Democrats Defend Cutting Unemployment Benefits

A top ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives on Tuesday defended his party's support for cutting 20 weeks of unemployment benefits, a position that has escaped much notice in the payroll tax cut debate consuming Washington.

Democrats want the House to pass a Senate bill that would postpone the January expiration of federal unemployment programs for two months. But even if it is reauthorized, one of those programs will automatically phase out next year, unless Congress changes federal law to allow states to keep it, a provision not included in the Senate bill.

"There are things in this bill as we pointed out that we had to make concessions on," House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said Thursday in response to a question from HuffPost.

wausauguy wrote:Merry Christmas exhaustedinCA. I know some people will question why this article is being shared, but I think it is important and I am so glad you shared this. The reality is the issues are not just with the GOP. The way long-term unemployed well trained workers with proven work histories are being ingnored should be a crime.

I hope we all have a much better 2012.

Take Care and Merry Christmas everyone...