WASHINGTON (AP) - Noting that 7,000 people are running out of unemployment insurance benefits every day, Senate Democrats are pushing for action on a bill to extend those benefits for up to 20 weeks.
A vote is scheduled later today on whether to take up the measure, with 60 votes needed for it to advance.
The bill would provide up to 14 weeks in extra financial aid for those who will exhaust their benefits by the end of the year. For those living in the 27 states where unemployment is 8.5 percent or higher, it includes an additional six weeks of benefits.
The House passed a less generous extension more than a month ago, but Republicans have blocked Senate consideration over disagreements with Democrats over what amendments they can offer.
The Senate unemployment bill could end up being combined with an extension of the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit. It's set to expire at the end of next month.
Links
The bill is H.R. 3548
On the Net:
Congress: http://thomas.loc.gov
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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