Posted on: Saturday, May 24, 2003

Congress extends jobless benefits

By Leigh Strope
Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Congress sent President Bush legislation yesterday extending a program that provides 13 weeks of emergency unemployment benefits to job-hunters who have used up their state aid.

The Senate's voice vote on the House-passed bill came quickly and without debate, with senators facing adjournment later today for a weeklong holiday recess.

The federal program is scheduled to expire May 31, so Congress had to act this week to provide extra benefits for jobless workers who would exhaust state benefits starting in June. The bill extends the program through the end of the year.

Earlier, Republicans accused Democrats of playing political tricks in their failed attempt to win extra aid for more than 1 million long-term jobless workers not covered by the bill.

"This is nothing but political gamesmanship," said Sen. Don Nickles, R-Okla., chairman of the Budget Committee, noting that "we've already voted on it three times."

Democrats wanted to double the unemployment benefits in the GOP plan. They continued to accuse Republicans of caring more about tax cuts for the rich than helping jobless Americans.

Earlier yesterday, the Senate passed a $350 billion tax-cut package. Republicans said it would boost the economy and help create jobs, but Democrats disagreed.

"This body voted for a tax bill today that provides billions for the wealthiest and not a cent for unemployed workers — not one dime, not one nickel, not one penny for those hardworking men and women who are suffering most from the economic crisis," said Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass.

Republicans were angry that Democrats tried to get their plan included in a bill raising the federal debt limit. Senate leaders already had agreed to act afterward on a House bill that passed the night before that extends the federal jobless program through Dec. 31.