1.3 million unemployed won't get benefits restored

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100701/ap_on_bi_ge/us_unemployment_benefits

1.3 million unemployed won't get benefits restored

By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER, Associated Press Writer Ohlemacher, Associated

Press Writer – 27 mins ago

WASHINGTON – More than 1.3 million laid-off workers won't get their unemployment

benefits reinstated before Congress goes on a weeklong vacation for Independence

Day.

An additional 200,000 people who have been without a job for at least six months

stand to lose their benefits each week, unless Congress acts.

For the third time in as many weeks, Republicans in the Senate successfully

filibustered a bill Wednesday night to continue providing unemployment checks to

people who been laid off for long stretches. The House is slated to vote on a

similar measure Thursday, though the Senate's action renders the vote a futile

gesture as Congress prepares to depart Washington for its holiday recess.

A little more than 1.3 million people have already lost benefits since the last

extension ran out at the end of May.

" It is beyond disappointing that Republicans continue to stand almost lockstep

against assistance for out-of-work Americans, " said Senate Majority Leader Harry

Reid, D-Nev.

The measure, however, stands a better chance of passing after a replacement is

seated for Sen. C. Byrd, D-W.Va., who died Monday. The measure fell two

votes short of the 60 needed to advance Wednesday night, but only because Reid,

a supporter of the bill, voted " nay " to take a procedural step that would allow

for a revote.

" We will vote on this measure again once there is a replacement named for the

late Sen. Byrd, " Reid said.

Byrd's successor will be named by West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin, a Democrat.

Unable to deliver more stimulus spending for President Barack Obama, Democrats

in Congress had hoped to at least restore the jobless benefits. Obama has urged

lawmakers to spend about $50 billion to help states pay for Medicaid programs

and to avoid teacher layoffs, but Democrats in Congress have been unable to come

up with the votes.

Many Democrats see state aid and unemployment benefits as insurance against the

economy sliding back into recession. However, many Republicans and some

Democrats worry about adding to the growing national debt.

Some Republicans offered to support the unemployment bill if it was paid for

with unspent money from last year's massive economic recovery package. Democrats

rejected the offer, saying the money was needed for jobs programs.

" The only reason the unemployment extension hasn't passed is because Democrats

simply refuse to pass a bill that doesn't add to the debt, " said Senate

Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

Sen. Voinovich, R-Ohio, said, " My concern is that the Democrats are more

interested in having this issue to demagogue for political gamesmanship than

they are in simply passing the benefits extension. "

The unemployment bill would have provided up to a total of 99 weekly

unemployment checks averaging $335 to people whose 26 weeks of state-paid

benefits have run out. The benefits would be available through the end of

November, at a cost of $33.9 billion. The money would be borrowed, adding to the

budget deficit.