Obama Isn't in Charge of Extending Unemployment Benefits

This is a short lesson for those who think Obama can just extend unemployment benefits all by himself as president. See, Obama can't pass laws. We have the legislative branch of government that does that. Obama, his cabinet and staff are the executive branch. Then there is the judicial branch. But back to the legislative branch, aka Congress. Congress makes the laws. Congress has to pass the unemployment extension and if that happens, Obama signs the bill, and yes, he's anxious to sign the bill. You see.
But extending benefits is difficult to do because democrats don't have enough votes with just the democrats and most republicans oppose extending unemployment benefits. Republicans believe that benefits to the unemployed encourages unemployment. They believe that unemployment benefits need to be paid for first --- and yet, they believe the rich should get a tax cut.
Congress is trying to get unemployment benefits done in the lame duck session because once the new Congress starts work, there are more republicans and less chance of extending unemployment benefits.