Citing concerns about the national debt, the U.S. House of Representatives has rejected the standalone unemployment extension bill introduced by Representatives Levin (D-MI) and McDermott (D-WA).

Democrats introduced the bill under a special procedure that limited debate, disallowed amendments, and would have required a 2/3 majority to pass.

The bill would have prevented 200,000 people from falling off the unemployment rolls each week, extending coverage until the end of November at a cost of $33.9 billion.

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Editorial: The cost of not passing this bill will far surpass the $34 billion it would have cost to pass it.