2010 Unemployment Extension-Will Harry Reid Bring Stabenow's Standalone Bill to the Floor?

Senator Debbie Stabenow's (D-Michigan) standalone unemployment extension bill has already been introduced. It will now be up to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev) as to whether Stabenow's unemployment extension bill is brought to the floor of the Senate for debate or a "unanimous consent" vote and when.

Senator Reid has previously expressed that he prefers to keep the unemployment benefits extension provisions of the bill included in the broader "American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010" or "Extenders" bill and intends to set it aside and move onto other business for the next few weeks in order to pressure Republicans to vote for the entire package of provisions when he returns to it.

So, while Senator Stabenow's standalone unemployment extension bill could be entertained by the Senate soon, it will be up to Reid whether he chooses to bring it up for consideration and when he wants to do so.

There is also no guarantee Stabenow's UI extension legislation will pass either. While the will continues to exist on both sides of the aisle to pass unemployment extension legislation, the two parties still differ as to whether it must be paid for or "offset" by either additional revenue or other spending cuts in order to garner their votes. The broader "Extenders" package fell three votes shy last Thursday. Two Republicans are now expected to vote in favor of a standalone bill, even if it is not paid for. But with the passing of Senator Robert Byrd (D-W. Virg.), another Republican vote would be necessary for the bill which is not paid for. There is no definite word as to anyone else, or Senator Ben Nelson (D-Nebraska) that is willing to do that.

So, I will keep you posted as I learn more. There is an excellent and brief article about the process that the Senate is going through with regard to Senator Stabenow's standalone unemployment benefits extension bill on OpenCongress.org. I would highly recommend you read it to help you understand the process.

In the meantime, it is all the more vital that we all continue to bombard both houses of Congress, the White House and media with calls, faxes, letters and emails. This is what keeps the matter before them and puts pressure on them to put it before other matters.

I have provided a comprehensive contact list of legislators and media outlets at the end of THIS ARTICLE. If you don't already have this information, please feel free to take advantage of that list and continue to tell our lawmakers how critically important unemployment benefits extensions are.

Best of luck to all of you. Hang in there. I believe unemployment benefits extension legislation will pass. We just have to do our best to make it to the other side.

Source:

http://www.opencongress.org/articles/view/1947-What-the-Introduction-of-the-Stand-Alone-UI-Bill-Means