GOP seeks cuts to pay for renewed jobless benefits

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

GOP seeks cuts to pay for renewed jobless benefits
Posted: Nov 05, 2010 4:40 PM CDT
Updated: Nov 05, 2010 5:00 PM CDT
By ANDREW TAYLOR
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - Newly empowered Republicans want spending cuts of $5 billion to $6 billion a month as a condition for extending emergency unemployment benefits that are scheduled to expire next month for millions of Americans.

Up to 2 million people could lose the benefits - which average $310 a month nationwide - during the holiday season if the still Democratic-controlled Congress doesn't act in the postelection lame-duck session. The expiration could affect as many as 5 million by the end of February.

With new employment figures Friday showing 14 million Americans still out of work last month and an unemployment rate stuck at 9.6 percent, President Barack Obama renewed his call for another extension "to help those hardest hit by the downturn while generating more demand in the economy."

But there's no way that Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and other GOP senators would support an extension unless they're accompanied by equivalent spending cuts, McConnell spokesman Don Stewart said.



Read more: http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?S=13454503

[rfranklin]

1. Sure, we could cut $300 top $400 billion from the Pentagon and still feel very secure...

There is never, ever any talk of the 800 pound gorilla in the room.

[Psephos]

15. That's the ONLY place to get matching cuts quickly.

Everything else is either nickels and dimes, or political suicide.

[Lorien]

24. +1. NOW is the time to demand that we stop spending as much as the rest of the planet combined

on the Pentagon and our wars of choice. It's the most illogical waste of tax dollars imaginable. We're spending over $2 million each for new torpedoes for nuclear subs while selling off older models for pennies on the dollar....and we're not engaged in any battles at sea!

[nradisic]

2. Nice!!!

Cut unemployment benefits, but make sure the rich get to keep their tax cuts...Wow, just wow!

[saigon68]

19. Its going to Get Very Ugly Very Soon

[Hawkeye-X]

3. Here's a big kloo - THE FUCKING DEFENSE BUDGET

Cut it 90%, end the wars, both of them, and recall the troops.

But the Thugs want profits, so it's not in the picture..... so gridlock... here we come.

[underpants]

4. Suddenly (on this) they are "Pay as you go"?

see my sig line. It ain't the poor that are screwing us.

[dflprincess]

14. They have always been "pay as you go"

when it comes to programs that might actually help the country or its citizens (unless those citizens happen to CEOs of defense companies, then anything goes).

[Lasher]

20. And tax cuts for rich folks.

Those were never paid for either.

[Cass]

5. But they don't worry about spending cuts to pay for tax breaks for the rich.

How very transparent of them.

[Swede Atlanta]

6. Fuck them!!!!

How do they think Americans will survive on less than an average of $300.00 a week? That wouldn't cover the basic expenses (exclusive of mortgage) of most families.

[notadmblnd]

7. cut corporate welfare

[Lorien]

25. and the Pentagon budget and corn subsidies for Big Ag. nt

[ArcticFox]

8. They'd like to cut spending which supports jobs

So that, in order to maintain jobless benefits, Democrats would have to vote to destroy jobs.

[okieinpain]

9. well dems have been warning people for a long time about

giving power to repugs. only this time they are more desperate then ever to keep and gain power.

[nyy1998]

10. Let the overreach begin!

[hollowdweller]

11. Expiration of the Bush tax cuts will more than pay for it.

[madokie]

12. they are besides themselves right now

All this hate and discontent and blame it all on the democrats and the majority will keep on eating it up

[high density]

13. ok, let's start with defense spending/corporate welfare

Six billion a month should be easy to find in a domain that large.

[ProudDad]

16. No problem...Cut the FUCKING WAR MACHINE!!!

In fact, SLASH the fucking war machine...

Don't need it, can't afford it...

[truthisfreedom]

17. Who gives a shit what they want? The do-nothing rethugs haven't helped our nation for the last 2

years. Screw 'em.

[denem]

18. Have the House nominate the Spending Cuts and

carry the can.

[classysassy]

21. The republicans relied on the ill informed public

and they came through for the evil,lying,hateful thugs.When your suffering is unbearable during the next two years just remember who caused your suffering.( Look into the mirror).Stupidity is contagious.

[jpak]

22. GOP job killers now want to kill benefits for the jobless

dumbasses

Palin 2012!

[socialshockwave]

23. Because 310/month..

will be called entitlement of the lazy.

:/