Catherwood LibraryILR School

Avoiding the potential for major damage to his part and his presidency, President Bush yesterday ratified an extension of unemployment benefits for approximately 2.5 million men and women whose benefits ran out on December 28, but who will now be spared any interruption in biweekly assistance checks. After standing still while Republican leadership in the House derailed similar legislation at the end of last year, Bush faced outrage from Democrats, moderate Republicans, and potentially from millions of working voters (see WIT for Nov. 21, 2002). Although Mr. Bush was quick to praise the unemployment insurance extension when he signed it only hours after the House passed it at his urging, Democrats vigorously objected to the refusal by top Republicans to entertain an expansion of the measure to cover 1 million working men and women whose benefits ran out earlier.