THE REED-HELLER UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS EXTENSION BILL..............

The expiration of UnEmployment Insurance Benefits to 1.3 Americans which happened one week ago today due to a lack of Congressional action before the start of the Christmas Recess, will be taken up on Monday in the United States Senate in a bi-partisan Bill offered through the sponsorship by Senator Jack Reed, Democrat of Rhode Island, and Senator Dean Heller, Republican of Nevada.  It will extend UnEmployment Benefits by 3 months, at a cost of $6 billion.  The Bill requires passage by 60 votes, to avoid a filibuster.  As of Friday night Senator Heller, whose State of Nevada has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, is the only Republican Senator to publicly support the effort, meaning even with unanimous Democratic Senators support, means at least four more Republican Senator votes will be necessary  for passage.  On Friday, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia released the immediate House Legislative Agenda for 2014, that does not include the Unemployment Benefits Extension Bill.  However, Speaker of the House John Boehner of Ohio, has stated he is open to taking up and passing the Bill, as long as it is  paid for by other Budget cuts.  Thus if passed  by the Senate, whether the Bill will be addressed and passed is very questionable..............fr.tdp