The filing deadline for the next tier of federal unemployment benefits expires today and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is laying the blame solely at the feet of Republicans, who blocked unanimous consent to move forward on a stop-gap extension last month. "It is inexcusable and irresponsible for Republicans to once again block the extension of these benefits," Reid said in a statement. "Their excuses ring hollow to American workers who lost their jobs through no fault of their own and are trying to put food on the table, pay the rent, and take their children to the doctors."

Reid has "committed" to extending a short-term extension next week while lawmakers search for a long-term solution and has hinted such a bill would retroactively cover benefits that expire this week. On Fox News Sunday, Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) even admitted that the upper chamber "will have to do things like extending unemployment benefits because unemployment is so high."