A Deal is in the Works to Extend the Federal Long-Term Unemployment Program

Leaders in the U.S. Senate postponed another key procedural vote Monday on a proposal to extend long-term unemployment benefits for over 1.3-million Americans. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid delayed any votes on the matter until Tuesday afternoon. The delay is to allow work to continue on a compromise. One of those working on a compromise is Senator Lisa Murkowski from Alaska. She and 8 other Republicans in the Senate are working on a 3-month extension of unemployment insurance benefits that is fully paid for. In a written statement Senator Murkowski said that progress is being made. The proposal that Murkowski is working on includes both the 3-month extension in benefits and a repeal of the recent cuts in the military retiree cost-of-living adjustment included in the budget agreement agreed to last month. Senator Murkowski notes that the compromise includes offsets to pay for both items. She confirms that the compromise would allow a limited number of amendments to be offered up by Senators. Extending the long-term unemployment benefits for 3-months would cost about $6-billion dollars. The program expired last month. At issue is how to pay for the extension. Many Democrats want a straight extension while many Republicans want to make sure there is money dedicated to pay for the program. As it stands now any deal to extend the unemployment benefits would need the support of at least 60-Senators. So far the issue has not yet come up in the U.S. House.