Is the 2010 Unemployment Benefits Extension dead? Does the Senate vote of no last night mean that the 2010 Unemployment Benefits Extension is completely out of the realm of possibility. For the time being, it’s on the shelf. According to several key Democrats, the broader bill which included the 2010 Unemployment Benefits Extension was shelved after a third denial in the Senate. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that the Senate will not propose a different bill.
There are some indications that this roller coaster of emotions may continue in the coming days. One such story from the Sun Sentinel indicates that there might be the possibility that a bill just focusing on the 2010 Unemployment Benefits Extension could be introduced by the Senate. There is no time frame mentioned. So your guess is as good as mine as to when this possible 2010 Unemployment Benefits Extension will be introduced on the Senate floor.
For those of you who don’t have CSPAN, the Senate has moved on to other legislation today from what I have seen. That means the item probably won’t be brought up before the weekend on the Senate floor. Stranger things have happened but it seems unlikely at this point since we are in the 3pm CST hour.
So it doesn’t look like the 2010 Unemployment Benefits Extension is dead quite yet. Now it seems to be a question of time and if and when the item will be introduced. And if it will be introduced as a singular item as some are indicating.
Urgency still should have been required in this issue. The Senate should not have moved on to other legislation without addressing this issue in completion. There will be a reported 1.2 million people at the end of this week who have lost benefits after reaching Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3 or Tier 4. Tier 5 or 99’ers will most likely not be addressed when the Senate does take up the issue once again-if they do.
Right now 1.2 million people are waiting and hoping to have an answer in the short term. Will a short term answer be available? It doesn’t seem likely that this is anything that will pass in quick fashion once it is introduced. There will be a need from many Senators to explain how this 2010 Unemployment Benefits Extension can be funded if it does come up as one piece of legislation. That’s a question that could take days and maybe weeks to answer. Considering the lengthy delay many of us have already experienced, it seems inevitable there will be extensive talks before a decision is reached and a vote can be counted.
