Senators Negotiating Ways To Pay For Yearlong Jobless Benefits

Senate Energy Committee member Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, sits in on the committee's discussion on the nomination of Sally Jewell to be secretary of the Interior, Thursday, March 21, 2013, on Capitol Hill in Washingto... Senate Energy Committee member Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, sits in on the committee's discussion on the nomination of Sally Jewell to be secretary of the Interior, Thursday, March 21, 2013, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Last week Portman announced he is supporting gay marriage and says his reversal on the issue began when he learned one of his sons is gay. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) MORE LESS
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Senators are having bipartisan talks about how to pay for a revival of long-term unemployment benefits. The Republicans engaging with Democrats are said to be Sens. Rob Portman (OH), Susan Collins (ME) and Dean Heller (NV).

Democratic leaders prefer to enact the Reed-Heller three-month extension, which is on the floor, without an offset and then negotiate a one-year pay-for. But they’re waiting to see what comes of the talks before making their next move.

“Some Republican senators are having conversations about possible offsets for a full-year extension,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said Thursday. “Let’s see how they want to pay for it.”

He said offsetting a short-term extension would be “ill-advised” as Congress would have to return to the issue in three months.

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