The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Max Baucus, (D-MT), said negotiations continue behind the scenes on how to pay for extending unemployment benefits and the Social Security payroll tax cut, all of which could cost as much as $160 billion over 10 years.
But congressional leaders of both parties have expressed increasing anxiety throughout the week about the progress on the package. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said earlier this week he would develop his own package if the House-Senate conference committee does not come up with an agreement by early next week. On Thursday, the House leadership also said it may consider a payroll-tax package next week that would be the vehicle for expanded unemployment insurance benefits.
On Thursday, House and Senate negotiators exchanged sharp words over a Senate proposal to shorten Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC08) to 93 weeks from 99 weeks. The House Majority said the Senate offer was unsatisfactory, especially since it did not include a proposal on how to pay for the EUC extension. In addition, the House Majority already passed legislation to phase-down federally funded unemployment insurance (Extended Benefits and EUC) to a maximum of 59 weeks.
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