Labor Secretary Solis blasts Republicans for thwarting bill to extend unemployment benefits

DENVER – DENVER (AP) — Labor Secretary Hilda Solis says Senate Republicans could be extending the recession by opposing a spending bill that would have extended unemployment benefits.

Solis said Friday that the Republican opposition "could take us back to a deeper recession." Solis was addressing a national gathering of Latino officials in Denver.

Solis said the end of unemployment benefits for more than 200,000 people a week would be "devastating."

Republican opposition to the Democratic jobs bill stymied efforts to again extend unemployment benefits. The GOP objects to its cost.

President Barack Obama on Friday signed into law a much smaller bill that temporarily spares doctors from a cut in Medicare payments.