WASHINGTON » The leader of House Democrats says her rank and file won’t support any year-end budget deal unless it includes plans to extend expiring unemployment benefits for long-term victims of the recession.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California made the comment today as senior lawmakers struggled elsewhere in the Capitol to find a compromise that would ease across-the-board cuts in the budget that both parties would like to eliminate.

Majority Republicans in the House have not ruled out extending the benefits that are due to begin expiring on Dec. 28, but say they have no plans to pursue legislation on their own.

President Barack Obama on Wednesday called on Congress to approve an extension, and House Speaker John Boehner today said he was looking for a White House proposal on the issue.