The good news from the Labor Department Friday was that 80,000 new jobs were added to the economy last month.
The bad news is that it was only 80,000 jobs.
That dreary October jobs report underscored the request this week from some Democrats that the deficit reduction super committee include a one-year extension of unemployment benefits in any plan it formulates.
Unemployment benefits are set to expire on Dec. 31. Extending them through 2012 is estimated to cost $44 billion.
That amount is one reason why Republicans are opposing additional payments for out of work individuals.
And that partisan resistance is a key reason why House Ways and Means Democrats are urging members of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to include the money for the jobless in its final measure, due by Nov. 23.
With Congress gridlocked on jobs proposals, they say the unemployment benefits are critical. And they believe that tacking them onto any must-pass deficit cutting plan is the best shot at getting the federal payments through Congress.
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