Ayotte, left, and other GOP senators chat before a Wednesday news conference on offseting jobless benefits. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call) By voting to open debate on a temporary extension of long-term jobless benefits, Republicans gave themselves leverage to force Democrats to consider cuts from elsewhere to pay for it. But so far, the GOP has failed to come forward with a plan Democrats could support. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told CQ Roll Call he has yet to see an offer from the GOP he could take seriously. Reid has said he would prefer not to offset the emergency extension, but would consider proposals that he viewed as genuinely bipartisan efforts. "Not yet. They've offered to go after Obamacare and go after little kids, so you know, those two aren't too good," the Nevada Democrat said. The most recent GOP offer to pay for the extension came Wednesday from Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., who suggested Congress pay for unemployment benefits — plus a rollback of approved cost of living adjustment cuts for veterans' pensions — by eliminating child tax credits filed by undocumented workers. Seven Republican senators stood by her side, touting its ingenuity. Republican Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., even dubbed the plan "all-American," evoking laughs from the other senators on stage. (more…)
