The price of Republican intransigence? Three million could lose jobless benefits in 10 days

The astonishing (but not surprising) stubbornness of House Republicans to vote on a two-month extension of the payroll tax threatens to cut off some 3 million Americans from their unemployment benefit checks Jan. 1. Over the next few months, another couple of million would lose theirs. One would think that the imminence of an election year would give the Republicans pause about even the possibility of such an outcome. But the truth is, many are gleeful at the prospect. It's the policy they have been seeking for well over a year.

Anyone who has had to live off unemployment compensation knows it's not posh. But getting that insurance check every week can mean the difference between having a roof over your head and enough food on the table and . not. In more "normal" times, when most people who lose their jobs find another in a few weeks or months, collecting benefits provided by unemployment insurance, spending savings and borrowing from family or friends are enough to tide things over.

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