Ayotte: We Can Find a Solution that Pays for Unemployment Benefits Extension, Fixes Military Retiree Cuts

Press Release

At a press conference on Capitol Hill today, U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte expressed disappointment that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has rejected a proposal that would fully pay for a three-month extension of temporary long-term unemployment benefits and repeal the unfair military retiree cost-of-living cuts that were included in the budget deal passed by Congress in December which Ayotte opposed. Ayotte helped negotiate the compromise plan with Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Dean Heller (R-NV), Dan Coats (R-IN), John Hoeven (R-ND), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Rob Portman (R-OH) - who had worked together to craft a proposal that members of both parties could support. Ayotte voted against ending debate on the underlying measure today, saying she hoped both sides would continue to work toward agreeing on a solution that pays for a temporary extension of long-term unemployment benefits and fixes military retiree cuts.

"We came up with a good faith proposal to extend long-term unemployment insurance for three months and reverse unfair military retiree cuts with a legitimate payfor because we actually want to solve this problem - that's what brought all of us together," said Ayotte, who last week joined five Republicans in crossing party lines to begin debate on legislation to extend unemployment benefits. "We want to find a solution that both parties can support - and we'll continue to work toward that goal."

Last week, Ayotte introduced a separate amendment last week that would pay for a temporary extension of long-term benefits, repeal cuts to military retiree benefits, and reduce the deficit. Unfortunately, Senate Democrats blocked consideration of Senator Ayotte's amendment and all Republican amendments.

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