It’s becoming an annual tradition --- at the end of the year, Congress balks at extending federal unemployment benefits and thousands of jobless people, including many Ohioans, worry that their government checks will soon be cut off. Then, Congress finally agrees to an extension. That scenario has begun again this year. Ben Johnson is with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. He talks with statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen about how many Ohioans could be impacted.
In Congress, most Democrats are pushing for the extension in federal unemployment benefits, but many Republicans say the government cannot afford another extension, unless spending cuts are made in some other programs.