Heller is still trying to pass an unemployment extension. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo) An unemployment extension remains dead in the water in Congress, despite a new offer to ditch retroactive benefits by its primary Senate backers. Sens. Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Dean Heller, R-Nev., unveiled a new proposal that would revive an emergency unemployment extension for five months, but it's unclear whether it will be considered by the full Senate and doesn't appear to impress Speaker John A. Boehner, either. The key new wrinkle is they've given up on providing a retroactive check for five months of benefits to the long-term unemployed. They would only get a prospective weekly unemployment benefits check if Congress acts. (more…)
