Their Reasons Are Different, But Neither TN Senator Wants To Extend Jobless Benefits

Instead of extending long-term unemployment benefits, Alexander is promoting a bill called the Workforce Investment Act, which would give states more flexibility in workforce training programs. Image: C-SPAN

Both of Tennessee’s Republican Senators say they’re against extended long-term unemployment benefits that expired just before the new year, but the two oppose the measure for different reasons.

Tuesday morning, Senators voted on whether to bring the bill to the floor. Six Republicans voted in favor, but Tennessee’s Lamar Alexander voted no. He says there needs to be more debate on extending long-term jobless benefits for three months.

“The Democratic leader [Sen. Harry Reid] brings a bill to the floor that hasn’t been considered by committee. That doesn’t allow any votes, he cuts off all amendments,” Alexander said to reporters after the vote. “That’s no way to treat an important issue, to help unemployed Americans get a job. We’ve got a number of ideas about how to do that.”

He says he’d rather see the money go toward worker training, rather than cash payments to the unemployed. Senator Bob Corker shares some of Alexander’s concerns. However, he says he’s mainly opposed because the bill doesn’t offset the extension in benefits by cutting spending elsewhere. Extending long-term unemployment payments for three months is projected to cost $6.4 billion.