Extension of jobless benefits clears GOP roadblock

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Extension of jobless benefits clears GOP roadblock

By ANDREW TAYLOR
Associated Press Writer


WASHINGTON (AP) -- 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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