Cantor: Unemployment Benefits Shouldn't be Extended

The House GOP leader said Washington has been too focused on extending unemployment benefits.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said Friday that Washington has spent too much time and money on creating unemployment benefits, and needs to do more to create an environment that fosters job creation.

"For too long in Washington now, we've been worried about pumping up the stimulus monies, pumping up unemployment benefits, and to a certain extent, you've got states in which you can get unemployment for almost two years," he said on CNBC Friday. "And I think those people on unemployment benefits would rather have a job, and so that's where our focus needs to be." The Hill

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Republicans Feel Under Fire

Republicans laugh it up, feel like they're under enemy fire. This is all very interesting since it was actually Eric Cantor who walked right out of the Biden budget talks, which led to Obama's involvement. The Biden talks had 10 sessions and Obama is now on his fifth today.



Boehner says the only choice is to cut spending and not raise taxes, when economists say the only way to reduce the deficit is to cut spending (expenses) AND raise taxes (increase income).

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Obama wants deal by Friday:

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Obama to Lead Deficit Reduction Talks June 27

After Cantor walked out of talks yesterday, which speaks for itself, Obama will now be involved in deficit reduction talks (in exchange for GOP vote to raise the debt ceiling). Obama has argued that the debt ceiling should be raised and the deficit talks should come later. Republicans say they won't raise the debt ceiling (and it will be raised to prevent government from defaulting on its loans) unless cuts are made. From the White House:

On Monday, the President and Vice President will hold meetings at the White House with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to discuss the status of the negotiations to find common ground on a balanced approach to deficit reduction. The meeting with the Majority Leader will take place in the morning and the meeting with the Minority Leader will take place in the early evening.

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