All you really need to know about the attitude of most (though not all) congressional Republicans about the long-term unemployed is that they will likely stall an “emergency” UI extension bill until the benefits it makes possible have already expired. Yesterday after breaking a Republican filibuster the Senate passed a UI extension retroactive to the first of the year but expiring in May by a 59-31 vote, with six Republicans voting “yea.” But John Boehner has made it abundantly clear the House will not take up the measure because Harry Reid blocked votes on “job-creating” amendments such as a forced approval of the Keystone XL pipeline and repeal of certain provisions of the Affordable Care Act. With Congress about to embark on a two-week Easter Recess later this week, the extension will soon be moot except for its retroactive features.
Technically filibusters do not occur in the House. But in alliance with Senate conservatives, Boehner’s showing that he knows exactly how to run out the clock.
