The U.S. Senate voted 60-40 to end the filibuster led by Minority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, which all but ensures the bill’s final passage. A final vote is expected Wednesday.
The legislation continues the program of unemployment insurance benefits for workers who have been jobless for six months — nearly 7 million of the nation’s official 15 million unemployed workers.
“Finally, the Senate has overcome the final hurdle to provide relief for more than 2 million people who have lost their benefits since Republicans in Congress launched their latest political stall tactics against the jobless,” said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. “Millions of Americans will have the means to feed their families and pay some bills while they seek work.”
The House approved an extension in May, but because there were minor changes in the Senate, the House must vote again and is expected to do so Wednesday. The bill is retroactive to June for the more than 2 million unemployed workers who have lost benefits. However, the extension is only through November.
“We still need our leaders to do more, not less, to create jobs and sustain the economic recovery,” Trumka said. “Our nation must invest in jobs now — so we can lay a foundation for long-term growth and shared prosperity.”
The swearing in of Carte Goodwin, who was appointed to fill the seat of the late Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., until a special election is held, gave Democrats the vote they need to reach the 60 needed to beat McConnell’s obstruction. Two Republican senators from Maine — Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe — voted for the legislation and Democrat Ben Nelson of Nebraska voted against it.
Mike Hall writes for the AFL-CIO news blog, where this article originally appeared.
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The U.S. Senate voted 60-40 to end the filibuster led by Minority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, which all but ensures the bill’s final passage. A final vote is expected Wednesday.
The legislation continues the program of unemployment insurance benefits for workers who have been jobless for six months — nearly 7 million of the nation’s official 15 million unemployed workers.
“Finally, the Senate has overcome the final hurdle to provide relief for more than 2 million people who have lost their benefits since Republicans in Congress launched their latest political stall tactics against the jobless,” said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. “Millions of Americans will have the means to feed their families and pay some bills while they seek work.”
The House approved an extension in May, but because there were minor changes in the Senate, the House must vote again and is expected to do so Wednesday. The bill is retroactive to June for the more than 2 million unemployed workers who have lost benefits. However, the extension is only through November.
“We still need our leaders to do more, not less, to create jobs and sustain the economic recovery,” Trumka said. “Our nation must invest in jobs now — so we can lay a foundation for long-term growth and shared prosperity.”
The swearing in of Carte Goodwin, who was appointed to fill the seat of the late Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., until a special election is held, gave Democrats the vote they need to reach the 60 needed to beat McConnell’s obstruction. Two Republican senators from Maine — Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe — voted for the legislation and Democrat Ben Nelson of Nebraska voted against it.
Mike Hall writes for the AFL-CIO news blog, where this article originally appeared.