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Both the House and Senate are tentatively scheduled to be in session the week of December 8th. Nothing is yet confirmed.
Unemployment Insurance Extension
President Bush signed an extension of unemployment benefits today. Congress rushed the bill to the President after the Senate approved it Thursday, November 20, so he could sign it before leaving this morning for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in Peru.
On Thursday, the Senate agreed to H.R. 6867, the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2008. It was previously introduced in the Senate as S. 3507 by Senators Max Baucus (MT), Jack Reed (RI) and Ted Kennedy (MA).
H.R. 6867 provides seven additional weeks of unemployment insurance benefits for those whose benefits have run out but they have still not found work. In states with an unemployment rate above six percent (i.e. Rhode Island, Michigan and California) the bill would provide for an additional 13 weeks of extended benefits.
The unemployment extension approved by Congress in June had expired for at least 180,000 people by the end of September. The Department of Labor estimates that the first extension of additional benefits would expire for 890,000 people at the end of October and 1.3 million people by the end of the year.
Second Economic Stimulus and Auto Industry Bailout Package Fail During Lame-Duck Session
Democratic leaders also said Thursday that they may return to Washington in December to consider an aid package for the auto industry. Congress failed to pass a bailout package for the auto industry during the lame duck session which would have included $25 billion in loans from the $700 billion bailout package. They do not have enough support for a major stimulus program before January.
On Friday, November 21, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (CA) announced that Democrats will spend time in December putting together an economic recovery package that will be taken up when the 111th Congress convenes in January 2009. According to Pelosi, the focus for the first week of the new Congress will be to introduce a strong recovery package. She also said she and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (NV) will send a letter to Big Three auto executives spelling out the kind of reforms and accountability they want to see before approving government aid to help the industry.
Congress Preparing FY 09 Omnibus Spending Bill for New Administration
On Tuesday, November 18, Democrats in both chambers announced they plan to have all FY 09 appropriations bills packaged in an omnibus spending bill and voted on in early January 2009. Their goal is to send it to President Barack Obama on his first day in office.
Because Congress failed to clear nine of the FY 09 appropriations bills, programs covered by the measures are funded through a temporary spending law. These unfinished bills include the Labor-HHS-Education spending bill and cover domestic accounts that Democrats seek to increase, such as programs for education, health research, and infrastructure. Overall, Democrats seek to spend $24.5 billion more than the $991.6 billion requested by Bush for all 12 spending bills. They do not plan to scale back their spending when preparing the omnibus bill for the new President.
Because of Presidential campaign promises, member earmarks could be an issue in the omnibus bill, and President Obama could ask Democrats to write an omnibus with fewer earmarks. Appropriators are working to complete their individual bills by the end of December to be ready when Congress returns in early January.
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