also "emergency." This is a classic Congressional emergency. They knew the date they would expire the second they passed the last authorization bill. They watched the unemployment rate. And yet, at the last minute, they're surprised. Either they're the least informed people in the country or they make particularly dull-witted turnips look like geniuses.

[Sunlei]

4. good, that means 2 million Americans will not be cut off Jan 1 2013.