According to a November 11, 2003 Rockford Register Star article, Treasury Secretary John Snow indicated that the Bush Administration has not decided whether to support an extension of unemployment benefits.  Snow added, “That's still a decision for the president,” Snow said. "My advice will be confidential to the president.”

However, the Republican House leadership, which continues to work closely with the Bush Administration, has made its decision clear about extending unemployment benefits.  According to a report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities:
 

Congressional leaders added legislation to their pre-adjournment agenda that would extend more than a dozen tax breaks scheduled to expire at the end of the year... Congressional leaders have shown no willingness to consider extending the temporary federal program to help the long-term unemployed, which, starting January 1, 2003, will not provide any benefits to those who exhaust their regular, state-funded benefits.

In addition, the House version of the tax-cut extension bill would continue a large, supposedly temporary corporate tax break that was enacted as part of the 2002 stimulus legislation.  When it comes to the unemployment benefits, however, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay told BNA Daily Labor Report on November 19 that there is “no reason” for extending those benefits.  The House approach implies that corporations need continued support amidst a still-weak economy, but that laid-off workers do not.  

Extending the benefits would allow unemployed workers who have exhausted their regular benefits to apply for the extended program.  According to CBPP, “If no Congressional action is taken to extend the unemployment benefits program, between 80,000 and 90,000 unemployed workers will exhaust their regular unemployment benefits every week in January without being able to receive any federal unemployment benefits to help them make ends meet as they continue to look for work.”