Sen. John Thune (R., S.D.) offered an alternative to helping the long-term unemployed.
He suggested an incentive for companies to hire long-term unemployed by allowing those businesses to opt-out of Obamacare, Fox News reports.
Thune's amendment would allow employers that hire long-term unemployed to get out of Obamacare's requirement to provide insurance.
Additionally, it would give employers a six-month reprieve from their share of the payroll tax and would give long-term unemployed individuals a $10,000 relocation loan.
Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., is one of several Republicans offering up amendments to a Senate bill that would extend long-term jobless benefits for three months, at a cost of more than $6 billion.
The bill narrowly advanced Tuesday, teeing up a debate over possible changes. The central plank of Thune's amendment would create an incentive program for businesses to hire those who have been unemployed 27 weeks or more.