Extension of jobless benefits clears GOP roadblock

[ProSense]

Extension of jobless benefits clears GOP roadblock

By ANDREW TAYLOR, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON – Democrats in the Senate won an initial skirmish Monday to restore unemployment benefits to hundreds of thousands of jobless people despite Republican criticism that it would add $9 billion to the nation's debt.

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.

Senators in both parties blamed each other for allowing the programs to lapse last week, leaving several hundred thousand people who have been out of work for more than six months without federally financed benefits averaging $335 a week.

Republicans blocked the measure last month. Monday's vote buys time while House-Senate talks continue on a far larger measure to extend them through the end of the year.

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[Kdillard]

1. k and r good news.

[Cha]

2. republicons whining about the National Debt is

only so much hypocrisy..during the bushcheney reign of terror they spent without paying for shit.

[jenmito]

3. So Collins, Snowe, Voinovich, and BROWN voted with the Dems.!

I guess Brown won't be running for president in '12, and no matter WHAT he does, he won't have support of the teabaggers-especially since he dissed Palin re: the next teabag rally! :rofl:

[DCBob]

4. That's the most significant part of this story... the beginning of bi-partisan movement..

maybe?

[jenmito]

5. Nah...

I think it will continue to just be these same Senators and no others. The rest of 'em want the support of the teabaggers too badly.

[DCBob]

6. Yeah, but even 4 is a BFD when you need 60 to break a fili..

Thats enough bipartisanship for me!

[jenmito]

7. True for NOW...

we'll see what happens after the next elections. It's a lifetime away, really, so there's no telling what will happen.

[rasputin1952]

8. One of the reasons they caved was because of the upcoming election...

The GOP has finally come the realization they look like idiots that are hellbent on "punishing" citizens for the policies the GOP put into place that brought about the disaster.

They are going to get clobbered with their current tack of "No"...and "we have no answers". One more slap in the face of the citizens would have been far too much to bear, I think the GOP "got it". They could toss a few "yes" votes and keep the larger # looking like they are against the administration, it's a crappy plan, but it's something they can use to get out of the corner they are in.

[jenmito]

9. But how does that help any Repubs. besides the ones who

side with the Dems.?

[rasputin1952]

11. The thing is...

they think it will...I can't think of anything that can save the GOP at this point. Seems as though even R's realize they have nothing to offer.

It's all illusion on their part...:D

[Canuckistanian]

10. Brown? The "great White hope" of the Teabaggers?

Things ARE looking up! Or maybe it's the Massachusetts water.