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February 17, 2012

Payroll Deal Shortens Jobless Aid, Allows Drug Tests 
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Congressional leaders have unveiled a compromise deal that would extend
the payroll tax cut and benefits for the long-term unemployed that would
otherwise have expired March 1. The measure would reduce the maximum
number of weeks for jobless benefits from 99 weeks to 73 weeks. It also
would allow states to administer drug tests to applicants who were fired
due to drug use or who are applying for jobs in industries that
typically test for drugs.



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