House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif., center, discusses the unfinished work of Congress and the struggle for Republican and Democratic budget negotiators to reach a compromise at a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington on Thursday. She is joined by House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer D-Md., left, and Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., the ranking member of the House Budget Committee.WASHINGTON – With hopes of a “grand bargain” long gone, congressional negotiators now are seeking a more modest deal before year-end to ease the automatic spending cuts that are squeezing both the Pentagon and domestic federal programs. But the going is getting rougher.
House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said Thursday she would withhold support from any compromise to ease across-the-board cuts until Republicans also agree to renew expiring unemployment benefits for America’s long-term jobless, adding a major complication.
At the same time, conservatives are balking at a proposal to raise fees on airline tickets to pay for TSA agents as part of an agreement, another hurdle.
GOP leaders, meanwhile, are preparing a backup plan for averting another government shutdown in January if there’s no budget deal by then.
Negotiators on Capitol Hill are trying hard to close out a deal but are facing resistance from Pelosi and other Democrats determined to add $25 billion to extend federally-paid jobless benefits. Those benefits average $269 a week to people whose 26 weeks of state-paid unemployment benefits have run out.