Bill To Help Unemployed Fails In Senate

From the LA Times| By Janet Hook, Tribune Washington Bureau | June 16, 2010 | 8:35 a.m

Washington…A beleaguered bill to extend benefits for the long term unemployed stalled on Capitol Hill Tuesday, when the Senate voted 45-52 to block the $140 billion catchall bill that also would delay a Medicare fee cut, extend a hodgepodge of expiring tax cuts, and other provisions that Democrats say will help stimulate job growth.

Although the bill also included tax increases on investment managers and oil companies to help offset the cost, it has run into opposition from Republicans as well as many Democrats who are worried about adding to the burgeoning budget deficit.

The vote to block the bill came on a motion to waive budget rules to allow it to pass – a motion that would have required 60 votes. Eleven Democrats and one Independent – Joe Lieberman of Connecticut -- joined 40 Republicans in voting against the waiver.

Democratic leaders plan to return to the bill soon and propose ways to scale back its cost, which is likely to include curbing the size of unemployment benefits and limiting the duration of the doctor's fee cut delay.

Resolving this longstanding impasse that has pit deficit concerns against traditional social safety net programs provides an object lesson in how hard it is for Congress to legislate at a time when the public's anger over government spending is growing but its appetite and need for government programs has not waned.