McConnell blocks vote on GOP payroll tax bill. Fine, Reid says, and blocks vote on spending bill.

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7. worse than that, to pay for their payroll tax reduction

. . . they cut the length of workman's comp in their bill:


from the NYT: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/13/opinion/targeting-the-unemployed.html?pagewanted=print

Under current policy, federal benefits kick in when state-provided benefits run out, typically after 26 weeks. The duration of the federal payouts depends on the level of unemployment in a given state. Currently, workers in 22 of the hardest-hit states — including California, New Jersey and Connecticut — qualify for up to 73 more weeks of aid. In five other states — including New York — up to 67 more weeks are available. In the remaining 23 states, maximum federal benefits range from 34 weeks to 60 weeks. The cost to continue the program for another year would be about $45 billion.

The Republican plan would cut $11 billion of that in 2012 by slashing up to 40 weeks from the program, reducing by more than half the maximum 73 weeks now available. Because of the way the program is structured, the biggest cuts would come in the states with the highest unemployment. Millions of jobless workers would be quickly left without subsistence, and the weak economy would be weakened further by the drop in consumer spending.

The bill would also impose onerous — and gratuitous — requirements on people who apply for jobless benefits. It would allow states to drug test applicants and would require recipients to be high-school graduates or working toward an equivalency degree.

more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/13/opinion/targeting-the-unemployed.html?pagewanted=print