House Republicans appear ready to avoid another bipartisan divide, similar to the one that lead to the congressional supercommittee failure last week.
On Thursday, Republican officials, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said they are currently drafting legislation that would extend jobless benefits for millions of unemployed Americans.
They are also said to be working with House Democrats to include an extension of the payroll tax cuts that President Barack Obama has been pushing for in recent weeks.
On Thursday during his weekly press conference, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), commented on the Republicans plan to find a fiscally responsible compromise with Democrats to extend the payroll tax cuts and unemployment benefits.
“When the president used a joint session of Congress in September to announce his plan, he promised the American people that every penny would be paid for – including the extension of the payroll tax break. And Democrats in Congress have also conceded that it should be paid for,” said Mr. Boehner.
In September, Mr. Obama asked Congress to extend jobless benefits to cover at least 99 weeks for unemployed workers. Currently, the state funded unemployment insurance program provides coverage for up to six months.
Mr. Boehner did not discuss in his press conference how exactly Republicans intend to change the unemployment benefits program.
To fund the president’s jobs bill, Senate Democrats have proposed a 3.5 percent tax increase for Americans who earn $1 million or more annually. In contrast, Senate Republicans proposed legislation that would freeze government worker’s pay through 2015, and reduce the federal workforce by 200,000 jobs.
“This week, Republicans are taking several more steps in order to help create jobs and boost our economy. The House will pass three additional jobs bills to help create a better environment for private-sector job creation,” Mr. Boehner said in his weekly address.
Both Republicans and Democrats have also began discussions on how to avoid the 27 percent in Medicare funding that will become effective January 1st unless action is taken before then.
“This is in addition to the 20 bills that we already have sitting over in the United States Senate. Our plan to help America’s job creators – we’ve got some of these enacted into law through both chambers, but there’s 20 bills sitting over in the United States Senate,” the House speaker said.
“And I would urge the president to call on the Senate to allow votes on these bipartisan bills, and ensure that they receive a fair vote in the Senate. So we hope the president will put his partisan politics aside and urge the Senate to move these bipartisan bills as quickly as possible,” Mr. Boehner added.
