Unemployment Benefits

Senate members debated the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act, which would extend unemployment benefits for up to 20 weeks for unemployed workers in states hit hardest by the recession. A similar bill was signed by President Bush in August, but was effectively blocked by the president when he refused to declare a national emergency. Such a declaration would have been necessary for the release of the funds for the benefits, due to the deficit increasing nature of the bill under the 1990 budget act. Sen. Robert Dole previously introduced legislation that would extend benefits for a shorter period of time, but would not increase the deficit. He argued on the floor of the Senate for the adoption of his legislation rather than a bill similar to the one vetoed in August but containing language preventing the president from blocking the benefits without a veto. close