White House, Perez Continue Unemployment Extension Push (Updated)

Perez is Labor secretary. (Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Posted April 21, 2014 at 4:15pm

Updated 4:40 p.m. | The White House and Labor Secretary Thomas E. Perez continue to press the House to pass an unemployment benefits extension — but so far there’s no word of a new offer to sweeten the pot for Speaker John A. Boehner, R-Ohio.

“We continue to press Congress to take action to restore those benefits,” White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Monday. “Extending them would be, of course, hugely impactful to the families who receive them directly, but also of great benefit to the economy, and Congress ought to take action.”

Carney said he didn’t have an update on what the White House might be willing to offer Boehner. Before leaving for the spring recess, Boehner reiterated his demand that the White House come up with a new offer before he considers an extension .

“What we’ve seen in the past in these kinds of situations generally are, you know, an attempt to throw spaghetti against the wall on sort of ideological things that have nothing to do with making sure that these benefits get to the people who need them,” Carney said.

Perez also tweeted Monday about the issue.

There is still hope Congress will extend emergency unemployment benefits. I urge both sides to work together – and quickly – to #RenewUI.

— Tom Perez (@LaborSec) April 21, 2014

But Brendan Buck, a spokesman for Boehner, said the effort hasn’t yet involved reaching out to the speaker’s office.

“Nothing recently,” Buck replied when asked if the White House had gotten in touch to try and work out a deal.