The Senate is just about all set for one more fight to reauthorize extended unemployment benefits along with other domestic aid provisions that will expire unless Congress acts prior to its Memorial Day recess.
“Congress can’t screw this up again,” said Andrew Stettner, deputy director of the Countrywide Employment Law Project. “They have to obtain this extension done prior to they proceed about the Memorial Day break. We’re anxious that they are commencing this late in the game. It’s the bare minimum of what they need to complete.”
The House will vote about the bill, titled the “American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act,” on Tuesday, following which it can head over towards the Senate. Then, supposing the upper chamber has already taken care of its war funding bill, senators may have a chance to offer amendments, which US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is encouraging them not to do (since any modifications would require another vote in the House). Reid may have to file one cloture motion to overcome a Republican filibuster, establishing one last vote near the end of the week.
It is not likely the Republicans will probably cooperate with any motions for “unanimous consent” to move faster.
A preliminary estimate from the Joint Committee on Taxation claims the maintained interest offset will probably raise $18 billion over 10 years.
Congress faced almost the same situation before its previous recess at the end March, when deficit hawk Coburn objected to unanimous consent for speedy passage of a similar measure to extend unemployment benefits along with other applications for 60 days. Rather than forcing a weekend vote, Dems decided to adjourn. The applications lapsed on April 5, jeopardizing benefits for hundreds of thousands. When it reconvened the following week, Congress prolonged the jobless aid applications until June 1. The present bill may extend them for the rest from the year.
