Ayotte Votes to Advance Proposal That Pays for a Three-Month Extension of Long-term Jobless Benefits

Press Release

U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) continued her efforts today to find a fiscally responsible solution to temporarily extend long-term unemployment benefits - voting to advance a proposal in the Senate that pays for a three-month extension of long-term unemployment benefits and prohibit jobless benefits for millionaires. The procedural vote required 60 votes to move forward, and fell short - 58 to 40.

Senator Ayotte has led efforts in the Senate to achieve a compromise that temporarily extends benefits without adding to the deficit. Last month, she was one of six Republicans to cross party lines to start Senate debate on unemployment compensation legislation - and she offered amendments, which Democrats blocked, to pay for a three-month extension of long-term jobless benefits, repeal unfair cuts to military retirees' pensions, and reduce the deficit.

"Throughout this debate, I've worked to put proposals on the table to pay for a three-month extension and have worked to find a fiscally responsible, bipartisan solution," said Senator Ayotte. "Although Democrats wouldn't even allow votes on my common sense proposals, I was pleased to see them take a positive step by agreeing to a temporary extension of long-term jobless benefits that is paid for, and that's why I voted to advance this legislation, which also includes a provision prohibiting unemployment compensation for millionaires."

She added: "I am hopeful that this proposal will be reconsidered and that we can reach a bipartisan solution to address needed reforms to unemployment benefits to ensure that people have the right training to get back to work."

The proposal Ayotte voted to advance would prohibit regular unemployment compensation and long-term unemployment compensation benefits for individuals whose adjusted gross income in the preceding year was equal to or greater than $1 million.

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