Meeting to talk unemployment extension canceled as government nears a shutdown

As the deadline on a possible federal government shutdown looms today, yesterday’s scheduled meeting between House GOP leaders and the sponsors of a bill to extend unemployment benefits for the long-term jobless was canceled so they could focus on negotiations with the president. Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) cancelled the meeting which was to focus on potential ways to offset the cost of the proposed extension. Instead Boehner will attend a meeting at the White House with President Obama to try to prevent a looming government shutdown.