House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said on Friday that the top priority of Congress in 2014 should be to extend unemployment insurance.
According to The Hill, Pelosi said in a statement that the upcoming expiration of federal unemployment benefits is "simply immoral."
“Starting tomorrow, too many American families will face the New Year with uncertainty, insecurity, and instability as a result of congressional Republicans’ refusal to extend critical unemployment insurance,” she said. “The first item on Congress’ agenda in the New Year must be an extension of unemployment insurance. That must be our priority on day one.”
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif. speaks about the pending bipartisan budget compromise struck by House Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Senate Budget Committee Chair Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013, during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Pelosi recently skewered the passed two-year budget agreement for not providing an extension to the jobless benefits which were initially put into place during the 2008 recession.
But the prospects of pushing through a renewal don't appear high with a Republican controlled House.
Many Republicans have indicated they are worried about the costs of maintaining such a program and would only vote for an extension if costs were offset elsewhere, according to The Hill.
Others, including Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) entirely oppose a renewal, contending the economy is not in the same shape as it was in 2008, The Hill reported.
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