Republicans say the jobs bill is dead and that there's no way they're lifting a finger to do anything about the economy, especially extend unemployment benefits for six million Americans out of work.
More than 6 million Americans are set to lose federal unemployment benefits in 2012, with 1.8 million running out in January alone, according to new figures from the National Employment Law Project.
President Obama's $447 billion American Jobs Act would extend the deadline to file for federal unemployment benefits for another year. Though the Senate is expected to take up the controversial jobs bill on Tuesday, it's unlikely to get very far.
While many Washington observers say the administration's jobs bill is dead in the water, it's possible the unemployment extension could be separated and sent through on its own, or as part of another bill before year's end. The extension is estimated to cost $44 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Republicans of course plan to block anything like that coming along. A test vote on the American Jobs Act is expected to be filibustered by the GOP as they side with the folks at the top by screaming how you'll be the ones put out of a job if you dare to help the less fortunate among us. For many Americans, that's a real fear that Republicans are gleefully tapping into in order to fuel their efforts to make sure nothing gets done.
Of course the reality is that you're next under the GOP program to roll things back to the 19th century.
