WASHINGTON — After several days of debate, a Senate vote for an amendment extending long-term unemployment benefits for an additional five months has been cleared for action on Monday.
The bill has undergone tough deliberation, narrowly passing its first procedural vote Thursday with only one more than the three-fifths needed to limit debate in the Senate. Before agreeing to the bill as is, Republicans are demanding amendments, much on the deaf ears of their Democratic counterparts.
Republicans have offered several opinions on what they’d like to see attached to the measure, including the Keystone XL Pipeline, a repeal of the medical device tax, and a change in the Affordable Care Act language to define full-time employees as those working 40 hours per week — not 30. Other opponents note that the bill exceeds the budget and violates the Budget Control Act of 2011.
“This bill threatens the financial integrity of our country,” Sen. Jeff Sessions, ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee exclaimed. “It is quite clear this will add to our long-term debt.”
Sessions, R-Ala., argued the Senate was taking “the easy way out,” violating the budget, and overspending.
The Senate agreed 60-36 to waive the Senate Budget point of order. Some Democrats believe the larger focus should be on constituents.
“We live in an economy where there are three people looking for every job that is available in the United States,” said Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J. “Folks who are hungry to work look at this body to provide basic needs as they continue to find a job.”
Though the bill is likely to pass in the Democratic-led Senate early next week, it will be in an uphill battle for passage through the Republican-led House, where Speaker Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, is not supportive of the legislation.
The expanded benefit program would allow unemployed workers to receive up to 47 weeks of additional assistance, depending on a state’s jobless rate. The five-month extension would be paid retroactively and would continue through May.
A final vote is expected late afternoon Monday.