Unemployment benefits and financial reforms bills stalled ahead of recess

Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill continued to maneouever to win support for two pieces of legislation - the continuation of unemployment insurance and the financial reform bill. Unemployment benefits will run out for an estimated 1.5 million people by Saturday - unless Democrats can the win the support of one more lawmaker to pass a stripped down version of a spending bill.

Earlier today, Congressmember John Lewis railed against his Republican colleagues for their position on the bill.

"It is a shame and a disgrace that we did not extend unemployment insurance. Every single member who voted no yesterday should be ashamed of themselves. People are suffering! They are hurting! They are in pain! They cannot make ends meet. And too many, just too many, on the other side of the aisle turn a deaf ear. I ask my Republican colleagues: Can't you hear? Can't you feel? Can't you see? Where is your heart? Where is your compassion? Where is your concern? Extend unemployment benefit and extend it now!"

Meanwhile, the financial reform conference committee is also caving to conservative demands - removing a nearly $18 billion tax on big banks that have would have financed other parts of the bill.  To find out more about the status of these bills, FSRN’s Leigh Ann Caldwell spoke to Ryan Grim, Congressional Correspondent for the Huffington Post.

OUTRO: That was FSRN’s Leigh Ann Caldwell speaking to Ryan Grim, Congressional Correspondent for the Huffington Post.

Also in Washington today, lawmakers unanimously confirmed General David Petraeus to run the Afghan War. He replaces General Stanley McChrystal after his resignation last week in the wake of his critical remarks to a Rolling Stone reporter about Obama Administration officials.