Relief for the Jobless on The Way? Senate to Vote on Extending Unemployment Benefits
July 20, 2010— -- Senate Democrats today will make their fifth attempt at extending unemployment benefits within minutes of swearing in West Virginia's new senator, Carte Goodwin.
The benefits package, which has been stalled by procedural hurdles for weeks, is likely to pass with the support of Goodwin -- who is temporarily replacing the late Sen. Robert Byrd -- and two moderate Republicans, Maine Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe.
Republicans and Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., oppose the measure because of its $34 billion cost that will add to the budget defict. Instead, they argue, the bill should be funded by the $787 billion stimulus package or from somewhere else in the budget, a move that Democrats have rejected.
Democrats say the Republicans' talk about fiscal responsibility is just a political ploy to rationalize their filibuster.
The unemployment benefits extension package will be voted on by the House later this week before going to President Obama's desk.
Obama on Monday slammed Republicans in the Senate for using parliamentary maneuvers to block votes on the unemployment benefits extension, which he said amounted to "denying millions of people who are out of work much-needed relief."
"It's time to stop holding workers laid off in this recession hostage to Washington politics. It's time to do what's right, not for the next election, but for the middle class," the president said in the Rose Garden Monday, flanked by three unemployed Americans. "We've got to stop blocking emergency relief for Americans who are out of work. We've got to extend unemployment insurance."
Obama added that the federal government has a responsibility to assist the nation's unemployed as they look for work and urged Senate Republicans to put politics aside and join Democrats to pass the unemployment benefits extension.
"We've got a responsibility to help them make ends meet and support their families, even as they are looking for another job," he said.
