which we unemployment rates, the highest th the unemployment rates seasonally i at 9% and e nevada rhode island at nine and ares illinois at8.8% and 8.7% and the other ones who are district of are the columbia, california, kentucky, i, tennessee, arizona, new jersey. group at about the top 7.8%. he states with the lowest unemployment are north and south 2.6% and 3.6% 3.7%, tively, nebraska at utah at 4.3%, hawaii, iowa, at 4.4%.wyoming all 4.6% andes minnesota at then kansas and new hampshire at 5.1%. >> i'm not going into analysis that but it has something to do with what industries are in what type of r employment are in those states nd that's something you mentioned. >> also the aftermath of the housing crisis. >> exactly. seen some pretty dramatic improvements in just past year. it.preciate >> commissioner, the labor is pretty on rate wel at a historic low and if took that into consideration based on the bureau of labor actual cs the unemployment rate would be closer -- someplace between 10 11%.11 and closer to i want to talk about that in the you xt of the jobs that said have been created,

rhode island, i have an amendment at the desk. the presiding officer: the clerk will report the amendment. the the clerk: the senator from nevada, mr. reid, for mr. reed of rhode island, proposes amendment numbered 2631. mr. reid: i ask for the yeas and nays on that amendment, madam president. the presiding officer: is there a sufficient second? there appears to be. the yeas and nays are ordered. mr. reid: i have a second-degree amendment at the desk. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: the senator from nevada, mr. reid, proposes an amendment numbered 2632 to amendment numbered 2631. mr. reid: i have a cloture motion on the reed of rhode island amendment. the presiding officer: the clerk will report the motion. the clerk: cloture motion. we, the undersigned senators in accordance with the provisions of rule 22 of the standing rules of the senate, hereby move to bring to a close the debate on the amendment numbered 2631 to s. 1845, a bill to provide for the extension of certain unemployment benefits and for other purposes. signed by 17 senators follows -- reid of never -- mr. reid reid: with the consentf the

senate republican dean heller of nevada and democrat jack reed of rhode island propose extending umeployment benefits for three months. president obama offered his support, saying the cut-off in cash assistance will hurt economic growth. "i think the republican party sees this as an issue that in 2014, the democrats could hit them with. // so maybe some wiser heads have prevailed and republicans realize that a short-term compromise is a smart political move." on december 28th, emergency unemployment benefits ran out for 1.3 million americans who've been out of work up to 73-weeks. now, the maximum length of time states may offer benefits is 26-weeks. republican senator rand paul of kentucky objects to changing it saying "if you extend it beyond that, you do a disservice to these workers." labor relations professor bob bruno disagrees. "the reality is that there are too many people pursuing too few jobs. // frankly, work multiple part-time jobs still can't cut it." the labor department says there were 3.9 million job openings in october. but 11.3 million people seeking work. the long- term un

rhode island. that is in states across this country, nevada, tennessee, arizona. states that have unemployment numbers that are above the national average, above 7%. in my case it's 9%. we have to help these families. and as senator durbin pointed out, we've done this on a bipartisan basis until very recently. this is a smart economic program. this program will, according to c.b.o., create 200,000 jobs next year if we extend it. those are jobs we're going to give away. and the minority leader was talking about how we've got to do more to create jobs around here. well, if we don't pass this measure, c.b.o. has told us we're going to forfeit 200,000 jobs. so from an economic basis in this country, this is smart. but from a human basis, from helping people who have worked their lives, the only way you qualify for this program is you work, and then you're let go through no fault of your own. so we have to do this. and the other side we're talking about, and other colleagues are talking about, we've got to pay for these benefits. well, this is a selective sort of notio

the states with the highest unemployment rates seasonally adjusted our nevada at 9% and rhode island at 9% and michigan at 8.8%. in illinois at 8.7%. the other ones were kind of in that range as well including mississippi and kentucky and tennessee. they round out the top group. and the states with the lowest unemployment rate our north and south dakota, which is 2.6% and 3.6% respectively as well as nebraska at 3.7% and utah at 4.3% in hawaii and iowa, vermont, wyoming, all at 4.4% and then kansas and new hampshire. >> that is something you have mentioned by what you are seeing with the growth in certain areas. >> absolutely. also the aftermath of the housing crisis. >> yes, i have pointed out that we have seen some dramatic improvements in that area. >> i appreciated. >> thank you for being here. the labor participation rate is pretty well at a historic low. if we took it into consideration based on the bureau of labor statistics, the unemployment rate would be closer between 10 and 11%, closer to 11%. and i want to talk about that in the context of the job that he said has been cr

nevada is currently tied with rhode island for the highest unemployment in the nation. at %. -- at a 9%. this is not something we're proud of. we like boasting about being the entertainment capital of the world. the fact that we have some of the most magnificent natural resources. but unfortunately the prolonged recession has hit our state and the people of nevada to our core. and it's because in large part our economy was a growth economy. from nearly 20 years, year over year, we had double-digit growth . and people were moving to the great state of nevada to help us build and to grow. but during the recession that changed. and so now thousands, over 100,000 nevadans are unemployed and have been, primarily from the construction, engineering and architecture sectors of our economy. but thousands of nevadans have doingmore than a year now what many of us here in congress maybe haven't had the perspective of experiencing. and so my question to my colleagues tonight is, you have ever been unemployed? do you know what it feels like to have to go to a work center or to spend

after all it was a republican senator teaming with jack reid from rhode island, and the senator from nevada a high unemployment state, so the president as you reported, dell, will be surrounded by folks who would benefit from this unemployment extension. unemployment administered by the states. if you file for unemployment, you are eligible for about 26 weeks. what the federal government has done in the past several years, extended those for the long-term unemployment. now the long-term unemployed number is still historically high. normally when these benefits are cut or allowed to lapse as they have, the long-term unemployment rate is much lower on average at 1.3%. so there is a case to be made from an historical standpoint. the question as ever here in washington. ideologyists are not happy with this. >> mike viqueira, and libby casey will stand by. we are going to take a break. the question is scheduled to speak to reporters at about 11:40. and we come tack we'll talk about the holiday recess and what that has meant for politicians in washington. if passed the bill would reinstate benefi

rhode island and nevada are, unfortunately, leading the list of unemployment, and they are very similar to state states ust of miles apart, different economies entirely, but they're caught up in the same problem of unemployment, particularly long-term unemployment. and the people who are unemployed are not sitting around pass civil. they're -- passively. they're out looking every day. in rhode island i've met people who they've worked for 30 years. they are in their 50's, they were white-collar professionals, trying to take care of an elderly parent, they have responsibilities to children, and they desperately want to work. one constituent who wrote to me has been out of work since december of 2012. he has applied to over 300 jobs, taken additional classes at a local community college in the hopes of become ago more traikiv-- becominga more attrac. another constituent had to move in with her sister because she couldn't pay the rent. this is not some academic exercise, some rhetorical ideological debate. this is about helping real people who want to work, and they can't find the jobs aft

this new bill, sponsored by democrat jack reed of rhode island and republican dean heller of nevada, would extend the federal program for another three months. president obama's chief economic advisor -- gene sperling -- spoke at the white house today... >> the clear right thing for us to do right now is pass this measure now in its current form. and again, it's just for three months. it gives more time to have those type of-- you know, further bipartisan discussions about what else you might do to extend it after that. >> reporter: but a number of republicans-- including say the cost must be offset by spending cuts elsewhere in the federal budget. within it's a total violation of fiscal responsibility. it just is. if just is. i wish if weren't so. i wish we could just do this and it wouldn't cost anything. >> the president means to step up the pressure on congress tomorrow when he hosts a white house event for people who've lost benefits. >> ifill: now we look more closely at the broader political fight brewing this election year. first, the case made by the president's team. thomas

ut when you have nine states that are over 8% unemployment, hen you have rhode island and nevada at 9% unemployment, when of have historic levels long-term unemployment, you tphknow just millions of people still who are desperately work.g for they are eligible because they were working before. they are looking for a job. this is not their fault. they are not the ones who were packaging subprime securities. they didn't ask to have a grave recession. hey didn't ask to have to struggle with some of the hard log sis. legacies.y is that -- we are pleased that the economy has more momentum. pleased to see unemployment coming down and coming up.tor jobs but again, we work for a president who wants a stronger wants recovery that leaves no one behind. we can be an administration that just comes in herein and tells you -- comes in here and tells that happened ws or the improvement. ut that is not what we are about. we are about helping people who are hard working, responsible nd want to get back on their feet. that is why we're willing to point out that even amidst the we have economic news seen

bill, a a bipartisan republican from nevada and a democrat from rhode island.they join forces to extend benefits that expired on december 28. the big question is, does it have the votes to pass? there has not been any additional republican support that has come out yet. harry reid strongly supports this and is hoping to put pressure on the republican-led house to pass this. but he first has to get the vote. toghly, democrats are going need at least a handful of republican votes. we are seeing if they are going to get those votes. >> a vote monday on the nomination of janet yellen. where is her support coming from in the senate? how did the recent rules changes under the so-called nuclear option support this vote? >> yellen does have the support. no doubt about it. for they went on break, a procedural vote, she got 59 votes. that has cleared the way for this final vote. way the nuclear option played into effect. a sickly, she did not need the 60. she needed the majority. this procedural motion is expected to pass. in committee, there is only one democrat who vot

nevada. to various fine senators on a bipartisan basis have this legislation before this body. jack reed of rhode island who is tied with nevada for the highest unemployment in the country and the other senator is my friend republican senator from nevada, the junior senator from dean heller. an important move they made on behalf of their states and the american people. republicans though mr. president don't want to talk about what was evidenced by what went on here this afternoon. they don't want to talk about solutions to falling wages and job shortages. mr. president in america today the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. and the middle class is being squeezed. during the last 30 years, the top 1% wealth and income has increased by triple numbers, triple. so what has happened to the middle class in that same 30 years? their wages have gone down 10%, tripling to going down 10%. so they don't want to talk about this. and that is why they plan to vote against the extension of these emergency unemployment insurance benefits. the vast majority of them voted to not even let us get on a

. >> nevada's republican senator dean heller has teamed with rhode island democratic senator jack reed in co-sponsoring a bill to temporarily extend emergency unemployment benefits for three months. it is no coincidence that dean heller represents the state with the highest unemployment rate in the country, 9%, and it is no coincidence that nevada is tied for the number one spot for unemployment with the state of rhode island, which his co-sponsor senator reed represents. here's harry reid yesterday on "face the nation" on the prospects of the passing of extension of emergency unemployment benefits in the senate. >> i think that there are five republicans, five republicans, dean heller plus four republicans -- remember, dean heller is not some maverick that is out spewing socialism. here's a guy who's really a conservative person. and he wants to extend unemployment benefits. i admire him for doing that. and can't we get four republicans to agree with the american people that we should do that? i would certainly hope so. >> today two republicans announced their support for the bill. al

rates, um, the states with the highest unemployment rates -- seasonally adjusted -- are nevada at 9%, rhode island at 9%, michigan at 8.8%, illinois at 8.7%. and the other ones who are kind of in that range are district of columbia, california, mississippi, kentucky, tennessee, arizona, new jersey. they top out top group at 7.8%. >> uh-huh. >> the states with the lowest unemployment rates are north and south dakota, 2.6% and 3.6% respectively, nebraska at 3.7%, utah at 4.3%, hawaii, iowa, vermont, wyoming all at 4.4%. here comes minnesota at 4.6% and then kansas and new hampshire at 5.1%. >> all right. i'm not going to go into analysis of that, because it doesn't seem to be in particular region, but i think it does have something to do with what industries are in those states or what type of employment are in those states, and that's something you've mentioned by what you're seeing with growth in certain areas and not growth in others. so -- >> also the aftermath of the housing crisis. >> exactly. and as identify pointed out, we have seen some pretty dramatic improvements in just the past year in

nevada. then delaware, hawaii, new hampshire, rhode island, and vermont. this has a feeling of inevidentability to it, does it not? >> it has a feeling of partial inevidentability. these are being driven by ballot initiatives in democratic blue states and libertarian red states like arizona and alaska fingss going to be a long, long time before you see marijuana legalized in alabama and mississippi and other states in the bible belt. but this has momentum of its own. while we don't have a lot of national politicians coming out and championing this, i think what you'll see less and less of are politicians coming out and trying to make a name for themselves stopping this. i think this is going to happen largely outside the realm of the senate and the white house. >> governor, you cut your teeth as a prosecutor. what concerns do you have in how this could take a turn for the worse? >> it could create a black market. because young people still cannot buy pot legally. it could create a black market there. it could lead to more usage among young people. here's $

that, thanks to the bipartisan work of two senators, a democrat from rhode island, senator reid, and a conservative republican from nevada, senator heller, and despite their differences, they worked on a plan to extent the benefits at least for three months while we figure out a longer-term solution. and a bipartisan group of senators allowed this to move forward in the process. the senate is a complicated case, so just because they agreed on this vote, all they have agreed to so far is that we agreed to have a vote on it, they haven't actually passed it. so we need to get this through without obstruction or delay, and we need the house to vote for it as well. [ applause ] >> and that's -- that's the bottom line. voting for unemployment insurance help people and creates jobs, and voting against it does not. congress should pass this bipartisan plan right away, and i will sign it right away, and more than 1 million americans across the country will feel a little hope right away. and hope is contagious. [ applause ] >>, you know, when -- when katherine has a little bit more confidence about her situation, when she finds a

a bipartisan proposal to do just that from republican senator heller from nevada and democratic senator reid from rhode islandmonths and will take care of those 1.3 million americans and another 700,000, 800,000 from losing their benefits from february and march and give us more time to figure out a solution for all of 2014. you are right in the best of all worlds, would have been done as part of the budget agreement. >> suppose the dean heller plan hits the senate floor on monday. that's a three-month extension. what about the prospects in the house? are you negotiating with john boehner and others to see whether it can also make its way through the house? >> well, you know, first of all, the president very much compliments senator leader reid for putting it up for vote on the first day back on monday. we heard from the house republican speaker was, you know, what is your plan? and we said we have a plan. let's extend this for 2014 and at the existing levels and they clearly weren't satisfied with that plan. now there is a bipartisan plan in the senate and it is a three-month solution. i does not take care o

you have a democrat from rhode island, senator reid, and yet a conservative republican from nevada, senator heller. and despite their political differences, they worked together on a plan to extend unemployment insurance at least for three months, temporarily, while we figure out a longer-term solution. this morning a bipartisan majority of senators agreed to allow this common supervision to a lease to move forward in the process. the senate is a complicated place. just because they agreed on this vote, all the degree to so far is that we're going to have a vote on it. they haven't actually passed it. so we've got to get this across the finish line without obstruction or delay. and we need the house of representatives to be able to vote for it as well. and it's -- [applause] that's the bottom line. [applause] voting for implement insurance helps people and create jobs. and voting against it is not. congress should pass this bipartisan plan right away, and i will sign it right away. and more than 1 million americans across the country will feel a little help right away. and hope it's contagi

a democrat from rhode island, senator reid, and conservative republican from nevada, senator heller. despite their political differences they worked together on a plan fix. unemployment insurance for at least three months temporarily while we figure out a longer term solution. this morning a bipartisan majority of senators agreed to allow this commonsense provision to at least move forward in the process. the senate's a complicated place so just because they agreed on this vote, all they have agreed to so far is we are going to be able to have a vote on it. they haven't actually passed it. so we've got to get this across the finish line without obstruction or delay, and we need the house of representatives to be able to vote for it as well. [no audio] [applause] that's the bottom line. voting for unemployment insurance helps people and creates jobs. and voting against it does not. congress should pass this bipartisan plan right away and i will sign it right away. and more than one million americans throughout the country will feel a little hope right away. and hope is contagious. [ap

nevada. if all goes well, the attention would turn to delaware, hawaii, new hampshire, rhode island, and vermont>> thank you both. good to see you both. >>> thanks, michael. >>> why allen west says hillary clinton isn't the democrats best chance for the bhiwhite house i 2016. if you want to follow me on twitter. just learn how to spell smer cannish. this -- smerconish. >> seeing you shovel outside. >> time for the sideshow. that was bill de blasio outside his home in brooklyn this morning. he's the newly sworn in mayor. they said today's snowstorm would be his first big challenge in office. but it's his son who's getting all the tough questions. 16-year-old dante de blasio was inundated with facebook posts last night all from his fellow classmates who wanted to know if school would be canceled. "the new york times" obtained one of those exchanges. while it seems the first son of new york had little inside information, he was willing to lobby his father for a day off. quote, everyone is asking me this, he said. old man winter will decide, but i'm trying to convince my dad. the typo there should b

but when you have nine states that are over 8% unemployment, when you have rhode island and nevada atine percent unemployment, when you have historic levels of long-term unemployment, you know that there are just millions of people still desperately looking for work. they are eligible because they were working before. they are looking for a job. this is not their fault. they were not the ones who were packaging subprime securities. they did not ask to have a great recession. and they now have to struggle with some of the hard legacy. the reality is, look, we are obviously pleased that the economy has more momentum. we are pleased to see unemployment overall coming down. we are pleased to see private sector jobs coming up. but again, we work for a president who wants a stronger recovery, who wants a recovery that leaves no one behind. we could be an administration that just comes in here and tells you nothing but the good news that has happened, or the improvement. but that is not what we are about. we are about helping people who are hard-working, responsible, and want to get back on

senator heller from nevada joined with senator reed of rhode island, the two states that lead the nation in unemployment. the economy can't afford another manufactured crisis over whether the united states government will stay open for business or pay its bills. but soon republicans will be faced with the same choice: put their middle-class constituents first or keep playing political games. i received a letter this week from a nevadan. by the way, mr. president, a lifelong republican from nevada. and here's what he did and what he said. after 1 3 years on a job that he loved, this 54-year-old man was laid off through no fault of his own. he hasn't been able to find work for ten months, despite having applied to dozens and dozens of jobs. he is appalled at the way his own party has treated him. "i'm shocked and dismayed and outraged at what the republicans have dealt with this matter." let me read this again. "i'm shocked and dismayed and outraged at how republicans have dealt with this matter. republican leadership has talked about people like me as if we're thieves, not worthy of help.

>> there is a republican from nevada and a democrat from rhode island you have joined to extend this. has not been any additional republican sport that has come out just yet. harry reid strongly supports it. he first has to get the vote. it remains to be seen if they will get the votes. >> there's a boat coming up at 534 janet yellen to be the next chair of the federal reserve. where is her support coming from in the senate? in the so- changes called nuclear option effect this vote? >> she does have the vote. for they went on break, there was a procedural vote and she got 59 votes and it has cleared the way for this final vote. this is with the nuclear option put into effect. she did not need the 60 but a majority. she got 59 and a procedural motion is expected to pass. in committee, there is only one democrat, joe manchin, who voted no. mixture of votes here. most will certainly support rim there will be some republicans that back. >> the houses back with at least one vote on the healthcare law. how is this different than others have taken on health care >> this is different because

nevada. they have included senators from rhode island. whether or not they can get on board and whether the republican senators who agreed to start debate on this. many of them, we have talked to them and they haven't seen the details of this. it sounds from sources who are close to this, they are getting very, very close to having a deal that could be a break through. this comes from the senior producer, ted barrett. so good like that. thank you very much. finally to you as we talk on the senate side, i feel like you and i have spoken about this. how much of a roadblock will that be? >> we don't know at this point. it depends on how you are going to pay for all of this. i think there going to be lots of democrats by the way who don't want to extend some of these mandatory cuts that will have to be extended to pay for this. republicans who say we have to find another way. ted is i think as he usually is ready of a lot of senators who haven't seen the details. to go to the previous conversation about why this is in the interest of both par

a democrat from rhode island, senator reed and conservative senator from nevada, senator heller. despite their differences they worked together on a plan to extend unemployment insurance at least for three months, temporarily while we figure out a longer term solution. and this morning bipartisan majority of senators agreed to allow this common sense provision to at least move forward in the process. the senate is a complicated place. just because they agreed on this vote, all they've agreed to so far is that we'll be able to have a vote on it. they haven't actually passed it. we've got to get this across the finish line without obstruction or delay and need the house of representatives to be able to vote for it as well. [ applause ] that's the bottom line. voting for unemployment benefits helps people and creates jobs. voting against it does not. congress should pass it right away and i will sign it right away and more than 1 million americans across the country will feel a little hope right away. hope is contagious. you know -- [ applause ] when katherine has a little bit more

there was a bipartisan proposal to both senator jack reed of rhode island, and senator heller of nevadaee month, clean extension of unemployment insurance. if we cannot figure out how to provide for those benefits, to a clean three-month passage. >> thank you. mohamed el-erian, ceo of pimco. two years since it ran costad, the shipwrecked concordia is ready to be moved, but where is it going? stay "in the loop big o -- "in the loop." ♪ >> here to look at the top tech google employees with a tied to a secret of group, the one- that made google glass. edward snowden took the most secret average u.s. history would he downloaded from the nsa. verizon communications and other u.s. characters might have to pay up if they want to keep those phone records for the nsa. after a meeting with president obama yesterday, it would be too costly for phone companies to retain the metadata in and fight expose them to lawsuits. in tech ande latest media only on "bloomberg west." of thes the final day 2014 international consumer electronics show in vegas. it was a big year for ces, we saw a lot of really co

and i want to thank my colleagues, senator reed of rhode island and heller of nevada, as well as all of our colleagues who voted for it, and even many of my colleagues who may have voted against it but were torn -- and hopefully will vote for it on final passage, and i urge all of my colleagues to get this job done so that we can send it to the house of representatives and make sure that it is approved there. what is significant about this measure is, in fact, it was bipartisan. it was overwhelming. it shows congress is listening, that it is heeding the calls for action from those 1.3 million americans, including 5,700 of them in my own state of connecticut, who need this measure so they can continue seeking work, hopefully successfully. it is a temporary fix, but it is a measure with profound significance for those men and women who courageously are facing the searing facts of life during long-term joblessness. one of them, in fact, very courageously was with the president earlier today -- katherine hackerly of connecticut, a parent of two sons in the military, who herself is strugg

of rhode island, state of nevada lead the nation in unemployment. that's why jack reed, dean hiller, offered the legislation, to give these people the extension they deserve. every week of the republicans stalling adds 70,000 more people unemployed inrm america. get these people the benefits that this government should provide them with. over we're going to continue to work on this. we're going to continue to work on it before this present thech, after the state of union speech, we're going to continue to work on this until people.ustice for these importantk that it's that the republicans can go home going the few days we're to be here, be there next week, and explain to the people in respective states, these republicans, why they didn't the benefitsople because of process, because i them,.n to filibuster. they have done everything they could to disguise what they're doing. even stuck in here an effort to help veterans. those veterans. that's why the efforts made by and young took care of those that are disabled those are -- what's the right word. w

so if you're in rhode island or nevada, you get 9%, it needs to go on.ent rate goes down, the way emergency unemployment is designed is that it tapers off to use a popular phrase right now. so, of course, this can't go on forever. we're just simply saying, 7% and historically high unemployment rates is not the moment to do this. we certainly hope it doesn't need to be extended beyond this year. but we definitely know it needs to be extended now. >> if we weren't down to 6% by the end of next year, and i'm not sure economists expect that will be the case, do you think there will be another argument again that we need to continue this? this is an issue about helping people who at some level need the help, right? that's the argument you're making and i'm just wondering sort of what's the data point on which you say maybe they don't. >> well, you know, i think you can look back historically. i can't predict what it's going to be like at the end of this year. i think, yes, as you start to get into the low 6% nationally, the case for that will be less strong.

>> dean heller's bipartisan bill republican from nevada as well as jack reed democrat from rhode islandjoined forces to extend these benefits for three months that expired on december 28. the question is, does that have to votes to pass? there hasn't been any additional public support that has come out just yet. harry reid the majority leader strongly supports this and is hoping to put pressure on their republican-led house to pass this. he first has to get the votes so roughly if democrats are going to need at least a handful of republican votes and it remains to be seen if they are gone to get those votes. >> the senate has a vote coming up monday at 5:30 on the nomination of janet yellen. what is her support coming from in the senate and how did the recent changes in the so-called nuclear option affect this bode? >> yellen does have votes. before they went out -- on breaking there is a procedural vote on her she got 59 votes and that is cleared the way for this vinyl vote. that is where the nuclear option played into effect basically that she didn't need the 60 that she needed a majo

jack reed of rhode island, who is tied with nevada and the other senator is my friend, the republican senator from nevada. dean heller. the republicans, they want to talk about what was evidenced by what went on here this afternoon. in america today, mr. president, the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. and the middle class is being squeezed. and during the last 30 years the top 1% in wealth and income was increased by triple numbers so what has happened to the middle class? tripling their going down 10% and so they don't want to talk about this and that is what it planned to vote against the extension with the emergency unemployment insurance benefits. last voted for them to have a debate and some said that we should have a debate and a debate we are having. we are looking for a distraction and a diversion to steal attention away from their on the issues that matter most to the middle class. ..

you had a democrat from rhode island, senator reid, and you had a conservative republican from nevada, senator heller. and despite their political differences, they worked together on a plan to extend unemployment insurance, at least for three months temporarily, while we figure out a longer-term solution. and this morning, a bipartisan majority of senators agreed to allow this common sense provision to at least move forward in the process. now, the senate is a complicated place, so just because they agreed on this vote, all they have agreed to so far is that we're actually going to be able to have a vote on it. they haven't actually passed it. so we've got to get this across the finish line without obstruction or delay, and we need the house of representatives to be able to vote for it, as well. and that's the bottom line. voting for unemployment insurance helps people and creates jobs. and voting against it does not. congress should pass this bipartisan plan right away, and i will sign it right away. and more than 1 million americans across the country will feel a little hope right

we have one of the liberal members of the senate, jack reed of rhode island and one of the conservativ conservative, dean heller from nevada, they say we should extend the unemployment benefits and they are right. >> harry reid scheduled a vote tonight on a three-month extension of unemployment benefits but most republicans are still oppose the unless there is an agreement on how to pay for the bill. rhode island senator jack reed co-sponsored that legislation and joins me now. happy new year. thanks for being with us. >> happy new year. >> give me your best argument on why it should be extended without paying for it. >> our extension is just for three months, so the finance committee, the committee of jurisdiction can look at the appropriate way to pay for it if necessary. most times we have passed emergency unemployment extension bills without paying for it. we've done it a number of times since 2008. but the best way to do that is not on the floor, various ad hoc proposals, it's the work of the committee. our bill, senator heller's bill and my bill gives the time to do that and allows 1.3 million americans thrown off th

the bipartisan legislation was crafted by democratic senator jack reed of rhode island and republican dean heller of nevada. yesterday passed a key procedural hurdle. an amendment and votes are possible throughout the day. live senate coverage now here on c-span2. the presiding officer: the senate will come to order. the chaplain will lead the senate in prayer. the chaplain: let us pray. gracious and changeless god, the creator of heavenly lights, your mercies sustain us. today, use our senators to accomplish your will, making

beginning of a new year and on the very first day under the leadership of senator reid of rhode island and senator reed of nevada as well, the senate was able to vote to proceed on extending unemployment benefits. thank you. it's a pleasure. [applause] it's an honor to be here with senator reid, with senator casey. i understand there are some pennsylvanians in the house. [applause] you should know what a champion he has been on this issue. i know you know that. and mr. trunka has some pennsylvania connections as well. an honor to be here with sandy levin, our champion in the house, on this suggest. congressman steve horsford of nevada. and referenced michael livingston from the interfaith workers justice coalition. it's an honor to be with them. we are all honored to be here with you, with our workers, because this story of each individual family is the most eloquent, eloquent message that we can give. we all know what economists tell us. that unless we pass these benefits, about a quarter of a million more people will lose their jobs. that passing unemployment, extending unemployment insurance benefits brings m

>> dean heller, bipartisan bill, republican from nevada as well as jack reed, democrat from rhode island, joined forces to extend these benefits for three months that expired december 28. big question does it have the votes to pass? there has not been any additional republican support that's come out just yet. harry reid, majority leader, strongly supports this and is hoping to put pressure on the republican-led house to pass it but he first has to get the votes. roughly democrats will need at least a handful of republican votes. remains to be seen if they will get the vote. >> senate also has a vote coming up monday 5:30 on the nomination of janet yellen to be the next chairman of the frv. where is her support coming senate and how are the changes under the so-called nuclear option affect the vote? >> she does have the vote. before the break, there was a procedural vote on her and she got 59 votes and that cleared the way for this time vote. that's where the nuclear option played into effect. basically that she didn't need 60, sneaded a majority. yellin got 59 votes in the procedural mo

that legislation being offered senators jack reed of rhode island, a democrat and senator republican of nevada, senator reed on the far side of the screen on the democratic side. they're voting now. this is a procedural vote on whether to move forward on the the bill. you can follow live coverage of 2.t on c-span we expect to bring you reaction from senators reed and others the the vote sometime in upcoming half hour or so. we'll have that live for you. president who's expected to speak at 11:40 eastern about unemployment benefits. we'll have that live for you as well. while we wait to hear from we bring you ts, back to our conversation from this morning's "washington focus on this time a the president's climate change policies. desk now oined at the by dan weiss who serves as the director of climate strategy at progress. of american the hot topic of conversation in a ironmental circles was 60-minutes report from sunday that seemed to conclude that the federal government has little to show in the heavy investment in green technology projects in recent years. why the outrage from this story? >>

we had a democrat from rhode island, senator reed, and you had a conservative republican from nevada,ator heller. and despite their political differences, they worked together on a plan to extend unemployment insurance at least for three months, temporarily, while we figure out a longer-term solution. and this morning a bipartisan majority of senators agreed to allow this common sense provision to at least move forward in the process. now, the senate's a complicated place, so just because they agreed -- [laughter] on this vote, all the to so far is that we're actually going to be able to have a vote on it. they haven't actually passed it. so we've got to get this across the finish line without obstruction or delay, and we need the house of representatives to be able to vote for it as well. and it's -- [applause] that's the bottom line. [applause] voting for unemployment helps people and creates jobs, and voting against it does notment notment -- not. congress should pass this bipartisan plan right away, and i will sign it right away. more than one million americans across the country

just before christmas, my colleague from nevada, a republican, dean heller joined with the senior senator from rhode island jack reed a democrat to propose an extension of unemployment insurance for 1.3 million americans who lost benefits this past week. i commend these two senators for their compassionate stance on this issue. the senate will vote on moving forward on this reed-heller bill this evening. i hope a few reasonable and empathetic republicans will join my colleague from nevada, senator heller, and help us advance this bill today. passing this measure is one of the best things we can do for our economy and it's cost-effective. and it's cost-effective in so many different ways but it's cost-effective to immediately address some of the worst consequences of growing income inequality in this nation. another way to raise millions of americans out of poverty is to increase the minimum wage to make it a living wage. people can work two jobs work so hard 80 hours a week -- some are working over a hundred hours a week -- just to make ends meet. they work minimum-wage jobs. minimum-wage jobs are not a li

was rocketing up into the stratosphere, 12%, 14, in rhode island it's still 9% but we've seen some progress. not enough in my case, in my state and nevada and other states but we've seen progress. and we hope that progress continues. and indeed one of the other aspects of this program, if we pass these benefits and the economists will point out particularly pass them on an emergency basis, it will add more fuel to our economy, not less. it will add more demand, it will, in fact, increase growth at the time where everyone is on the floor talking about, well, we just have to grow more jobs. of course it is. but this program, it's a way the pro teshial twofer -- proverbial twofer. 200,000 jobs at least. i really do think we should move forward as quickly as we can to get this reed-heller bill completed and then we have a lot of careful, thoughtful, collaborative effort to engage in because if we want to go forward for the full year, which we do, we have other significant issues. not just the size of the program but other issues that are brought up by my colleagues, very fairly, very constructively and very thoughtfully. so, madam president

senator dean heller also from nevada, in large part, our state, because we have unemployment at about 9%, tied with rhode island for the highest unemployment in the country, not because job seekers don't want to go to work, mr. speaker. but because the second highest industry in our state was construction and because of the bust of the construction economy in our state, there are no jobs. or there are very few jobs for those trades workers. for engineering firms. for architecture firms. i have one architecture firm that had to lay off 0% of their work force in the last few years because there simply aren't the jobs in the construction sector, despite the fact that our my is beginning to rebound, it's not rebounding in all sectors or in all regions of our country. and that's why it's critically important that this congress do its job to extend unemployment insurance benefits for the 20,000 nevadans who have lost them and the 1.3 million americans who also lost them. i'd now like to turn to my good friend and my freshman colleague, it's been a great opportunity over the last year to get to know him and the work t