Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Republicans in congress halting unemployment expansion

Is anyone surprised at this? I am not, sorry, I am not. After this summer of all the idiots, sorry many were that, what is the next trick bag.

The stalling of legislation to expand unemployment insurance (UI) has little to do with the benefit itself. First, there’s a push to attach an extended homebuyer tax credit to the bill — something the Obama administration is wary of.

But also there’s this: Republicans are hoping to attach a number of amendments related to ACORN and immigration — provisions that have delayed floor action on the UI bill indefinitely, according to the offices of both Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

The agreement ends after that.

The Republican amendments include at least two provisions related to ACORN; one related to the E-Verify program; one to pay for the UI benefits with unspent stimulus money; and one providing tax relief.

Reid’s office says the amendments are unrelated and therefore have no place in the debate over jobless benefits. “These are tactics that Republicans have used in the past to delay,” a Reid aide said. “It seems as if they aren’t negotiating in good faith on this.”

If the Republicans want to deal with ACORN, do it in a separate bill. Folks are hurting out here, there are NO JOBS, unemployment is teetering at 10% and the Republicans want to play around with this? Please. Republicans in congress, you have millions of unemployed constituents in your districts and states, get it together.

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