WASHINGTON – The top Democrat in the Senate is proposing tough new budget rules that would make it much more difficult for Congress to extend emergency unemployment benefits and health insurance subsidies for laid-off workers.
The tough anti-deficit rules being proposed by Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada would also make it harder to permanently extend some of the tax cuts that expire at the end of this year, though middle-class tax cuts would not be affected.
Because in a time of deep recession, the people want fewer benefits and higher health care costs.