The White House criticized Congress for failing to renew benefits with the holiday break approaching.
“I don’t think we want to leave here having fought for tax cuts for millionaires and against unemployment insurance for those that have lost their jobs,’’ spokesman Robert Gibbs said.
Democrats brought the measure to the floor under fast-track rules that required a two-thirds vote to pass, so the measure fell despite winning a 258-154 majority. Republicans blasted the move, which denied them an opportunity to try to offset its cost.
“The fact is, we can both provide this help and pay for it by cutting less effective stimulus spending,’’ said Representative Charles Boustany, Republican of Louisiana. “That’s what we should be debating today.’’
Progress appeared to have been made yesterday in another spending issue before Congress. Lawmakers of both parties struck a deal to postpone a massive cut in Medicare pay for doctors.
The agreement between the Senate Finance Committee chairman, Max Baucus, Democrat of Montana, and the panel’s top Republican, Charles Grassley of Iowa, calls for paying doctors at current levels through Dec. 31, and fully offsetting the cost.
The deal, expected to be approved by the House and Senate, would stave off a 23 percent cut in doctors’ pay scheduled to take effect Dec. 1. Baucus and Grassley also pledged to work together toward a mutually acceptable 12-month postponement that could pass before the end of this year.
Doctors were threatening to stop taking new Medicare patients if the cut went through, and analysts warned that the situation would undermine the health care program for 46 million elderly and disabled. Health care for military service members, families, and retirees also would be jeopardized because Tricare payments are tied to Medicare’s.
