This week’s agenda: lame duck Congress returns, unemployment benefits expire

Looking ahead to the week’s agenda: Unemployment benefits for an estimated two million Americans is set to expire by tomorrow; Congress will decide whether or not to extend them. Time is running out to pass the new START agreement with Russia, as well. Two days of debate have been scheduled for Thursday and Friday that will address the Pentagon’s soldier survey on “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” and whether or not the repeal, backed by the White House, will go through. Also, the highly debated Bush Tax Cuts are set to expire in January for both middle and upper-income brackets…both sides seem to be adamantly sticking to their guns with no compromise in sight.

We speak with Charlie Herman, economics editor for The Takeaway and WNYC Radio, and Marcus Mabry, associate national editor for our partner The New York Times, to discuss the important decisions that need to be made.