Senate Moves Closer to Extending Unemployment Benefits

[babylonsister]

http://washingtonindependent.com/66172/senate-moves-closer-to-extending-unemployment-benefits

Senate Moves Closer to Extending Unemployment Benefits
By Mike Lillis 11/2/09 5:42 PM


The Senate is on the verge of passing a bill extending unemployment benefits up to 20 weeks nationwide, after lawmakers on Monday easily hopped the procedural hurdle bringing debate on the legislation to an end.

The cloture vote was a lopsided 85 to two. After weeks of haggling over controversial amendments, only Republican Sens. Christopher Bond (Mo.) and Jim DeMint (S.C.) voted against the measure.

Under Senate rules, Democratic leaders have to wait at least 30 hours before staging the final vote, unless Republican leaders agree to an earlier time. Without such an agreement, the final vote will likely take place Wednesday morning.

Afterward, House leaders — who passed a less generous extension in September — would have to approve the Senate bill before it could move to the White House for the president’s signature.

Meanwhile, an estimated 7,000 Americans are losing their benefits each day.

[DontTreadOnMe]

1. Senate Moves Closer to Growing a Spine!

If the Dems can't make an good "obstructionist" argument with unemployment extension, then they need to be replaced... NOW!

The Left should be pummeling the GOP for not supporting families who are unemployed!
Someone needs to hire a marketing firm for every Dem Senator -- AND GET A CONCISE MESSAGE OUT, and also slap them in the face while they are at it.

[Barack_America]

2. Thank God! My mother's benefits ran out last month.

She's applying for everything down in Florida, but getting nowhere. She had an interview last month, but didn't get the position. Hell, she's even applied for a position at the unemployment office itself. We're doing all we can financially to help her, as is my 90-year-old grandfather who still works part-time himself, but it's not enough.

She'll be homeless by the end of the month if this doesn't go through.

The games the Republicans are playing in the Senate have very real consequences on people's lives. We can't afford their games any longer.

[Louisiana1976]

3. I just got my last unemployment check last Friday.