http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/194187-reid-unclear-if-jobless-aid-can-survive-black-hole-houseDecember 31, 2013, 12:28 pm
Reid says jobless aid vote coming Monday
By Mario Trujillo
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) told The Associated Press in an interview that the Senate will vote Monday on a three-month extension of federal unemployment benefits.
Calling the House a “black hole of legislation,” he offered no prediction on whether the lower chamber would take up the extension as well.
“We’ll see what happens,” he told the AP on Monday.
Reid had previously said taking up the extension would be his first priority when the Senate returns in January. Monday is the first day the Senate is back in session in the new year.
President Obama and Democrats are pressuring Republicans to pass an extension of the jobless aid, which expired on Saturday for about 1.3 million people.
The Senate is expected to take up a bill sponsored by Sens. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Dean Heller (R-Nev.), which would temporarily extend the benefits without offsetting the cost.
“I hope we can get that done,” Reid said.
President Obama has endorsed the proposal, but Republicans in the House have insisted that any renewal of the extended jobless benefits be offset.
Reid commended Heller, his state colleague, for breaking “away from the Tea Party folks who don’t want to do anything” and sponsoring the bill.
It remains unclear whether the proposal can garner the 60 votes needed to advance in the upper chamber.
During the interview, Reid also said that raising the minimum wage would be another top priority. Reid told the news outlet he will outline his 2014 legislative goals during a television appearance Sunday.
