Unemployment Extension: House Democrats Introduce Bill To Preserve Benefits Through Next Year

WASHINGTON -- Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives will introduce legislation on Thursday to reauthorize federal jobless benefits through next year. The bill marks the beginning of what will likely become a difficult battle with Republicans who control the chamber.

"With almost five unemployed Americans for every job opening, too many people remain jobless because of a lack of work, not a lack of wanting to work," Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), a sponsor of the bill, said in a statement to HuffPost. "While this Republican Congress fails to support jobs legislation and continues to blame unemployment on the unemployed, more than two million Americans will soon lose their unemployment benefits."

The federal government will stop paying extended unemployment claims starting in January unless Congress reauthorizes the benefits. Since 2008, people laid off through no fault of their own have been eligible for the extended compensation after they use up the standard 26 weeks of payments provided by states. Under current law, however, anyone who exhausts their state benefits or a tier of federal benefits in January will be ineligible for additional checks.

If the benefits are allowed to expire as scheduled, nearly two million long-term unemployed will stop receiving benefits by February, according to the National Employment Law Project, a worker advocacy group. Over the course of the year, the Obama administration has said, at least six million who would otherwise be eligible for the aid will miss out. The administration, which proposed preserving the benefits as part of the president's American Jobs Act, has estimated the benefits would cost $49 billion if kept through next year.

Democrats needed a lot of leverage last time to get deficit-weary Republicans to agree to keeping the extra benefits. The previous reauthorization was attached to an extension of expiring Bush tax cuts. Since the tax cuts were renewed for two years, Democrats will have to find another sweetener this time around. Republicans signaled support for other parts of the president's jobs bill, but those elements are not part of the Democrats' forthcoming benefits bill.

One possible way to renew the extended compensation would be to attach it to the massive deficit reduction deal currently under development in a special 12-member super committee. The committee has been secretive; on Tuesday, HuffPost asked three Senate super committee members if they might include the benefits, and none would say.

The Democrats' legislation would provide tax relief and eliminate the requirement that states pay interest on unemployment loans from the federal government if they agree not to cut benefits, as several state legislatures have done this year.

Doggett said he had received no indication Republicans would support the bill.

"One reason I am introducing this bill is to encourage a serious conversation about how to get this done. The holiday season should bring more than despair to the 6 million Americans who will otherwise lose unemployment coverage next year...We will continue reaching out to Republicans to join this bill, but thus far there is no indication that they are willing to do so."

A spokesman for the Republican leader of the House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees unemployment insurance, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from HuffPost.

Arthur Delaney is the author of "A People's History of the Great Recession," HuffPost's first e-book.

Comments

[an9elad]

09:42 AM on 12/08/2011

I wonder what the outcome would have been if the money gave to bail out the banks would have been given to the people of the United States. The amount of money given to the banks was 700 billion which if was divided to each man woman and child would have been about $233,000.00 each if my calculations are correct. 700 billion could have also been shared between the people and the banks. The whole United States economy would have been stimulated and the job market would not have been hit so bad and most likely creating more jobs, people would have been able to pay for their mortgages and distribute money into the economy. Paying off mortgages should have been required and of course you would have those that would have blew threw the money and turned around and re-mortgaged their homes, and at that point they are on their own as far as trying to keep their home. But I think it is messed up that the banks got all that money and people are loosing their homes left and right. I believe the bail out should have been handled differently. I believe the people should have gotten a share of the money as well. I would love to get other opinions of why it was handled the way that it was and how it could have been handled differently.

[tossed out]

01:39 PM on 12/01/2011

I have no problem with doing volunteer work if this is what it takes to land a job where I am not discriminated against for being over 50 years old and my credit rating is shot due to being unemployed or being discriminated against for being unemployed to long due to no fault of my own. I am not one that has been unemployed 99 weeks as they say but way to long and am not collecting anything now in KY. I have had only a handful of interviews but have applied to hundreds of jobs on all levels even below the level I was at but no one calls me due to the discrimination against me as I mentioned. My last interview went well I thought just to receive a letter stating they could not hire me due to my credit rating. (I was working 2 jobs before I lost both jobs due to the recession and would gladly work 2 again if anyone would be willing to hire me. I have always worked hard and gave it my best since I was 15 years old. I spend countless hours looking and applying for the jobs on all internet sites with no luck and needed unemployment to help pay the utilities and food for my kids. I never wanted this and don’t want this now I just want a job!

[4everright]

10:14 AM on 11/23/2011

they failed to mention how they proposed to pay for it...did I miss that somewhere?

[Choicelady320]

04:30 PM on 12/02/2011

With the restoration of the tax rates AND the end of the war in Iraq. If you're one who thinks that "deficits are burdening our grandchildren" kindly know that I heard that when I was 12, and I'm a grandmother now. You have to spend money to support those who support the economy when the corporations are not doing their job. Unless and until we understand this is a closed system of human interation, we will not recover. I hope you're not one who buys Sen. Kyl's "tax CUTS" never have to be paid for adherents? That would be true possibly IF corporations never got subsidies (they ALL do), and actually contributed to the General Welfare instead of that for just the few. Deficits don't matter, said Mr. Reagan - unless and until those doing the spending are spending on domestic programs that help ordinary Americans. So - don't be a hypocrite. I'm not worried about the deficits I'm paying from the 50s, and we are far from broke so my grandkids won't be harmed either IF we all - ALL - share in the sacrifices AND the prosperity.

[ybugster]

07:03 AM on 11/21/2011

You want to know how to supply revenue for unemploment? I'll tell you how!! Get the hell out of Aghganistan, get the hell out of Iraq, stop all foriegn aid, these countries want to charge us $100 a barrel for oil charge them $90 a barrel in taxes to import it into this country! It's time for America to worry about America and clean up our own backyard!! We've supplied these other countries with billions if not trillions of dollars in foriegn aid and Americans are bitching about giving other Americans $350 a week to help them survive?? You people make me sick! And in case you are wondering I am NOT unemployed! Americans need to take care of Americans and to hell with the rest of the world! We've been the worlds sheriff long enough!!!!

[intx972]

06:20 PM on 12/08/2011

Thank you! I didn't want to be unemployed and I want a job in the worst way. I worked for 30 years for a company when I got laid off. For almost 2 years, I have managed to keep my mortgage paid, but my last unemployment check is next week. I am over 50 and that is just a reason for companies not to hire. Of the hundreds of applications for jobs that I am more than qualified for, only a handfull of interviews. The obsticals that the unemployed face is that 1) if you are older, companies don't want you. 2) If you have to damage your credit, you don't qualify for the possition. 3) If you can convince a company to hire you for a lower wage, they don't want to because when the job market improves (if ever) they fear that you will up and leave. I understand there fear. I just wanted to thank you for your coment. Most of us don't want to be unemployed and for me, I want to go back to work feel productive again.

[nutsaccoupe63]

04:00 AM on 11/17/2011

since reagan rewarded businesses for moving jobs out of the country and opening the borders ,, this country has gone downhill ,, and its picking up speed

whats going on in america is a bad joke and its getting worse

[ump73]

09:49 AM on 11/23/2011

Clinton signed NAFTA and GATT and gave the Chinese favored nation status, which was another way of saying "free trade." Next time, please be more accurate.

[nutsaccoupe63]

03:31 AM on 11/24/2011

lol @ accurate,, just so you know,, it was the 1st bush's great idea ,,, that scmbhag negotiated it with cheney in the background

just so you know, i'm as republican as anyone,, but i call it like I see it ,, not how the party propaganda machine wants me to ,, did i hear 'baaaa"?

[Justin Mias]

06:55 PM on 11/08/2011

Total US national debt $14,988,214,559,316.90

Grows everyday by $3.98 billion!!

Hey, dont add in another $100 billion or so though to make a tier V and tier VI for another year….. better to give to foreign countries and wars!!! Or maybe some more multibillion dollar businesses for CEO multimillion dollar paychecks who should be fired for poor performance!

Let the unemployed millions die and starve cause no one will hire them and they got laid off. Have them work for $8-$9 an hour so they can barley survive, live in the street. Have we no prisons, no workhouses?????

$700 billion buys about 18 years of EUC. I say, let a man and his family get $300 a week to support himself instead of giving it to GM, AIG, banks, etc.

Maybe we should give another $700 billion to failed corporations who caused the unemployment and to give thier CEO'S multimillion dollar bonuses and stock options for running the companies into the ground instead of firing them....better us of your precious tax dollars that most americans dont pay anyway!!! Most americans pay no federal taxes at all, then complain on how they are distributed!!!

Can you raise a faimly on $200 a week net???? I can’t. I think people who complain should quit thier job, go work for $8.00 an hour instead, see how they handle it??? Then talk. Idiots!

Mias

[laser focused]

10:41 AM on 11/20/2011

hey whose fault is it that you failed to reach your potential? You should have thought about that a long time ago, and not set yourself up to be in a position where 200 a week would be all you were good for. Bad decisions have bad outcomes. You can't blame yourself I know, but I also know no one ctually cares what you're going through. Its up to you to make changes in your life.

[ump73]

09:57 AM on 11/23/2011

Inaccurate commenting again on Huffington. This person may have been an executive, or a machine operator. Who knows? This person may not have the ability to be an engineer or other top paying job holder. But, his point is well taken. One thing that he does posses and can't be taken away from him or her is their vote. Policticians are and always have been out of touch. Most don't even hold town halls when they are home for fear of being trashed, which is well deserved. I'm one of the lucky ones with a great paying job and fantastic beniefits. I don't mind paying my fair share and have no problem losing the tax holiday, if it would help others.

[smburwick]

08:18 AM on 11/06/2011

Ccarmona: Why do other comments seem stupid to you. Maybe you are. The people I know who have been getting unemployment are using it for gas, food, and mortage. What world do you live in? Of course, the enabled of the last 20 years think their worth is beyond rubies, right? Unemployment payments do put some money back, but gives no INCENTIVE for the unemployed to get a job or move to find a job. At OWS a table of men giving out applications to protestors for work, and they had every excuse in the book NOT to work. The fact that these squatters are the useful props for the anarchists is the real problem. If you don't realize that. Tough.

[aguadecoco]

07:00 PM on 11/03/2011

J O B ' S JOB'S Job's Get rid of NAFTA now!!!! Occupy Oakland, speaks, Oakland is fed up ! ! ! Quan, jobs that's what you need to do for our youth here in Oakland~ period Jobs Jobs Jobs

[aguadecoco]

06:57 PM on 11/03/2011

J O B ' S get the clue, we don;t juana have to take scraps off the table of the greedy rich 1%, we want J O B ' S~ Gop, your never going to recover after what you have done too this counrty~ Occupy Oakland! ! ! ! !

[BIGTERRA]

12:43 AM on 11/07/2011

aguadecoco

When Obama took office, unemployment was about 5%, now it's more than 9%! In addition, Obama has raised our national debt to three times what it was when he took office.

If we can last another year, we will have an opportunity to get rid of the most ineffective, arrogant and corrupt president we have ever had!

[mrshep]

02:36 PM on 11/08/2011

BIGTERRA

When President Obama took oficce, we were in TWO Bush wars and falling down hill in the recession. Due to the recession a lot of businesses closed, thus increasing unemployment. President Obama stopped the falling economy, by keeping the banks open. He also kept the auto industry from going bankrupt saving millions of jobs. Thousands of companies, depend on the auto industry to buy the things they manufacture. If he had allowed the auto industry to go bankrupt, we would be in a depression. His actions increased the debt, BUT saved the country. If he could get the party of NO, to act on the job bill, we could turn the economy around. Your last paragraph gave a quite perfect description of Bush.

[nutsaccoupe63]

03:57 AM on 11/17/2011

5% ?? ,, TRY AGAIN LOL

BUSH'S STIMULUS SPENDING ?? 600 BUCKS WASNT IT ??

BUSH WAS EXTENDING UNEMPLOYMENT BEFORE OBAMA DID I BELIEVE, CHECK IT

[PCPrincess]

05:24 PM on 11/03/2011

I'm a hardcore liberal and even I tire of hearing this. I'm going to need to work during the summer between my semesters at school, and I'll find something. I'll have too. Please hit me up if your looking for a entry-level C.S. major (part-time) ; ) /wink

[Choicelady320]

04:36 PM on 12/02/2011

Princess - you are facing the reality of 40 years of pro corporate economic policy. If you don't like it, tough. ALL of us are hurting, and no one guaranteed you anything. Get out, work to reclaim the House for progressive Dems, and stop bellyaching. Be glad this wasn't the 1930s or you'd have no PC, you'd not have a moment to spare from whatever horrid little job you could get, and you probably wouldn't be in college. Grow up and count your blessings - then get your tush out there and WORK for change. Armchair liberals don't cut it.

[Tony Moschetti]

04:02 PM on 11/03/2011

"House Democrats Introduce Bill To Preserve Benefits Through Next Year"

And the year after that, and the year after that, and...............!

Obama's plan is working to perfection. He's in a race with Greece to see who defaults first. My money is on the community organizer!

[mrshep]

02:42 PM on 11/08/2011

That supplies the bandaide, which allows for time to get the jobs bill passed passed and increase revenue, to turn the economy around and get the country out of BUSHS recession.

[Tony Moschetti]

03:21 PM on 11/08/2011

Good Lord man even Joe Biden, and head of the DNC have admitted that this is THEIR economy! Please, genius, tell me when the Statute of Limitations expires on blaming your predecessor for your destruction!

For the first two years of this inept circus clown's reign of terror, he got EVERYTHING he wanted because the Republicans didn't have the votes to stop ANYTHING! If they did, do you think we'd have healthcare!

You may want to look at where the economy was at the same period in Reagan's first term after INHERITING a disastrous economy ffrom Obama One! Except Reagan also INHERITED double digit INTEREST RATES and INFLATION. Try to imagine where we would be today with those disasters, added to Obama's disastrous policies that have us on the road to being Greece or Italy or Spain!

As Forrest said, "stupid is as stupid does!"

[ump73]

10:06 AM on 11/23/2011

Not true. The media and the white house has done a great jobt marketing that Bush is to fault for the recession, when it was Congress that should take the hit. Keep in mind that the President can only ask for money, but congess has to pass it. If the repubs would have given Obama every cent that he has asked for, WOW, just think where we would be now. If you continue to listen to the media and the wh without doing your own investigating and using the good sense that the Lord has given you, you will be suckered and things won't change.

[danglines]

03:18 PM on 11/03/2011

Good!

[hsmachine]

02:35 PM on 11/03/2011

People you must remember the fact that you as an employee only get back what you paid into it during time of employment. That means that when you exhaust the money you paid in then you must go back to work and start the whole processes back over. That's how it works. It should never be some type of ongoing form of pay.

[mrshep]

02:47 PM on 11/08/2011

That is the way it is supposed to work, except that this recession, Bush put the country, has leftfewer jobs. There are 5 applicants for every 1 job.

[mustangdad2000]

02:01 PM on 11/03/2011

And have these same democrats, who largely have created this massive unemployment problem, come up with a way to finance their latest scheme?

[primordialsoup]

02:35 PM on 11/03/2011

Explain how the Democrats are largely responsible for the unemployment problem.

[Liberalstake]

02:42 PM on 11/03/2011

October of 2006, UE levels were below 5%. November, same year. Dems take election and will assume control with the " We own the house and the senate now and we will do as we wish" attitude. By the end of November the UE numbers were climbing and have since. Was that a coincident or did the employers fear what was said? Being an employer and business owner, I was'nt impressed and still ain't.

[BIGTERRA]

12:45 AM on 11/07/2011

It's easy MUSTANG...borrow, borrow BORROW!

[jgrace2426]

01:53 PM on 11/03/2011

Remind me, didn't pres Clinton change unemployment job benefits by reducing them, and by doing so the unemployment fell from about 6.5% down to 5% under his 8 years in office? Is that right?