Rep. Jim McDermott, Democrat from Washington state, is not buying the GOP's claim that they delayed and whittled down a six-month extension for unemployment benefits because of deficit concerns.
"The Republican leadership in Congress has decided that the way to get the White House back is by denying unemployment benefits to people who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own and show them that this government doesn't work," he said.
After a grinding period of negotiation and concession, the legislative package, originally totaling nearly $200 billion in aid, finally passed both houses of Congress today, having been reduced to $34 billion.
(Flickr/seiuhealthcare775nw)
