Senate Voted After Two Week Hiatus
Spring break left many unemployed Americans without weekly unemployment benefits since April 5th. On Monday Senators (Dems and Republicans) voted for a much awaited temporary extension.
Republicans Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe ( bot of Maine), Scott Brown of Massachusetts, and George Voinovich of Ohio all voted to advance the 90 day extension.
The 60-34 vote killed a GOP filibuster against debating the measure, which would extend jobless benefits through May 5 along with short-term extensions of several other lapsed programs.
The President issued this statement regarding the temporary extension of unemployment benefits:
“In these tough economic times, it is more critical than ever to bring relief to Americans who are working every day to find a job, and families that are struggling to make ends meet. Millions of Americans who lost their jobs in this economic crisis depend on unemployment and health insurance benefits to get by as they look for work and get themselves back on their feet. I’m grateful that the House and Senate moved forward on this temporary extension today. But as I requested in my budget, I urge Congress to move quickly to extend these benefits through the end of this year. I also urge Congress to move forward on legislation to help small businesses grow and hire and other measures to increase the pace of job growth. This is my top priority, and I will fight day and night until every American who wants a good job has one.”
The measure also allows for extension of COBRA Assistance and Medicare Physician Updates.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made the following remarks on the extension:
"In passing this bill and sending it to the President, we have succeeded in putting the emergency economic needs of everyday Americans ahead of the political interests of some Republicans who had decided to delay at the expense of families trying to make ends meet."
More on what the extenstion means here.
Spring break left many unemployed Americans without weekly unemployment benefits since April 5th. On Monday Senators (Dems and Republicans) voted for a much awaited temporary extension.
Republicans Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe ( bot of Maine), Scott Brown of Massachusetts, and George Voinovich of Ohio all voted to advance the 90 day extension.
The 60-34 vote killed a GOP filibuster against debating the measure, which would extend jobless benefits through May 5 along with short-term extensions of several other lapsed programs.
The President issued this statement regarding the temporary extension of unemployment benefits:
“In these tough economic times, it is more critical than ever to bring relief to Americans who are working every day to find a job, and families that are struggling to make ends meet. Millions of Americans who lost their jobs in this economic crisis depend on unemployment and health insurance benefits to get by as they look for work and get themselves back on their feet. I’m grateful that the House and Senate moved forward on this temporary extension today. But as I requested in my budget, I urge Congress to move quickly to extend these benefits through the end of this year. I also urge Congress to move forward on legislation to help small businesses grow and hire and other measures to increase the pace of job growth. This is my top priority, and I will fight day and night until every American who wants a good job has one.”
The measure also allows for extension of COBRA Assistance and Medicare Physician Updates.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made the following remarks on the extension:
"In passing this bill and sending it to the President, we have succeeded in putting the emergency economic needs of everyday Americans ahead of the political interests of some Republicans who had decided to delay at the expense of families trying to make ends meet."
More on what the extenstion means here.
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