By a 60 to 40 vote, the Senate voted July 20, 2010, to extend unemployment benefits. The Democrats were able to break the Republican filibuster almost immediately after the swearing in of Carte Goodwin, who was appointed to succeed West Virginia’s Senator Robert Byrd. Democrats were joined by Republicans Senator Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine. One democrat, Ben Nelson, voted with Republications against the measure.
President Obama had strongly urged passage of the bill to extend federal unemployment insurance provisions to provide benefits to 2.5 million unemployed Americans whose benefits expired on June 4.
The bill, which goes to the House, is expected to pass quickly. House Democrats will send the measure to President Obama for signing, possibly as early as Wednesday.
Who the Unemployment Insurance Benefits Extension Helps
The program’s extension applies to the 2.5 million unemployed whose benefits were cut June 4. Those affected when the program lapsed will be eligible for retroactive benefits.
According to the United States Department of Labor, the state unemployment insurance benefits program extends benefits to people who have been unemployed for more than 26 weeks but less than 99.
It does not extend benefits to people who have exhausted the 99 week maximum in states with high unemployment.
Democrats Denounce Republicans Who Opposed the Bill
President Obama strongly urged Republicans to get behind the bill. And DNC Chairman Tim Kaine issued a statement in response to Republican opposition to extending unemployment insurance for "millions of Americans": "Make no mistake, there are millions of Americans who are diligently applying for jobs and grappling with the uncertainty that comes with being unemployed. Meanwhile, Republicans are playing political games at the expense of American families in need."
Many Republicans Supported Bill but Only if Costs Offset in Budget
Republicans who filibustered said the party was never opposed to offering assistance to Americans out of work. They simply wanted the measure’s costs to be offset by cuts in the $3.7 trillion federal budget.
As expressed by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell: “There’s no debate in the Senate about whether we should pass a bill—everyone agrees that we should. The debate is about whether in extending these benefits we should add to the debt or not.”
The Senate garnered its 60 to 40 vote to break the filibuster in the Senate and pass the unemployment benefits extension bill. The bill extends unemployment insurance benefits to the 2.5 million unemployed whose benefits were cut off in early June. The next step is the House, which is expected to approve the bill swiftly. Then it will be sent to President Obama for signing, probably by week's end.
Elizabeth Harrington - Poet, Freelance Writer, Marketing Research Professional, Blogger (www.allaboutqualitative.com)
