January 7 Still here. (AP Photo/Matt Young) Still here. (AP
Photo/Matt Young)  * The top story tonight: Republicans and
unemployment insurance. Scott Clement has the polling charts
showing how Republicans have inexorably turned against it, as
the GOP has become more and more conservative:  Between 2009 and
early 2013, the share of Republicans who said the federal
government should decrease spending to assist the unemployed has
more than doubled from 26 to 56 percent in Pew Research Center
polls, now representing the majority view within the party.
Independents and Democrats have also grown more willing to cut
unemployment aid, though clear majorities of each still said it
should be “kept the same” or “increased.”  This tracks broadly
with other indicators showing how far to the right the current
GOP caucus has drifted.  * Jonathan Cohn has a useful piece
explaining why unemployment benefits extensions have typically
not been offset, and how to judge any offsets Congress does opt
for this time.  * Danny Vinik