WASHINGTON — Newly empowered Republicans want spending cuts of $5 billion to $6 billion a month as a condition for extending emergency unemployment benefits that are scheduled to expire next month for millions of Americans.
Up to 2 million people could lose the benefits, which average $310 a week nationwide, during the holidays if the still Democratic-controlled Congress doesn’t act in the post- election lame-duck session.
President Barack Obama renewed his call Friday for another extension, “to help those hardest hit by the downturn while generating more demand in the economy.”
But there is no way that Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and other GOP senators would support an extension unless it is accompanied by equivalent spending cuts, said McConnell spokesman Don Stewart.
Denver Post wire services
