Senate Takes Up Unemployment, Homebuyer Aid

[tonysam]

Source: New York Times

Call it a mini-stimulus.

Senate Democrats say they finally have their procedural ducks in a row to pass an extension of unemployment benefits as well as some tax breaks that backers hope will help the economy.

After weeks of delays due to a fight with Republicans over amendments, Senator Harry Reid, the Nevada Democrat and majority leader, said he expects the Senate this week to approve an extra 14 weeks of unemployment aid for those who have exhausted their benefits. People out of work in states where the unemployment rate is more than 8.5 percent would get up to 20 weeks.

“We have a million people – one million people – who are eligible for this,” Mr. Reid said.

Read more: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/02/senate-ta... /

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How many weeks have we heard this issue was about to be resolved? And when the unemployment rate continues to go up and extended benefits have to be put through again, will the Senate waste weeks upon weeks trying to appease the Republicans?

[xchrom]

1. all i can think to say is

'a day late and a dollar short.'

[defendandprotect]

2. We haveto go back to the idea of charging corporations for the unemployed ......

[bjb]

3. Corporations

that have outsourced all the jobs should have to pay for the extensions. Greedy bastards....

[defendandprotect]

5. Absolutely . . .

And you know if we manage to turn this tide away from corporations, they will be

back here trying to do business again.

[Blue-Jay]

4. .

.

[defendandprotect]

6. k i c k

[tonysam]

7. Related article from AP

The vote on the unemployment bill was 85-2. That is well above the 60 needed to limit amendments and move the legislation toward a final vote, which is likely later this week.

The legislation, expected to win quick passage in the House once the Senate acts, contains a trio of measures backed by the administration to prevent the fragile economic recovery from backsliding and help tide people over until companies start hiring again.

_It provides up to 14 additional weeks of unemployment insurance benefits to out-of-work people whose benefits are running out. The jobless in 27 states where the unemployment rate is at 8.5 percent or above will get six weeks on top of that. Supporters argue that, despite signs of economic recovery, the unemployment rate, now at 9.8 percent, continues to inch up and 7,000 people a day are exhausting benefits.

Some 15 million unemployed are chasing 3 million jobs, said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont. Unemployment insurance "is a lifeline that many families and communities continue to need just to keep afloat."

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It's about time.