Senate Democrats struggle to revive jobless aid

[ProSense]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON – Senate Democrats struggled Wednesday to revive a bill extending jobless benefits and a host of other spending and tax measures as they searched for ways to reduce the measure's deficit impact and attract critical GOP support.

Democrats weighed $8 billion in cuts in a state aid package dearly sought by the nation's governors and almost $2 billion in recissions of unspent stimulus and defense money as they sought to pare back the cost of the bill to win over moderate Republicans.

The grab-bag measure would extend unemployment benefits, provide cash assistance to state governments and extend dozens of tax breaks sought by business lobbyists. It includes disaster aid, $1 billion for a youth summer jobs initiative and an extension of a bond programs that subsidizes interest costs for state and local infrastructure projects.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., was courting Maine Republicans Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe to provide the critical votes needed to defeat a GOP filibuster. The two senators were pressing for additional cuts to the measure. A version adding $55 billion to the deficit over the upcoming decade stalled last week.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100623/ap_on_bi_ge/us_congress_spending_4

[saigon68]

1. A mother of 2 on welfare gets $500.00 a month

[choie]

2. where are the residents of Maine?

They should be haranguing Snowe and Collins 24/7.