A tough winter ahead

House Democrats, under an arrangement that requires a two-thirds majority for passage, were unable to extend jobless benefits for millions of Americans. As Arthur Delaney reports:

The House of Representatives on Thursday voted down a measure that would have reauthorized extended unemployment insurance for another three months, leaving no clear path forward to prevent the benefits from lapsing as scheduled on Nov. 30.

Without a reauthorization, the Labor Department estimates that two million long-term unemployed will prematurely stop receiving benefits before the end of the year.

"I think it's a sad moment," said Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) after the vote. "It appalls me that the Republicans keep pitching and pitching and pitching the tax cuts for the rich and won't join in a bill to help people keep their homes and not have to live in their cars."

The bill was brought to the floor under a "suspension of the rules," meaning it required approval from two-thirds of the House. It failed 258 to 154, with mostly Democratic support. Twenty-one Republicans voted in favor and 11 Democrats voted nay.

I guess it shouldn't be any surprise that Heath Shuler was one of the 11 so-called "Democrats" who voted against continuing to help millions of jobless Americans survive. Nancy Pelosi should tell all of the families in his district, that will be hurt, to set up a "tent city" in Rep. Shuler's fancy neighborhood.