Obama to Florida Congressmen: 531,029 Are Counting On You

Making a pitch to Florida's Republican congressmen, President Barack Obama today touted the unemployment-benefits package contained in the tax compromise and called for its final passage.

This tax cut plan, while not perfect ... will offer emergency relief to help tide folks over until they find another job," Obama said. (In actuality, the measure does not "cut" taxes, but merely extends the current Bush-era rates.)

As for the unemployed, the measure, which cleared the Senate today, will "strengthen the safety net for 531,029 residents who are at risk of having their unemployment insurance benefits evaporate without congressional action," Obama said in a statement.

Nationally, 2 million Americans will lose their UI coverage if Congress fails to pass the $56 billion extension of benefits.

Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Tequesta, said he is waiting to see the final details of the bill.

"He strongly supports extending all of the tax cuts, but he is concerned about adding new spending programs without cutting spending somewhere else to pay for them," Rooney spokesman Michael Mahaffey said.