EmploymentCrossing CEO A. Harrison Barnes believes that irrespective of what happens in Washington the next few months are going to be crucial for the long-term unemployed.

Pasadena, CA -- (SBWire) -- 11/23/2010 -- House Republicans on Thursday succeeded in derailing a bill meant for the long-term unemployed. The bill would have extended their unemployment benefits for another three months.

Republicans voted down the bill claiming that the $12 billion price tag attached to it would just add to the deficit. The bill initially got a majority backing of 258-154, with 143 Republicans against it and 21 supporting it. But it failed when Democrats tried to get it passed under fast-track procedures where they could not muster a two-thirds majority required.

Democrats could still bring the bill to the House floor under regular and more time-consuming debate rules that would allow the bill to pass with a simple majority. But it still would face obstacles in the Senate, where Republicans are poised to block the bill if it does not include offsetting spending cuts.

EmploymentCrossing CEO A. Harrison Barnes believes that irrespective of what happens in Washington the next few months are going to be crucial for the long-term unemployed. “The longer you are unemployed, the harder it becomes to find the next job. But there are several part-time and seasonal jobs coming up for the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons.” Barnes’s website, EmploymentCrossing has been able to find over 721,000 jobs in the last seven days.