Out of Work and Out of Luck: The Politics of Unemployment The Senate returned from recess today to consider Emergency Unemployment Compensation, a three-month extension to long-term unemployment insurance that lapsed over the holidays for 1.3 million Americans out of work for more than six months. Programs like it have been passed in every recession since 1957. This one had been re-authorized 11 times but expired when Congress failed to include an extension in the latest contentious budget battle. As a result only one in four unemployed Americans is estimated to receive jobless benefits, the smallest proportion in half a century. Last weekend President Obama urged Congress to re-instate long-term jobless aid. Does federal aid help job hunters stay in the labor market or discourage them from looking? How does the loss of benefits affect the economy as a whole? Should government put the money towards creating economic and job opportunities rather than providing cash?

The Tax Battle Isn't Over House Democrats today voted to block debate on the trade of tax cuts for unemployment benefits that the President worked out with Republicans. Vice President Biden reportedly calls it a "take or leave it" deal, but party liberals insist the Administration gave too much and got too little. Others say it's really a second stimulus -- even bigger than Stimulus One -- that will boost the economy in time for the next election. With two-thirds of Americans in favor of its major provisions, would it be Obama's demise or salvation?  What are its chances of passing?

Profits of Doom: Breaking Wall Street's Addiction to Greed President Obama says free enterprise should reward hard work, but that "it does offend our values" when executives get huge bonuses, at the same time their companies are getting taxpayer bailouts to stay alive.  So his so-called "pay czar" has cracked down on executive compensation at AIG, General Motors and five other companies.

GM Bondholders Accept Deal, Bankruptcy Still on the Table Some holders of General Motors bonds have accepted a government-brokered deal to ease the company into Chapter 11 bankruptcy early next week. The Treasury Department will provide more than $50 billion and end up owning 72.5% of a new, much smaller GM. Rick Newman reports for US News and World Report , where he is chief business correspondent.