[I thought it was the Repubs who were denying exra benefits? Apparently, that's not quite the way it was.]

By VINCENT MORRIS Post Correspondent

January 8, 2003 -- WASHINGTON - A revved-up Republican-led Congress was sworn in yesterday, and lawmakers quickly got to work - approving an extension of unemployment benefits to help 2.8 million Americans.

The agreement was the first rapid-fire order of business for the Senate, which OK'd a five-month extension that offers benefits through June 1.

The House takes up the measure today and President Bush told lawmakers he'll sign it tomorrow, with checks to be mailed Friday.

The deal helps more than 200,000 New Yorkers who had or were about to use up their unemployment by granting a 20-week extension in benefits.

Sen. Charles Schumer called the deal "half a loaf" that still leaves many jobless Americans without help.

The fight over unemployment nearly brought business in the Senate to a standstill, as newly elected GOP Majority Leader Bill Frist tried to steer a compromise on his first day as boss.

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2003

Answers

Democrats 'test' Frist as Senate leader By James G. Lakely THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Sen. Bill Frist's honeymoon as majority leader lasted about as long as it took to swear in this year's new slate of senators, thanks to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

A deal that the Tennessee Republican said he thought had been brokered with Democrats to extend unemployment benefits by unanimous consent evaporated yesterday — if only temporarily — when Mrs. Clinton, New York Democrat, insisted on an amendment to double the extension from 13 weeks to 26 weeks.

"I think on the first day they wanted to try and test me," Mr. Frist said. "And the fact that it had been agreed to before I think was confusing to me because usually when you have an agreement like that across the aisle, the agreement is carried through to the bill."

Assistant Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, said he was unaware of any bipartisan agreement to pass the unemployment benefits bill so quickly.

"I don't know who they had the deal with," Mr. Reid said. "They didn't have the deal with me."

Mr. Frist's Republican colleagues in the Senate said it would take more to rattle their new leader than what he experienced on his first day.

"There are some Democrats who will challenge and teach him a lot more than he wanted to know about floor procedure," said Sen. Christopher S. Bond, Missouri Republican. "But I think he can handle it."

After 20 minutes of private discussion, Mr. Frist shook hands with Mrs. Clinton and sealed the deal to extend unemployment benefits for 13 weeks by unanimous consent in exchange for his promise to consider expanding the program. more

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2003