Senate GOP again kills jobless aid extension

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Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON — For the third time in three weeks, Republicans in the Senate on Wednesday successfully filibustered a bill to continue providing unemployment checks to millions of people.

But since Republicans Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine voted with Democrats to advance the $33 billion measure, its passage seems assured next month once a replacement is named for Democratic Sen. Robert Byrd, who died on Monday. Democrats would then have a filibuster-proof majority for the bill.

About 1.3 million people who have been out of work for more than six months have already lost jobless checks averaging about $300 a week when benefits began running out earlier this month.

Democratic leaders had hoped to pass the extension before Congress goes on a weeklong Independence Day recess. The House delayed a vote until Thursday.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38021290/ns/business-us_business/