Democratic leaders may add unemployment benefits to war bill

[Omaha Steve]

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20080424/D9085BR80.html

Apr 24, 5:39 AM (ET)

By ANDREW TAYLOR

WASHINGTON (AP) - House Democratic leaders have a plan to try to add extended unemployment benefits and new education funding for veterans to President Bush's war funding bill while dropping lots of other party priorities.

The plan faces its first test Thursday when Democrats meet behind closed doors to discuss it.

Facing a veto threat, Democrats such as Speaker Nancy Pelosi don't want to try to add billions of dollars for roads, bridges and other ideas such as heating subsidies for the poor and increases in food stamp benefits.

Capitol Hill Democratic aides said Wednesday that Pelosi's plan was tentative and had not won acceptance from rank and file lawmakers, much less party leaders in the Senate.


President Bush and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., participate in Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, April 23,2008, honoring Dr. Michael DeBakey, not pictured. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)


Still, it was a sign that Democrats want to avoid loading up the war funding bill with everything but the kitchen sink and lose a veto and public relations clash with the president, who insists lawmakers keep his bill free of add-ons.

Bush is certain to oppose the effort, which would add to the war spending legislation a $12.7 billion plan to give 13 additional weeks of unemployment checks to people whose benefits have run out and 13 weeks beyond that in states with especially high unemployment rates. He's also likely to oppose the even more expensive plan for higher GI Bill benefits for veterans.

FULL story at link.