Obama’s personal engagement Tuesday has left some Republicans thinking he is more willing to work out a deal. The GOP senators who spoke with the president were struck by the president’s tone, according to Republican sources who were briefed on the series of calls. The president seemed agitated about the congressional stalemate and was eager to at least consider GOP amendments, even those that would irk Democrats. Obama didn’t make any concrete offers, and White House aides said he made no promises beyond what his advisers have said publicly.
Collins said she told him that after one year of being unemployed, beneficiaries should be required to demonstrate that they are participating in a job-training program. Kirk, who voted no, said he wants Reid to agree to savings.
“If Harry gave us an offset, I’d be a yes,” he said before the vote Tuesday morning.
At that point, there was not enough public support to keep the legislation alive, as Coats and Portman kept their intentions private. Reid privately thought that if they were on the cusp of getting 60 votes, it would materialize, advisers said.
“The rich are getting a lot richer and the poor are getting poorer. The middle class is getting squeezed,” Reid said in a sharply partisan speech before the vote.
Afterward, Portman reserved his right to oppose the final bill, saying his vote Tuesday would allow the Senate to “engage in the debate on how to pay for this and how to make the unemployment insurance work better for Ohioans who are trying to find a job.”
Portman said his office is working on an amendment that would pay for the extension.